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NORTHERN CIRCUIT STAKES. As to prospects for the coming season of racing over the tracks composing the Northern Circuit the Nashville American says : "Walter O. Parmer, secretary and manager of the Canadian racing circuit, has returned from Detroit, whence he went to receive the entries to the seventeen stakes which closed recently, Mr. Parmer says there is a slight decrease in the number of entries as compared with his last seasons list, the principal falling off being iu the two-year-old stakes. Notwithstanding this, he received nearly 700 entries, with several California lists yet to arrive. "Among the entries are nearly all of the high class horses of three years old and upward racing in the west, and Mr. Parmer anticipates some great contests in his handicaps. No matter how light the list of entries, it is the policy of Mr, Parmer not to declare off any of his stakes. "Manager Parmer is considering the advisability of giving a twelve-day meeting at Highland Park, Detroit, from May 3 to May 18, closing just in time for the horses to roach Toronto for the opening day there on May 20, Mr. Parmers idea in giving this meeting previous to the opening of the regular Canadian circuit is to give the horsemen an opportunity to break the ship-merit, as most of thoso going to Toronto come from the southern and western tracks and the scheme would be equally as advantageous to the Toronto and Hamilton meetings as to the tracks comprising the Parmer-Hendrie circuit. None of the closed stakes will be run at this early meeting, but the program will consist of purses and overnight handicaps of from S250 to 00 each, six or more races each day. "It would seem a good spot for a number of the eastern campaigners to drop into, especially inasmuch as the east gives promise of being a harder territory than ever this season for a horse of mediocre caliber to earn brackets. Mr. Parmer says he is almost positive this meeting will be given. "Mr. Parmer also asserts that several wealthy Canadians, who heretofore have been unknown to the racing game, stimulated by the success of some of their associates, have declared their intention of taking an active interest as soon as the season opens up. "So promising is the future of the Bel Air Jockey Club at Montreal that it has determined to erect a new grandstand, club house, betting ring and paddocks. Work on them is to begin April 1, and they are to be pushed rapidly to completion. At no place in the country has racing taken such a rapid and firm hold upon the society people and moneyed men as at Montreal. Everything points toward a thoroughly successful season for the Canadian circuit."
