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ST. LOUIS TURF PROSPECTS. I St. Louis had a very successful and profitable racing season last year and the Jockey Clnb officials there expect an even more successful meeting this year. As to present conditions, the St. Louis Republic of Sunday says: j "The late spring has greatly delayed things at the Fair Grounds, where about 100 horses are to be conditioned for the St. Louis meeting, the inauguration of which is only six weeks off. President Robert Aull expected to have the main track in shape last week for the horses to gallop over, but the winter kin* lingered longer than he was expected to and the railbirds are still under cover. It looks as though the main track may be turned over to the horsemen this week, "Sixty owners have already applied for stable room at the Fair Grounds. Yesterday President Aull received a telegram from Burns and Water-house, who are at present racng their cracks in San Francisco, asking for accommodations f r fifteen horses, including Obsidian, Marplot, Dr. Sheppard and Miss Rowena. This string will leave Frisco for St. Louis April 20. "A list of the other prominent horsemen who have made application for stable room, and the Dumber of horses they will bring, follows : J. W. Schorr and Son, 24; J. C. Cahn, 7; A. Cahn. 12; William L. Simmons, 10: Barney Schreiber, 20; T. J. McHale, 15; W. W. Darden, 7; James Arthur, 7; Benson, Watts and Co., 6; Brown and Ward, 5; George W. Innes, 6; Andy Foster, 12; O. G. Parke, 10; Thomas Ryan, 27; Louis Ezell, 12; P. Dunne, 7; W.P.,Magrane,8; J.S.OBriem, 12; John Huffman. 20; John Rodegap, 12; Caesar Young. 13; Leigh and Jordan, 12; W. L. Cassidy, 7; P. Tomlinson, 12; J. E, Cushing, 8; Fred Foster, 13; George C. Bennett, 18; H. L. Jones and Co., 9; R. E. Maddox, 1, and F. H. Hickok, 8. "C. C. Maffitts horses wintered splendidly. There hasnt been a sick horss in the stable all winter. Every horse in the barn is high in flesh. Unless thi weather moderates pretty soon, Colonel Baker will hardly start anything before June 1. He has several Inaugural candidates in his barn, but its exceedingly doubtful if a horse can b3 prepared for that event in this vicinity this seasoa. William Christy would like to start Pmochle in the Inaugural, but last weeks weather has about caused him to give up all hopes of getting the little Panique horte ready for the first classic of the St Louis meeting Johnny Huffman trained What-er-Lou, the winner of last years Inaugural, at his Greenville III. farm, which is about fifty miles east of this city, but spring came early last year. There was a lot of distemper at the track this time.last year, which delayed matters considerably, but as far as the weather was concerned, the trainers had no kick coming. Huffman did not bring What er Lou to the track until a day or so before the Inaugural was run. •Billy Snyder brought his breadwinner, Ar-dath. in from the country two weeks ago. The speedy chestnut mare wintered well and is as fat as a bull. Tommy Sayers handy Free Knight gelding, Lee Bruno, was wintered at the Fair Grouids, and went through the cold months splendidly. He has grown some and thickened out in proportion. The late George Grasemucks horses are at the track in charge of his son, Henry. Fourth Ward is the best known performer in the stable. . Johnny Mengle is handling a grand-looking bunch of two-year-olds, the property of the young St. Louis turfman, Charles Van Studdiford. The Van Studdi-ford youngsters were all bred by Dr. A. W. Mc-Alester, of Columbia, Mo. Andy Foster removed his stable to the old East St. Louis track several weeks ago. The Chemist, Libbie and Wiggins are the best known horses in Fosters string. A big string of Musouri-bred horses belonging to Patton and Keith, of Sturgeon, Mo., has arrived at the Fair Grounds. In the bunch are sisters and brothers to many of the famous performers that made the colors of the late J. D. Patton famous on nearly every racetrack in the west. " Miss Marion was the only two-year-old in our stable that won her first start at the Fair Grounds last spring. remarked Martin Hub bell, Barney Schreibers agent, the other day. The speedy Himyar— Astolat filly was prepared at Woodlands for the Debutante Stakes, in which event she faced the barrier for the first time. Miss Marion was the fastest two-year-old ever trained at the farm. Jerry Hunt and Good Hope could beat her in heavy going, but on a good track the speedy Himyar til ly could rua over everything at the farm. A few days before we took her to the Fair Grounds she worked five eighths of a mile over the six-furlong track at the farm in 1 :02 flat, with a husky, big stable boy in the saddle. I thought my ticker was crazy, but Dick Williams watch also registered 1 :02, and after comparing notes we both came to the conclusion that Miss Marion could beat anything in training at the Fair Grounds. Thats how Schteiber came to bet such a chunk on the filly in the Debutante. All bookmakers, as a rule, are only too anxious to lay against juveniles that are heavily backed the first time they start. The percentage of them that win the first time out is small. Schreiber knew this fact would help him get a good price on Miss Marion, and he scooped in quite a package when the filly galloped home before her field in the first two-year-old event of the 98 racing season at the Fair Grounds. We tried to win with First Born the first time she started, but the fates decreed that she should be beaten a nose by some skate that was never heard of afterwards. First Born was an unlucky proposition. I believe she was the only get of the dead Morello that never scored a victory. First Born was a bay filly by Morello — Pennyroyal. Her dam was one of the first racehorses ever owned by Schreiber. First Born was the first thoroughbred ever foaled at Woodlands. She only started three times and, after running second twice, she was cut down in her third effort aad had to be retired to tne farm, where she died winter before last. "
