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STAR APPRENTICES INACTIVE Stewards Suspend Robert Adair While Van Tassel Was 111. Johnny Longden Hits Slump Upon Arrival at Tanf oran Smith Acting as Fal- " ? Ions Agent. SAN BRUNO, Calif., Dec. 1. Tanforan lost two of its top. flight apprentices over, last week-end when Robert Adair was sud-- .pended and Warren Van Tassel was laid low by an attack of influenza. Adair was "given the meeting" for his ride aboard Sky Grenade Friday. Sky Grenade bore out badly on the stretch turn to interfere with the favored Clarcarole and was disqualified after having finished third. Despite the fact that Sky Grenade is regarded as a "run-out" horse, having bore to the outside fence on a couple of occasions, the stewards were not lenient with Adair. The Tanforan stewards have proved that they mean business by slapping stiff suspensions on any jockey that in their opinion has violated the rules of racing by rough riding. Heres hoping that they continue in their efforts to stamp out unorthodox practices on the part of the jockeys. However, many would be appreciative if they would employ more drastic measures in regard to the failure of short-priced horses to raise decent gallops on occasions. We know that the explanation anent the poor races of some public choices would be welcomed by the press and public alike. TOO ILL TO RIDE. Van Tassel, leading apprentice in this section, was forced to cancel his mounts Friday after having put up a weak, exhibition aboard Sky Breeze. The boy was really ill and was running quite a temperature. He was ordered to bed, where he remained for several days. Johnny Longden, who came to California as Americas leading rider for the year, has failed to set the world afire since his arrival. IJe has been outfinished by some of the "local talent" on a couple of occasions. Basil Smith, who acts as Longdens agent, also has the book of Martin Fallon. To date at Tanforan Fallon has seemed the better rider of the two. Longden must have something, however, as no "dub" can pilot over 200 winners in less than eleven months and that is what Longden has accomplished.
