view raw text
KENTUCKYCOMMISSION 9 Governor Expected to Name New Turf Rulers in a Day or So. Polk Laffoon Only Member of Present Body Likely to Be Named Again. LEXINGTON, Ky., March 17. In local turf circles there is a report to the effect that Governor "William J. Fields will, before the adjournment of the legislature cn Wednesday, send to the senate for confirmation the names of the gentlemen who are to comprise the new State Racing Commission. It is known that Desha Breckinridge, than whom there is no more ardent lover of the thoroughbred horse and who was asked by the governor to take a seat on the commission, has proposed to the governor that there he Republican representation on the commission and has recommended that the Republican member be Charles H. Berryman of Lexington. The recommendation, it is stated, carries with it the suggestion that Berryman take the seat that was intended for Breckinridge. It is stated further that Breckinridge feels that, though he inspired the bill creating the State Racing Commission in 190G, he can be of more benefit to racing off the commission than as a member of it. Charles H. Berryman is one of the most widely known and most active men connected witli the breeding and raising of thoroughbred horses in mis country. In addition to being the owner of Saghonet Farm, the home of Ballot and a band of good mares, ho is the manager of Harry Payne Whitneys large farm and vast stud of thoroughbreds near Lexington, and he annually has trained and raced a few good sons and daughters of his own mares. The governor invited Ben Williamson of Ashland to take a seat on the commission, but when he heard that there was a suggestion that a Republican be named and that Judge Allie W. Young had recommended that one of the members of the commission 1 e Gemil Senff of Mt. Sterling, he called upon the governor and told him that he would be in full accord with anything he might wish to do. Ben Williamson is one of the strongest and most influencial business men in the Big Sandy country. Gemil Senff is a nephew of the late Captain Jim j Williams of Spring Station and is the brother of County Judge Earl Senff of Montgomery County. He is a newspaper man and a member of the Kentucky Press Association and stands high among the owners and editors of the weekly newspapers of the state. He is very for.d of horses and of racing, though he is not a breisder or owner. Polk Laffoon of Covington, a member of the present commission, is considered to be certain of reappointment. He is a man of big business affairs in Cincinnati and northern Kentucky, being the head of a large electric light and power company. He is the owner of a farm at Erlanger, where he lias the stallion Busy American and a number of mares. He also is the owner of several good horses in training. Walter I. Kohn, a leader in the business life of Louisville and member of the racing and breeding firm of Kohn and Thiesen, is prominently mentioned for appointment. Thomas A. Combs of Lexington, head of the Combs Lumber Company and prominently connected with other enterprises and former member of the State Racing Commission, is regarded as certain of appointment, and it is here considered likely that he will be the chairman of the new commission, unless it should work out that Desha Breckinridge should accept appointment, when it may be that he will be named chairman.
