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, • 1 1 i • " I " I • 1 : • j - - • . TRYING TO SAVE EXPOSITION TRACK. San Francisco Turfmen Much Interested— Wingfield j Horses Off for New Orleans. San Francisco, Calif., December 3.— The preservation - of the exposition mile race track with tue e modern athletic Held and polo grounds in the infield, is the object of a campaign that is being started i by the Golden Gate Thoroughbred Breeders Association. - Secretary James C. Nealon has anuounc.-d 3 that the members of the organization that staged j the successful turf revival are already at work to • endeavor to keep intact the beautiful racing course ■ by the Golden Gate. Tlie mile track is located in the Presidio reserva tion and it will be necessary to secure the pei--, mission of the government to preserve the modern 11 plant over which the famous trotters, pacers and il thoroughbreds of the country raced during the exposition. The argument is being made that the ■ government could utilize the race track for a ■ parade and drill grounds and use the athletic flel 1 and polo grounds for the recreation of the men in „ ■ the service. President Charles W. Clark of the Breeders Association is at present in Montana and immediately r F uimn his return Secretary Nealon says the matter will be taken up with the proper authorities at t Washington. D. C. W. P. Maxwell, builder and ,1 superintendent of the track, reported yesterday y that he will continue to keep the course in condition - after the exposition closes. D. O. Lively, • chief of the live stock department at the expo- ,- sition, is in favor of preserving the track, and , points out the many uses that the government could make of the lieautiful mile circle that was made e of swamp land which was practically waste. Thousands of dollars were spent in creating the c race course. The tracks was built by an expert t and is pronounced one of the best in the country, . considering the handicaps the men were up against. SuiK-rintendent Maxwell says that a new covering r f could be jHit on the track to make it one of the e fastest and safest on the coast. With Emeryville dismantled and Ingleside long since cut up for a residence district there remain I only the exi»osition and Tanforan race tracks around J Sau Francisco. Tanforan has been on the market ■ and local horsemen may find themselves without a ■ place to race their thoroughbreds. The Breeders Association seems to realize this and will make a a light to preserve the exposition plant. Fifteen head of George Wingflelds select thoroughbreds - that have been wintering at Pleasanton ti were shipped to New Orleans Monday to prepare ■ for the opening of the meeting on New Years Day. Trainer George II. Strate had a string of thirty to sort out and he picked the ones that are best advanced in their training. Celesta, the great five-year-old mare, beads the e band, and is expected to be a sensation on the e eastern tnrf. None of the English-bred horses s was taken, as they had a hard voyage across the e Atlantic and are hardly up to a race as yet. Later r on in the year Strate plans to send for Honey- - wood and campaign the four-year-old stallion on a the metropolitan tracks. Dick Dwyer. who officiated for many years as ■ starter at Emeryville and other California racing centers, may be engaged to be an official at Tia a Juana. James W. Coffroth, president of the Jockey r Club, had a talk with Dwyer before leaving for r San Diego, and is counting on using the former ■ starter as paddock judge and timer. Some of the equipment of old Emeryville will 1 be found at the Southern California track. The e bookmakers stands will be familiar pieces of f furnishings at Tia Juana.
