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Show I FOOD CARDS FDR RAGE H0RSE5J RUSSIA Boots Durnell Describes Turf Conditions in Shell-Torn Shell-Torn European Lands. SAN FRANCISCO, May 9. Charles K. (Boots) Durnell, the well-known turfman, who campaigned a stable on local and eastern tracks for many years, is a visitor in the city, having arrived from Eussia via Victoria Fri-dav. Fri-dav. It is ten years since Durnell left San Francisco, and during the greater part of the time he has been racing in Franco, Rumania and Russia. He brought back much interesting information infor-mation regarding conditions abroad and the doings of American turf people peo-ple who are still in foreign lands. Durnell, who will be remembered as the owner of Nealon, winner of the Suburban handicap, met with much success across the Atlantic, especially since he was engaged to train for Alexander Al-exander Margil, prime minister of Ru-mauia. Ru-mauia. During the seven years he spent in that country Durnell won every ev-ery big race where the value was over $1000, these including the Derby and St. Leger. Many of the events were won for members of the royal familv of Rumania, and they always donated the money to charity. Horses Have Food Cards. Durnell left Rumania after the German Ger-man invasion, and since that time has raced at Petrograd and Moscow. Conditions Con-ditions in Russia are not favorable since the revolution, horses being on food cards, like the people. T''e limit was one quart of oats a day .or each animal, this being fixed by the jockey club. Jess Durnell, a brother, remained in charge of the breeding establishment conducted by the prime minister of Rumania. The visiting turfman says that the Russian, Rumanian, French and German governments are doing all they can to maintain the high quality of horses by encouraging the breeding and racing of them. The race meetings are held in the mornings, morn-ings, and the public is not admitted, there being no wagering in some of the countries and the purses being made up by subscriptions among the owners. The Rumanian government maintains main-tains establishments throughout the country for the care of stallions originally orig-inally bought as weanlings in England En-gland and France. They desire to keep up the quality of army horses. Durnell Dur-nell bought man3' of these horses for the government. Eddie Dugan, one of the greatest of American jockeys and well known in California, rode last season in Russia Rus-sia for Madame Lazaroff, for whose husband Jack Keene trained when he was in Russia some years ago. This year Dugan is under engagement to an English owner, but Durnell says there may be no racing there. Ross in Belgian Army. Eddie Ross, who rode at Emeryville, is foreman of the stable Durnell had iu Rumania. He joined the Belgian army early iu the great war, was captured cap-tured by the Germans and later made his escape to France. From there he went to Rumania before the United States entered the great conflict. Winnie O'Connor was an officer in the French army the last time Durnell heard from him. He was in charge of ambulances. O 'Connor rode over the jumps on the French tracks after he grew too heavy for flat racing. Durnell mot with many interesting experiences, especially in Moscow, where he and his wife were confined to j their apartments for eight days during the revolutionary fighting. Mrs. Durnell is an opera singer, who recently closed an eiijragement in Moscow. The Dumells will go to New York shortly. |