view raw text
TIJUANA MEN AND THINGS " JUDGE PETTINGILL ENFORCES STRICT DISCIPLINE WITH HEALTHY RESULTS. Better Class of Horses Expected to Engage in the Racing Before long Capable Riders at the Track Wingficlds Ambitions. San Diego. Cal., December 21. As the winter meeting of the Lower California Jockey Club progresses, it becomes more and more evident that Tijuana racing is destined to attain an importance in tiie not distant future that will cause other winter racing centers to look to their laurels. Old time racing men who are here, are enthusiastic over the outlook and predict that Tijuana is about to fall heir to the popularity enjoyed by the I.os Angeles and .San Francisco tracks, when racing was ii: full swing in California some eight or ten years ago. Expressions of satisfaction are to be heard on every side over tin; manner in which manager James W. Coffroth and his associates are going about the upbuilding of the sport. They are looking to the future at all times and everything that Is iM-ing done, is with an eye to the establishing of public confidence in the track, especially among eastern followers of the great sport of racing, from whose ranks the management of the new course expects to draw heavily for patronage, once the track becomes well established. It is conceded that no other track in America can offer more liticing climatic conditions and manager Coffroth believes that as soon as it is conclusively demonstrated, that, properly safeguarded racing of good iiiality may be enjoyed here, eastern racegoers will respond in goodly numbers. 1atrons of the course are not slow in expressing their appreciation of what is being done. Vigilance is the watchword of the day and, if the alertness upon the part of the olficials will make for the success of a race meeting, the Tijuana racing season Is bound to be a huge success. When the meeting was opened there was a disposition on the part of some of thu owners and jockeys, who had been racing on the minor circuits, to regard their obligations rather lightly, but it was not long before judge Pettingill had convinced one and all that the most rigid observance of all the rules and practices of high-class racing would be required in every respect. As a result of this judicial attitude and Ihe activity that followed to make the policy effective, lough riding has been nearly stamped out and there is a healthy tone to the sport in general that promises much for the future. Patronage Increasing Satisfactorily. The patronage of the meeting continues to show a healthy gain from day to day. Many former patrons of the sport on the Pacific coast, who have had no inclination to go racing in many years, are returning to the sport and not a day passes but that some or this class puts in an appearance here. The tourist movement to this locality will shortly bo in full swing and it is figured that Tijuana racing will be materially benefitted by this influx with the opening of the new year. Racing is an important addition to the diversions of tiie winter season in San Diego. The sort of people who make up the bulk of the winter visitors in this section, are abundantly able to indulge in such a sport as racing. If affairs at the track continue to go along in the same satisfactory way as at present, it is altogether likely that the meeting will be extended a bit beyond the one hundred days originally promised the horsemen. While the management has made no announcement to such an effect, those well informed expect to see the racing continued to the end of March. Tiie one hundred days originally scheduled will expire in the early part of March. Graudally the better class of horses quartered at tiie eouise are coming into daily action of the racing. It is to secretary Jaspers credit that he lias been able to provide such attractive racing cards as lie has up to this time. The better horses shipped here from the east have been rather slow iu coming to band, principally because their owners and trainers were disposed to give them plenty of time to become well acclimated before asking- anything of them. With hardly an exception they are all doing well and from now on they will figure more extensively in the racing. One of the results of this will be the relegating to the rear of many of the western division of horses that have been garnering the harvest, wliile the eastern contingent has been getting ready. Good Riding Is a Feature. The meeting is well off in the matter of riding material. There are some bright capable jockeys at tiie track. One of the steadiest and most popular is Pickens. lie always has a big following when lie is carded to ride a horse that appears to be a contender. W. J. OBrien, who was under contract to George W. Wingfield, is another who is regarded as dependable. Eddie Martin, who resumed riding only recently following a long layoff with a broken leg, has seemingly lost none of his old time skill at the barrier and is winning his share of the spoils. A boy who lias improved won-derfullv is Arthur Casey, a colored lad In the employ of William Walker,. A series of successes on the horses of his employer attracted attention to his ability and his services are now in con-Mdcrahle demand for outside mounts. lie is entitled to the apprentice allowance and is capable of riding a rousing finish. It is unlikely that he will have much of a career in the saddle, however, as he already weighs well over 100 pounds. Gross is another jockey who is riding well here, lie is :u: old timer and his favorite method of riding a horse is to sit still until the stretch is readied and then send his mount along with a sensational end lush. These tactics frequently win a nice that could be won in no other way, it is conceded, but they do not always bring the desired result. G. Alexandra, Jr., is another rider who is showing improvement. He has recently ridden several creditable races for his father, who has been doing quite well with his horses here. G. Byrne was riding effectively until a stiff suspension for rough ruling put an end to his usefulness temporarily. G. Scherrer, most successful of the apprentices here to date, is by no means a finished rider yet, but does fairly well on free running horses. He hasnt the strength or ability to get results with the sluggish type of horse. A veteran who is riding as well as ever is Van Dusen. He is seen in action only occasionally. Mctcalf and Lapaille are other jockeys whose efforts have attracted favorable attention. "Wingfield May Sell Yearlings. George W. Wingfield, Nevada capitalist and mining man, whose horses have been making such a good showing in the better grade of races here since the opening of the meeting, made a brief visit to the track recently and had the pleasure of seeing his colors carried to victory on several occasions. He is just convalescing from a serious attack of illness and announced his intention of returning for a more extended stay after the holidays. George W. Berry, who for many years was in charge of A. B. Snrcckels thoroughbred interests at Napa Stock Kami, is engaged with Mr. Wingfield in a similar capacity. The Wingfield stable has been doing well since Early Wright, an accomplished western trainer, took the horses in hand to train. Wright has the rare faculty of sending his horses to the post fit and ready to do their best at the first asking and is a decided acquisition to the Wingfield establishment. It is understood that Mr. Wicgfields ambitions tend to the breeding of some good horses rather than the racing end of the sport. It was in the furtherance of this ambition that he has made extensive investments in high-class British breeding stock. It is not at all improbable that tome of the yearlings from his Nevada Stock Farm will be disposed of in the open market as soon as the .establishment has shown, through the medium of the race track, what it is capable of producing. Roy Offutt, who is one of the leaders among the layers operating in the Tijuana betting ring, is credited with being a heavy loser on the seasons operations to date. He is a daring operator and is always ready to take extraordinary liberties with a horse to whicli he may have an aversion. Former jockey Kay Ranch, who rode abroad with marked success after making his reputation in tills country, is among the regulars who are enjoying themselves so well here.
