view raw text
BAY MEADOWS WEDNESDAY RACING CALLED OFF e : y w y w Combination of Circumstances Force Management to Cancel Program Track Officials Subpoenaed to Sacramento to Appear Befor, Legislative Investigating Committee Sport to Be Resumed Today SAN MATEO, Calif., April 3. Bay Meadows was "dark" Wednesday, following the decision of the management, with the consent of the California Horse Racing Board, to cancel the program for that day. A combination of circumstances forced the issue. The "key men" in the official family had been called to Sacramento to give testimony in the investigation of the racing commission, and the track was in such poor condition due to overnight rains that many owners, who had entered for a fast track, were desirous of withdrawing their horses. Among the offi- cials subpoenaed to appear before theinves- tigating committee at the state capitol were Christopher J. FitzGerald, presiding steward; William A. Quigley, presiding judge; Webb A. Everett, racing secretary, and Mort Shaw, -director of the totalizator. Among other track employes ordered to be present were Tommy OBrien, managing director of pari-mutuel wagering at the Sacramento and Stockton fairs; William Cahalan, mutuel clerk; Basil Smith, jockeys agent, and Frank Mauro, jockey. Jockey Mauro was to be questioned concerning the San Juan Capistrano Handicap, closing day feature of the Santa Anita meeting, in which his mount, Top Row, was defeated by Head Play. In the running of that race jockey Kurtsinger, on Head Play, struck Top Row over the head with the whip during the stretch run and following the event Mauro lodged a claim of foul, which was not allowed by the stewards. An attempt will be made by those pressing the investigation to show incompetency on the part of the" officials in not disqualifying Head Play, whereas earlier in the meeting they had set back Equipoise, mots prominent horse on the American turf, for interfering with Twenty Grand, when Equipoise was clearly the better horse. Racing will be resumed at Bay Meadows Thursday, when an eight-race bill will be staged. Although the racing strip was almost certain to be muddy or heavy, little difficulty was experienced in filling the I races for that day and while no outstanding horses are entered, the majority of horses scheduled to perform are useful mud runners. Business is expected to increase at the San Mateo track the latter part of the week, and it may hit the 00,000 mark Friday and the 00,000 mark Saturday when the Spring Handicap will be featured. Top Row, Frank Ormont, Spicson, Ter-alice and many of the better grade of handicap horses are expected to compete in the Continued on tioentieth page. BAY MEADOWS WEDNESDAY RACING CALLED OFF Continued from first page. Spring Handicap, which is for a purse of ,000 added. Cancellation of Wednesdays program forced the postponemenl of the Berkeley Handicap, ,500 added, sprint feature which was slated for that day. Rumors still persist that the Bay Meadows track may change hands after the present meeting, but as yet nothing definite has developed. Two or three offers are reported to have been made to the majority stockholders for their holdings in the plant, but names have been mentioned but vaguely. The decision of Norman W. Church and his associates to withdraw from the field of those seeking permission to build a second track in Los Angeles has turf followers a trifle bewildered. The owner of the North-way Stable made application some weeks ago and seemed to have the inside track, inasmuch as it was stated that building of the plant would begin almost immediately, but Tuesday Church stated that he and his associates were of the opinion that they could best serve the interests of the turf by withdrawing from the field.
