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SOMETHING- OF CALIFORNIA HORSEMEN. Bon Benjamin, the veteran sporting editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, has been entertaining the readers of that newspaper with some interesting gossip concerning racing folk at Oakland, from which the following paragraphs are culled: "Daggle" Smith O. A. Bianchi got his start with Oakland, a shifty plater and a good stretch runner. Bob McGibben and Sam McGibben, both kown to all race-goers in California, have been continuously employed by the racing associations for over twenty years. Both were youngsters when they entered the employ of the California Jockey Club and neither has missed a racing day in all those years. Bob was the caller until the introduction of the new system of betting. "Frisco" Hoag, trainer for Ed Soulc. rode races at the Bay District track, but soon gave up the pigskin to become a trainer. Tom Owen, who has Bucolic at the track, had a stable at the Bay District track. Among others he had Captain Al. Mero and Gold Dust. Al Koenigsberg sold programs in the early days of the .Blood Horse Association, and In later years backed the horses with such success that he is rated as being worth all of .50,000. He is a shrewd bettor, and has cleared up handsomely in the past half-dozen years. Dick Havey, the present timer at Oakland, trained for Charley Fair in the early nineties. He has had a lifelong experience with both harness horses and thoroughbreds. At one time he drove the Palo Alto horses, but in his youth he rode many famous horses in the four-mile races. George Miller, the famous rider of the early nineties, is at the track nearly every day. He has had a few horses in training from time to time. Al Leach can also be seen at the track. He was a poolseller in the early days. Tom Bally, the former jockey, gained some notoriety by calling his stable the "No Badge Stable." Bill Short had a few horses at the Bay District, and is still at the same game. "Squeak" Allmark first eamo here in 1S92 with the Santa Anita Stable. Al Martin has pegged away at the game since the early nineties. The Dennison boys have a few horses in training, including Sake. They rode for their father, old Dan Dennison. who always campaigned a few good ones in the early days, including Hotspur, who once upon a time smashed a record. In 1S02 "Butch" Fisher raced North. Ho afterward trained Wheel of Fortune, winner of the Burns Handicap. Old Cy Mulky. who trained the big Spreckcls stable when Cadmus was one of the stars, is hunting for gold in Alaska. John Kearney is still following the horses. He was connected witli the Fair stable, and previous to that time he was identified with trotters. W. L. Appleby, who rode and trained horses, lias apparently retired. He raced Raindrop and others, and also trained for I. J. Rose once upon a time. Tom Boyle had Banjo at the old Bay District track. Billy Donathan is still in the game. He has been with the runners and trotters for over thirty years. He had that good mare Arnetteat the Bay District. C. W. Chappell raced Little Tough, Jack the Ripper and Guadaloupe at the meeting in 1S02. John Givens, Naglee Burks old trainer, lies a few horses in training that he leased from Walter Jennings. "Hanger" Jones, now a resident of Sacramento, trained Motto and Articns for George Van Gorden. Artieus was oue of the track two-year:olds of the season. II. D. Brown, who is now the leading man at Jacksonville, had Quarterstaff here iu 1S02, and W. P. Fine, who has Glorio. had a horse at the Bay District track named Altus.
