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WHITNEY ABANDONS ENGLAKD. Some time ago it was announced that William C. Whitney intended to send a big string of thoroughbreds to Eagland this fall, including his noted two-year-olds, Nasturtium, Yankee and Bine Girl. Nasturtium and Yankee, it was stated, would start next year in the Derby and Blue Girl in tbe Oaks. Saturday, however, it leaked out at the Gravesend track that Mr. Whitney had practically decided not only to keep hiB horses in this country, but aleo to break up his extensive stable in England, The disqualification of the filly Leonora Loi-ing, who defeated Mr. Whitneys Blue Girl for the Great Filly Stakes on Sept. 7 is believed to have had much to do with Mr. Whitneys change of plans. The fact that Leonora Loring was disqualified because of an irregularity in the form of hor entry led Mr. Whitney to look closely into the conditions governing the two English stake events for which his two year-olds were all along believed to be eligible. Mr. Whitney cams to the conclusion that in view of the fact that when Blue Girl was nominated for the Oaks and Yankee for the Derby, hie joint ownership with John E. Madden was not registered with the English Jockey Club, there might be a quibble. Bather than i CONTINUED ON FIFTH PAGE. WHITNEY ABANDONS ENGLAND. Continued from First Paga. run the chances of winning the Derby with Yankee and then have him disqualified because of a technical point, or have the same thing happen to Bine Girl in the eyent of her success in the Oaks, Mr. Whitney determined to run no risks. Then again, the fact that there was some tangle between A. L. Aste and J. P. Kra-nor over the ownership of Nasturtium before he was sold to Mr. Whitney for 0,000, is -believed to have been a further argument in favor of keeping the great colt in America. It will be recalled that John E. Madden was the purchaser of both Yankee and Blue Girl when they were yearlings, but it was admitted by Mr. Whitney shortly after Yankee won the Futurity in the name and colors of Mr. Madden, that he was the owner of the majority of the interest in Yankee. Later Mr. Whitney bought Mr. Maddens interests in both Yankee and Blue Girl, at a price not stated. In the Leonora Loring case, the filly was disqualified because B. G. Thomas, the nominator of her dam, was not the owner at the time of nominating. As Yankee and Blue Girl were nominated by Mr. Madden and no mention was made of Mr. Whitneys joint ownership, it was thought by the millionaire turfman that there might be some hitch. An estimate of the value of tha horses Mr. Whitney intended to race in England has been made as follows: Horse. Value. Horse. Value. Nasturtium ....0,000 Gunfire 0,000 Yankee. 40,000 Ten Yearlings 50,000 Goldsmith 30,000 Blue Girl 30,000 King Hanover.. 15,000 Total 25,000 Concerning this matter Mr. Whitney said in an interview. " It is true that I intend to withdraw from the British turf. I am sorry that this statement has been made because it is premature. But since it has been made I confirm it. It seems that some of our friends, who did not know that there was anything private in a recent conversation, have talked, and the gossip has gone bo far that it is necessary to confirm it. "Yankee, blue Girl, Nasturtium and perhaps Goldsmith and King Henover or whatever horses might have been selacted to make up the rest of the string I intend! d to Band to England this fall, will remain at home. My racing stable in England will be broken up. I shall order the good ones in the lot sent home, and those I do not care to keep will be sold on the other side. I have not decided which ones I shall keep and which shall be sold. I have sent no orders, and, indeed, this whole change of plans has come within the last few days. "The English rule in regard to the entries is very Btrict. It is much more rigidly enforced than it is in this country, and, while my partnership arrangements with other owners is well understood by the racing authorities here and show in the records, I am fearful that they are not on the other side. "I should not care to carry off the honors to which I believe my horses are entitled and are able to gain on the English tracks and then, have my entries questioned and the honors clouded by a technicality. I have written a full explanation of my position to the authorities in England and had not intended to announce my decision until I had received a reply. "I have not fully developed my new plans and I cannot say absolutely that I will not again race in England, but my hopes and plans for the American turf, especially the Saratoga track, are well known. I have decided not to send my horses abroad and to break up my stable in England, but I have some engagements there for the future which, I may decide to fulfill. They are too far in advance for me to undertake a decision concerning .them at present. My plans have been entirely changed and I have not considered them with enough cars for me to announce in detail just what I shall do." Mr. Whitneys decision is of great importance to the American turf, and as one result it is more than probable that we shall see his cracks at Washington Park next year. From a financial standpoint the American Derby of 1902 will equal the Epsom Derby, and it is quite in the range of probabilities that with Yankee, Nasturtium and Goldsmith he will try to succeed in the task that has brought discomfiture to so many of New Yorks leading turfmen in years paBt. It is our gain that his formidable stable, reinforced by the best he now has in England, will be raced over American racecourses instead of being sent across the ocean to contend for the honors of the English turf,
