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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. In discussing the coming; spring1 meeting at Churchill Downs, .Louisville, Manager Charles F. Irice has this to say: "The coming meeting, from all indications, will be the best held at Churchill Downs in years, even considering the splendid meeting which we had last year, which broke all records for the local track. Last year we conflicted a day with Nashville, which, while seemingly a small matter in itself, lost us a few stables of horses, and possibly half a dozen bookmakers, who, as a matter of convenience, jumped from Nashville to Chicago or St. Louis, rather than remain idle for a few days. This will be obviated during the coming meeting, because Nashville will close on Saturday and Louisville will begin on the following Monday. In other words, the horses will come up the line from Memphis to Nashville and then to Louisville and follow on up the line to Latonia. Last year was a bad one in the way of sick horses, Louisville having its full share of the latter, but so far there is not a sick horse at the Downs and there are about 200 at the track at present. The coming Kentucky Derby j promises now to be one of the best in its history as regards class, among the eligibles being the crack English Lad. Proceeds, Conjurer, Ed Tierney and others. The Kentucky Oaks is also unusually promising, embracing among its eligibles Lady Amelia, Memories and other good ones. Special efforts will be made also to attract the jumpers, a class of racing that proved so popular at the last meeting. The steeplechase course, which horsemen say is now one of the best and safest in the country, will be Improved by the addition of another jump and the replacing of others, which will give a better and more spectacular view from the grandstand. It is also expected that more bookmakers will be in the ring than ever before, as the money handled at the last spring meet was greater in volume than formerly, and this always attracts the layers of odds." Information has been received at Memphis to the effect that the better part of the racing string of Burns and Waterhouse will be shipped from San Francisco to that city early in February. The Californians are represented in the Tennessee Derby by Rockaway and Toledo, and it is the present intention of Charles Patterson, the Burns and Water-house trainer, to ship Rockaway there. Patterson has always been partial to Memphis racing It was there that he achieved his first success by developing the crack race mare Suisun. Then followed Ornament, May Hempstead, Prince of Melbourne, McMeekln, Hamburg, Howland and many other such. Whether the outside world is willing to believe it or not, Memphlans will always give Patterson credit for developing Hamburg. There are those who saw the papers that will testify to Patterson writing to John E. Madden during the spring of 1897, stating: Tve got a world beater," meaning Hamburg. Patterson was training all of Maddens colts that year. Madden replied by giving bis friend a bill of sale for one-fourth interest in Hamburg for a cash consideration of . Madden evidently regarded Hamburg as a joke, but to the argument that later arose over that one-fourth interest is attributed the breach which resulted in separation between Madden and Patterson later in the year, after Hamburg had really proved that he was a world beater. t J" Gene Leigh is the man of the hour just now in French racing circles," says jockey Shields, on whom Leigh had second call last season. "It is not putting it too strong to say that Leigh is the most popular trainer in France. He trains a public stable and has horses of two dozen or more owners in his stable. Among these are numbered some of the most influential owners in the country. Leigh has about 150 horses in training. They are divided between jumpers and flat racers. Horses trained by him won 104 jumping races this season, and 68 on the flat. He is still a figure in the selling races. It is nothing uncommon for Leigh to send three or four horses out in one race and come back with only one, or, on the other hand, send one and come back with three one bid up and one claimed. He is just as popular with the public as with the owners and trainers. Any horse that he starts that has any sort of a chance on form is sure to be made favorite. He will not come to America this winter, but will take a trip through Spain and Italy. I have heard a rumor since coming to New York that Leigh might not get a license next year. Of course, I dont know anything about it, but I dont see how there can be any truth in the rumor. He has the best people in France with him, and I know they have every confidence in him. I guess it is one of those rumors that is without foundation." J. C. Milam has closed a deal with Ed Frazier for a quartet of yearlings, but the price paid is kept a business secret. They are as follows: Bay colt, by St. Maxim Asterita, by Potentate. Bay colt, by Dr. MacBride Sweepalong, by Longflight. Brown filly, by G. W. Johnson The Broom, by Himyar. Chestnut filly, by Dr. Hasbrouck Flo H., by King Galop. John Rodegap has arrived at Lexington with his racing stable and is now quartered at the old Kentucky Association track for the winter. Colonel John Overton, first presiding judge at the Memphis Jockey Clubs meeting back in 1880, and one of the founders of organized racing in the south, died at his home in Memphis last Friday night. The deceased was a member of one of the leading families in the state, and his grandfatner once owned thoroughbreds in partnership with General Andrew Jackson. Colonel Overton renounced his allegiance to the turf several years ago, and since joining the church he never visited a race course. The estate is a very valuable one. There is a doubt as to whether Charles Thorpe will return to America this winter. Thorpe had intended sailing from Havre on the second of this month, but his departure was delayed, and now news comes of the illness of his wife. It is not known how seriously ill Mrs. Thorpe is, but there is a possibility of her poor health resulting in the jockey spending the winter season abroad. M. L. Hayman will go to New Orleans next week, with his entire stable, including Orthodox, winner of the Grand Consolation Stakes at Bennings. Jockey Treubel will ride for Hayman at New Orleans, and the prospects or the stable are made considerably brighter by this connection. Treubel is ono of the developments of the closing days of the season, and, in the opinion of many close observers, is destined to make a name for himself.
