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CALIFORNIA RACING PLANS. PRESIDENT THOMAS H. WILLIAMS OUTLINES SOME CHANGES TO COME. The California Derby to Be Made a ,000 Stake and a Big. Futurity Opened The Los Angeles Situation Is Cleared. Speaking of racing prospects at Oakland next winter, Mr. Thomas II. Williams, president of the California Jockey Club, said: "I think we shall have fully as prosperous a meeting in 1907-8 as we did in 1900-7. It may be better, but nojone could ask for a greater measure of success than we attained then. Local conditions are favorable in all respects and racing is extremely popular with the people of the cities and towns that furnish our track patronage. "No great changes are contemplated in the general racing program of the California Jockey Club, although some additions will he made. The added money to the California Derby will be increased to ,000, adding considerably to the importance of the event in the eyes of the public. Six new stakes, each with ,500 added, will be included in the program, which will be ready in about two weeks. It will also include the announcement of a Futurity for two-year-olds, closing in this case for two years, first for foals of 1907, to be run at the fall meeting of 1909 and second for mares, the produce of which will run at the fall meeting of 1910. To each ,000 will be added. In the long run I hope to make this event one of the leading features of California racing and to attract something like the patronage from breeders and owners that is now awarded to the great race of that name annually decided at Sheepshead Bay. With racing effaced from the map in Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee, it is reasonable to conclude that breeders may perceive that it is to their interest to foster such an event in one of the few states where racing still flourishes. "The experiment of giving overnight handicaps and special condition races for purses of ,000 or more several times each week, proved so successful aud popular last winter that it will be continued through our next meeting. In fact I would have no objection to giving a race of that kind daily, it enough really good horses were at the track to insure their filling satisfactorily. In all we gave forty-one of such races at our last meeting. "I had some conversation with George Rose this afternoon concerning Los Angeles racing conditions. At present Ascot Park is the only track there that i-3 sanctioned and protected by the Pacific Jockey Club. If it wins its case now pendiug before the Supreme Court, it will continue in operation and it is probable no other track in that vicinity will bo sanctioned. I told Rose what could be done It Ascot Park has to be abandoned and he departed for Los Angeles with a definite understanding on that point. To receive the sanction of the Pacific Jockey Club any new racing organization founded to cater to Los Angeles patronage will have to be composed of men of good reputation and amply able to provide a first class raciug plant and meet all financial obligations incurred. "Since last winter rebuilding has gone on rapidly at San Francisco and many hotels of various grades are ready to entertain guests. In that respect the facilities are now ample to meet all de-mauds comfortably." Ed C. Hopper, presiding judge at Oakland, was In Chicago yesterday renewing old acquaintances and looking extremely well. After a conference with president Thomas II. Williams, he departed last night for his home at Hustonville, Ky., to await the opening of the California racing season.
