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JOCKEY G RUBER TO LEAVE HAVANA Ordered to Report at Louisville to Gallop Horses for His New Employer A. L. Rogers. Louisville, Ky., December IS. Jockey J. Gruber, whose contract was recently purchased from Kay Spence by A. L. Rogers, the turfman and "potato king" of Fort Gibson, Okla., will shortly return from Havana to Louisville, to join the Rogers stable now in winter quarters at Churchill Downs in charge of William Mulholland. The boy, whose home is in this city, will not ride any more this winter. Instead, he will be employed galloping the Rogers horses, which work will keep him in good riding condition. The price paid for the youngsters contract was ,500, which is not considered excessive in view of the present scarcity of good light-weight riders. Horsemen, who have closely observed Grubers saddle work during the year, are of the opinion that Ills services are worth every penny of the purchase price. As keen an observer as judge Charles F. Price commented favorably during the Latonla meeting on the splendid ability shown in the saddle by this youngster. Owner Rogers might have waited until the conclusion of the Havana meeting before closing the deal, but he reasoned wisely that if he waited, some other owner would have forestalled him. Gruber is seventeen years of age, and is the son of M. B. Gruber of this city. The elder Gruber, a few years ago. owned a small stable that included the sorinter Little Nephew, one of the few horses that defeated Old Rosebud in his two-year-ola year. Gruber has been riding less than two years, starting as an exercise boy for Kay Spence. He rode his first winner at Douglas Park September 27. last, when he piloted Miss Fannie to victory. Those who have watched the lad in his work declare he has all the earmarks of a first-class rider. The only horses that A. L. Rogers has in training at nresent are the four two-year-olds W. W. Hastings, Robert L. Owen, Rog and George Duncan. The first-named won two races at Latonia, and is the best of the quartet. In both of these races he Avas ridden by Gruber, and in one of them he ran three-quarters in 1:12 flat. Robert L. Owen won only one race, this being at Churchill Downs. The other two are maidens. W. W. Hastings was bred by Mr. Rogers at his farm in Oklahoma, and was the speediest two-year-old from the southwest raced in Kentucky this year. Mr. Rogers has signified his intention of entering the colt in the Kentucky Derby.
