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BAR TO PADDOCK CONFERENCES. All But Those Having Legitimate Business Excluded at Oakland. San- Francisco, Cal., December 28. There are no more paddock conferences at Oakland. One of the public annoyances of the turf was the unnecessary practice of allowing runners for bookmakers and big bettors to buttonhole an owner or trainer within the stall a few moments before the horses are sent to the pest. What could look worse than to see th5 accredited agent of a bookmaker rushing into the paddock, through the crowds, and up to the ear of the jockey just about to take the leg on the favorite in the impending race. If the favorite Is beaten" and for seine reason, legitimate though it may He, the aforesaid bookmaker had laid the horse and taken in hundreds of dollars, imagine the scandalous talk which would naturally ensne. The paddock conferences have become proverbial within recent years, but it remains for the New California Jockey Club and the progressive administration of President Thomas II. Williams to "squelch it here at Oakland for the first time in the records of American racing. Early this week he caused to he constructed in the paddock a wooden fence, four feet higli and heavily boarded. It encircled the stalls, running about ten feet out. The spectators are allowed to lean over on this fence in making their inspection of the horses. No one is allowed to talk to trainers or jockeys. There is one entrance through this wooden barricade. There a Pinkerton captain is stationed. The jockey, the owner and trainer, an authorized betting commls-sioner and the necessary attendant for the horse are alone given right of way. Tho crowd and the lMiokniakers runners are kept out. The scheme has been in working order, for a number of days now and it may be Said to be gratifyingly Satisfactory. Here is a reform which is bound to come about everywhere.
