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MOKKIS PARK NEXT. t Before another week rolls by racing will be in full swing at Morris Park and horsemen who have been waiting patiently for the plucking of the really big plums are eagerly looking forward to Saturday, when the Westchester Asso- ciation will throw the gates open for its spring meeting of fifteen days. Then the campaign will be on in earnest, »fter the successful little skirmishes at Bennings and Aqueduct. Opera- tions at the latter track have still five days to run, and if the sport continues up to the unusual standard maintained during the past twelve racing days, appetites should be thoroughly whetted for the feast to come when selling platers give place to stake horses. At Morris Park all is bustle and preparation for the opening and from present indications Saturday should be a red-letter day in racing annals. Meanwhile Superintendent Gorman is taking precautions to have the surroundings in keeping with the high standard of sport and patronage nearly always to be found at the Jockey Club headquarters. Three special features are scheduled for Saturday, but the event which is absorbing almost all the attention up to date is the Metropolitan, first of the big handicaps on the Jockey Club circuit. When the substantial sum of ,000 is added to the subscriptions the total will be well worth racing for. But altogether apart from its intrinsic value the race is of great importance as furnishing what may perhaps be a key to the Brooklyn, Suburban and Brighton Handicaps later on. It also brings out the three-year-old division in more favorable contrast to i the seasoned brigade than any of the other handicaps, and so far the younger candidates have more than held their own in the annual running of this race. So far declarations have been exceptionally few, the only ones recorded being W. Lakelands Motley and W. C. Whitneys Killashandra and Jean Beraud. The former pair are three-year-olds and will not be seriously missed, but the absence of Jean Ber. aud will be generally regretted. The withdrawal of the noted four-year-old does not indicate that there is anything the matter with him, but rather that he is being nursed along carefully for more classic honors. Meanwhile Mr. Whitney still holds a strong hand with the speedy four-year-olds Admiration and Rush and the three-year-olds Montanic, DeLacy and Bramble Rose. Tne noted topweight Imp is regarded as a certain starter. Since her somewhat disappointing triple trial at Bennings, she has received a thorough "prep," and seems to have all the phenomenal speed which made her the heroine of last year. Ethelbert, who heads the rest of the list, has developed into a grand four-year-old, and is so well advanced that he will probably join issue with the sleepy black sprinter from Chillicothe. Firearm and Box were ready to race a month ago, and King Barleycorn and Half Time are right on edge. Mesmerist has the honor of carrying top weight in the three-year-old section, but on last seasons record he is not overburdened with 109 pounds. However, he is set to concede two pounds to the unbeaten Futurity winner Chacornac, and should this pair meet it will settle disputes that have kept the gossips going all winter. Other noted three. year-olds likely to face the flag are HiB Royal Highness, Kilmarnock, Maribert, Waring and Vulcain, all about on an equal plane in the handicappers opinion. Of little less importance than the Metropolitan is the Juvenile, which leads up to it. This is a dash down the last five furlongs of the Eclipse course and it is always keenly watched by horsemen as the first important test of the t two-year-old crop. To the subscriptions the association adds ,000, and nominators have supported the event so liberally that a representative field is anticipated. The third feature on Saturdays cards is likely to be the most picturesque of the lot. It is a maiden steeplechase over the two mile course and over forty horses are nominated. Probably sixty per cent will be withdrawn, but even then if the balance can negotiate the course it will be a sight guaranteed to catch the public fancy. — New York Sun.
