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ST. LOEIS STARTS TODAY. I .8 They have a lot of good racing at St. Lioma annually, and this year will furnish no exception , to the rule. A great array of horses is gathered at the fine Fair Grounds track, and today the sport is to be set agoing with the Inangnral . Handicap as the particular center of attraction. Concerning horses, prospects and sundry feat- . ures the Republic of Thursday says : . "The heavy downpour of Tuesday night and . Wednesday morning converted the track at the Fair Grounds into a veritable canal of mud and slush, which interfered materially with the preparation of the Inaugural candidates. Had the track been in good shape yesterday morning several doubtful starters would have received their final trials. The list of probable starters is still a large one and the indications point to a big field, no matter what the condition of the track j is. The race was run over a sloppy track last year and if it rains again between now "and Saturday another Inaugural will be run in the mud. Brewer Schorrs Inaugural candidate, J Macy, worked a mile in 1 :52 yesterday morning. The game son of Hindoo is now thought to be a sure starter and ought to give an excellent account of himself in the mud or on the dry. I What er Lou, Dr. Sheppard, Crocket and Leo Planter are all at home in heavy going What er Lou won the Inaugural in the mud last year. I Colonel W. L. Simmons is still undecided about starting Ben Bramble. The colonel has been trying for a week to work Ben Bramble with Ed Farrell, but the latter is the worst work horse at the track. He cant be persuaded to extend himself except in a race. Ed Farrells refusal to step fast has prevented the colonel from obtaining a line on Ben Brambles real form up to date. Fervors defeat of John Bright at Louisville Tuesday doesnt account for much, as it was John Brights first start this season. He ought to give a good account of himself in his next out, and if his party sends him here to start in the Inaugural, he may prove to be the horse they will all have to beat. "W. M. Rogers, the Philadelphia turfman, arrived at the Fair Grounds yesterday with a swell string of horses. Mr. Rogers shipped his stable here from Newport, where he preped his cracks for the St. Louis meeting. Among the well-know performers in the string are Richard J., Indra, Our Gertie, Rafaello and Chemisette. Richard J. is a 4-year-old bay horse by Morello, and is considered one of the fastest sprinters in the country. Mr. Rogers has a big division of well-bred 2-year-olds. A full sister to the great Algol, by Top Gallant— Equality, is among the bunch. She is a jet black filly. Algol is a light chestnut. Another juvenile star in the stable is a bay colt by Exile— Bracken. This youngster cost ,000 as a yearling. He belongs to a Philadelphian named Murphy. W. C. Whitneys representative was the contending bidder for this colt when he was sold as a yearling. Bracken, the dam of the 010 youngster, is a full sister to The Bard. One of the best looking youngsters in the stable is a chestnut colt by Miser— Olga. Mr. Rogers was favorably impressed with this young colts work at Newport and expects great things of him. Another fine-looking chestnut colt is the half brother to Billali by Silver Fox— She. Mr. Rogers also has a nice chestnut colt by Pessara— Bradwick and a promising bay colt by Blaise Rock— Rosaline. Alice Roberts and San Cecelia, a pair of 2-year-old fillies in the stable, are entered in the Debutante. Alice Roberts is a bay by Juvenal —Nut Brown, while San Cecelia is also a bay in color by Juvenal— Bassinette. Mr. Rogers thinks pretty well of a 3-year-old maiden called Young Dixon. This colt is a half brother to the famous Merry Monarch, being by Sir Dixon— I , . . . . j J I I Brambaletta. Merry Monarch is now in the stud at Jim Ohios place in St. Louis County. "Willie Ham, the ex-jockey, came over from Cincinnati with W. H. Rogers string. Ham retired from the saddle some years ago and is now a full-fledged trainer. He campaigned Mizpah at Newport this spring and will race the gelding at Chicago the rest of the year. Ham left for Chicago last night. Ham denies the report from Cincinnati that he was dissatisfied with Jockey Lamleys two rides on Mizpah at Newport. Lamley, it will be remembered, was suspended at Newport recently for pulling up a horse at the post. Lamley had the mount on one of Rogers horses on the day he was suspended. Rogers put Lamley up to please Ham, " If I had been dissatisfied with Lamleys riding on my own horse, I should never have recommended him to Rogers, who is an old friend of mine, said Ham yesterday. Mizpah did run too poor races under Lamley, but the track was heavy on both occasions and the gelding never did fancy that sort of going. Mr. Rogers has nothing to do with Mizpah. W. Roach is the owner of the gelding. " Its going to take a real good horse to win races at the Fair Grounds this season, remarked a veteran horseman yesterday. Never before in the history of the track have I seen so many good racehorses here at the same time. The big owners like C. C. Maflitt, Barney Schreiber, Tom Ryan, John W. Schorr, W. M. Rogers, Abe and J. C. Cahn, W. W. Darden, J. S. OBrien, John Rodegap, W. F. Schulte, Middleton and Jnngbluth, Caesar Young and George C. Bennett will have representatives in every race, and the owners of crabs, hounds and beagles had better take to the bushes ot once. This game around here is going to be red hot from the very start. The riding talent will be the best St. Louis has had in years. Nearly all the big stables here have crack jockeys under contract. The big owners realize that the St. Louis meeting is going to be a hard place to win at, and few of them are going to tackle it without their own riders. Schorr has Tommy Burns. Barney Schreiber will have Joe Piggott to pilot his two-year-olds. Charles Thorpe and the crack lightweight Devin will ride for Burns and Waterhouse. Tom Ryan has Rutter. Powell will probably pilct Bennetts horses. Jenkins, the latest crack developed at San Francisco, is coming to work for Charles Van Studdiford. Colonel W. L Cassi-dy has a retainer on Lines. Caesar Young has first call on Eddie Jones. Southard is under contract to the Maffitt stable, while Holden will be on band to ride for Jim Arthur. Thats a bunch hard to beat. Auy horseman racing at St. Louis this year without a retainer on some good rider is going to find himself at a serious disadvantage. "
