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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. j "Racing associations will some day adopt the BertUlon system to prevent the ringing of racehorses." said a well-known San Francisco turfman recently. "It could easily be done," he continued, "and if the measurements were taken and registered with the jockey club every year horsemen would know more about the conformation of a horse and ten times as much of the developement of a young animal each year as formerly." Theres no doubt the Bertillon plan could be applied in such cases, and horses that at first glance look very much alike, as The Fiddler and McNamara, would beyond a doubt vary greatly in their measurements, and the once-a-year measuring scheme would make the ringing of a racehorse an impossibility. The peroxide of hydrogen artist of the Chilson stripe would be put out of his nefarious business at one swoop, and the measurements could be made very simple say the length of the head and from the mouth to the foretop; width from the throttle to the eye, length of the cannon bones, and from hip to hock, the girth measurements, height from the ground to the highest point of the withers, width across the loins, across the hocks, and length of the "second thigh," besides noting any disfigurements or peculiarities of the horse under inspection. San Francisco Bulletin. While in New York last week Secretary Sheridan Clark said: "Former visitors to New Orleans will be surprised when they come down this winter. The track itself has been practically rebuilt, and auout 0,-000 has been expended on the course alone. All the paths that developed in the long wet spell last winter have been dug up, and the patching and altering has amounted to almost the laying of a new course from start to finish. A different quality of loam has been used for the top dressing, and the present cushion is one that will dry out quickly and at the same time have the track firm and safe at all times. These needed alterations on the track surface were completed several weeks ago, and although there has been a particularly long dry spell in New Orleans, the new work has been thoroughly drenched and setteld until now the cushion is a particularly disirous one. There has been a general work of repair about the stables, grandstand and other buildings about the property, and so far as the course itself is concerned we are ready to open the gates tomorrow. As a matter of fact, there are horses enough on the grounds now to give a very good meeting, and for weeks past the regulars have been drifting down our way." Blues, a good horse in his day but inconsistent for two seasons past, has finally come far down in the world. At the auction sale of the Pleasance Stable last Saturday Fred Burlew bought Blues for ,700, and the old horse which has had such a varied career will next year be started in cheap selling races, and will no longer be looked upon as a stake horse. In the racing season of 1901 Blues was well thought of, and much talked about as a candidate for the Suburban Handicap. Again in 1902 he was one of the favorites for the big Sheepshead Bay stake, but in both these big events, as in many other races, he proved a disappointment to his owner. The Caufield Cup, one of the principal races of the Melbourne, Australia, racing season, was run for on October 17 and won by Sir Rupert Clarkes three-year-old filly, Sweet Nell. The cup was worth 5,000, and the time for the mile and a half 2:35fc. Sweet Nell carried ninety-seven pounds and also was engaged in the 5,000 Melbourne Cup at two miles with 10S pounds up. The result of the latter event has not yet arrived. Archie Zimmer, who developed jockey Fuller, has taken another promising boy in hand. He has signed a contract on little Phil McGovern, brother to Terry McGovern, the pugilist. McGovern will ride for Zimmer and big Tim Sullivan, the Tammany Hall leader. Zimmer will take a string of racers to New Orleans for Sullivan this winter, and McGovern will go to the Crescent City to ride them. McGoverns contract with George Smith, "Pittsburg Phil," expired last August, and he has been riding free lance since that time. It is certain that McGovern will be given every opportunity to show his ability, as Mr. Sullivan is one of Terry McGoverns warmest friends. Sam Harris, the manager of Terry and Hughey McGovern, is also interested in Phil, and wants to see him become a great rider. Seventy-four years ago Henry Clay began the breeding of racehorses at his famous estate, Ashland. For three-quarters of a century uninterruptedly thoroughbred horses tracing to the stock owned by the great Commoner have roamed the blue grass meadows of this historic spot. From sire to son the Ashland Stud descended, and from John M. Clay it went to his widow, but now it is booked to pass Into turf history within another fortnight. For fourteen years Mrs. John M. Clay has held Ashland Stud together, but age is burdening the Kentucky authoress-horse breeder and the descendants of Magnolia and Margaret "Wood, two of Americas most ramous broodmares, will soon be scattered by the auctioneers hammer and become o memory only to lovers of the high-mettled racehorse. There is no instance on record of the keeping of a trust more faithfully than in the case of Mrs. Clay. It was a wish of John M. Clay when he died that Ashland Stud be preserved. Though then well along in years Mrs. Clay took up the task and for over a decade she has managed the business so successfully that she has added 0,000 to the estate left her by Henry Clays youngest son. Today no business mans paper In Lexington is better than Mrs. Clays and her indorsement is Al in any bank. Frank ONeill will ride the horses of John A. Drake and John E. Madden during the Bennings meeting, and after that he will leave at once for his home in St. Louis and will attend a business college in that city during the winter months. Jockey "Jack" Martin, several pounds heavier than when he used .to ride Advance Guard and Zoroaster for Aleck Shields, is at Oakland to ride for Walter Jennings during the local season. Jack came out of two trying surgical operations last summer with operations last summer with flying colors, and is all right again. Lady Wadsworth, in the string of Garnett Ferguson at San Francisco, bowed a tendon, and will be retired. While she has never done anything sensational in turf circles, she is royally bred, and should prove a good broodmare.
