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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. "The presence of Johnny Reiff in the local racing game brought about many inquiries as te whether the crack jockey would be permitted to accept mounts on the local tracks," says the San Francisco Bulletin of November 21. "Thomas H. Williams, president of the local organization, was interviewed on the proposition last evening and said that under no consideration would any jockey, trainer or horse owner who is in ill re-piite on any race track be allowed to participate In the game on tracks governed or Under - the California Jockey Clubs jurisdiction. .Msray labored Under the impression that be cause the Western Jockey Clubs tracks permitted Reiff and several others to participate actively, that an exception would be made, and John Reiff would be allowed to ride. Mr. Williams firm stand settles that question for the time being at least. Reiff will remain here for several weeks, when he will go to Los Angeles and ride at the meeting at Ascot Park. The race-going public will be sorry to hear of Mr. Williams stand, as all would like to see Johnny once again riding at the local tracks. Reiff hasnt been seen in the saddle here for several years, and at the time he last rode here was comparatively a novice, and now he has developed into one of the best riders in the world." An interesting feature at all the recent thoroughbred sales in Lexington was the work of the Horse Breeders Protective Association in the purchase and retirement of mares from breeding. Prior to the opening of the sales their annual meeting was held, and it now transpires that in addition to the work already reported a number of mares consigned to these sales were marked for retirement, and they have been constant attendants at the ring side until the sales closed. Having previously disposed of 486 broodmares in this fashion they added an even fifty to the list last week, making a t total of 536 that have been retired from the different studs of the country since the organization of the association five years ago. The association will make a full report to the Jockey Club of the mares that have been retired, so that under the rules it will be an impossibility for the produce of these mares to be accepted for registration and hereby absolutely valueless as racehorses should any subsequent purchaser attempt to put them back in breeding.
