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CALIFORNIA VOTE DRIVE ON ; Racing Interests Working Hard for Pari-Mutuel Bill. . ?j - - . Northern California Always In Favor of Legalized Racing Legislature Oyer- , whelmingly Favors Measure. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 23. Californias breeders of thoroughbred race horses, scattered throughout the vast domain of the Golden State, have started their earnest drive to have the electorate of the state approve the racing bill at the polls June 27. The measure that will legalize pari-mutuel wagering in connection with the contests of the thoroughbreds recently waa placed on the June ballot by act of the legislature, receiving a strong vote in the assembly, then being approved by the state in- an overwhelming manner. The Pacific Coast Breeders Association, the organization that several years ago began the arduous fight of bringing thoroughbred racing back to California, where by right of heritage it belongs, has been notified, by its hundreds of members throughout the state the campaign is under way in their various communities. Northern California, as has been its custom in the past, stands ready to go to the polls strongly behind the measure. Always, the northern sector, expressing its natural liberalism; has given any measure of thia type strong backing, and with its support generally has overcome any opposition in the southern portion of California. However, the reports from the South this time are, if one is to voice the very words of those behind the proposition to legalize horse racing by vote of the people, most optimistic. Prospect of sound backing of the racing measure in the South looms strongly. One of the leaders in the fight for .legalization of thoroughbred racing is John McKeon of San Diego County, owner of the stallion Bon Homme and associated in tha holdings of Meadpwbrook Farm with the Copper brothers, Ross and Robert, of the same county. The Cooper brothers also have joined McKeon in the fight for a successful outcome June 27. Others in the same county; joined in the common cause of their livelihood and for what racing means to their county in the matter of dollars to agriculture are A. L. Jones, whose Sunshbt Farm is at San Ysidro; James A. Parsons, of Nestor, Harry T. Palmer, of San Ysidro, the estate of the late Marvin Allen at San Ysidro, most of which has been absorbed through lease by Jack P. Atkin, Tanforana new boss of racing in the interest of San Mateo County Jockey Club. And there are. many, many others who have small farms and breed thoroughbreds at regular intervals, sending their brood mares to the various stallions holding court in San Diego County. In the vicinity of Los Angeles are two noted ranches, where many capable California thoroughbreds come from. One is the Triunfo ranch of Carleton F. Burke, the noted western sportsman and owner of the stallion Cantankerous. The other is at Ventura, the Rancho Casitas nursery of Walter Hoffman, Jr., where stand Crystal Pennant, Cof froth Handicap winner; Tracer and the young Livery. In Bakersfield is the nursery of Elmer OConnell and that of Alonzo Lon Giboney, owner of the stallion Sleiveconard, one that some seasons ago was racing in the colora of Ed Soule of Los Angeles. OConnell haa Luminist and the imported By George, one that this season sent his first crop to the races and proved a successful getter of winners. The northern nurseries are headed by those of John W. Marchbank at Walnut Creek, in Contra Costa County, and Major Sven Christensen, whose Meadowbrook Ranch is at Pleasanton, in Alameda County. These two men lead the northern forces. Mr. Marchbank has been instumental in bringing thoroughbred racing back to California. He has been one of the moving spirits of Tanforan, supported by judge Joseph A. Murphy and, until he sold out hia interests, by William P. Kyne of San Francisco. That these men will be backed to a man by such other prominent breeders as Charles A. Hartwell, William Hartman, George Gordon Moore, Henry Potter Rus-. sell, Charles T. Boots, William Elliott, Ted Horning, H. H. Crowell and many others is evident from the work that is being started to legalize thoroughbred racing in the state, 4
