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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. Starters under all systems have had their own troubles, as tho following tale of a time when the barrier was undreamed of will serve to illustrate : In 1861, at Point Breeze Park, Philadelphia, the starts were made with the drum, from which of course there was no recall. At the post for an 00 stake race the starter hit the drum so hard that, he smashed in the drumhead, and the muffled sound it made was heard by only one jockey out of tho ten. contestants. This boy kept right on to the first turn, where, not seeing theothera coming af tor him, he eased up and started to go back to tha post. Zeb Ward, the old-time turfman partner of Prince McGrath, and at one time manager of the Little Rock Penitentiary, in Arkansas, owned the horse that had gone on. RuBhing over to the starter, the big six-footer from Kentucky observed: " Excuse me sah, but did you hit that drum, Bah?" At which the starter held up the smashed drumhead to Ward, with the answer: "Dont that look as if I had hit that drum, sah?" Big Zab dusted at once for Mb boy, whom he waved frantically on, and the. latter took Wards colt over the course. Ward claimed the stake money, which was awarded to him. But all bets were declared off and a new race run between the horses that had atood at the post. But should such a case occur now bets would go with the horse, and there would ba about tho most turbulent scene ever witnessed on a metropolitan track. Tho New York Sun of last Monday saya anent the no-recall system: "Strong advocates of the no-recall syetcm still insist that it will work out successfully and that it should not be tinkered with. They say that both Startsr Fitzgerald and Starter Dwyer have done successful work with the no-recall flag and that it is Starter Cassidya fault if be cannot give satisfaction. While the controversy continues, however, the betting public wixes impatisnt. Said a prominent bookmaker recently: " If the public should eomo day organize it of the betting ring for a single race, the no-recall system would be abolished. Tha bookmakers are organizod and if tho system was considered by them to be injurious, you can bat they would have it dono away with immediately " If Senator. D. Sullivan completes his new racetrack at Jamaica there will probably ba a shake-up in the dateB to be allotted next season by the Jockey Club. But just now there is soma doubt as to whether Sullivan and his friends will proceed with tha work at tho now racecourse. Just what the hitch is cannot be learned, but rumor has it that the recent election has had something to do with the plans of the Tammany Hall politicians who have racing proclivities. Thera is considerable bitter feeling bstween the Aqueduct peoplo and the Sullivan crowd because of a sneaking suspicion that the latter went to supplant the Queens County Jockey Clubs track with the new course at Jamaica. New York Sun. A list of winnings in stakes and purses of the leading eastern owners this year shows that W. C. Whitney is at tho top with 08,440. Goldsmith has been tho heaviest winner for Mr. Whitney, as he captured in all 7,850. Blue Girls wnnings amounted to 1,455, when running in tho Whitney colors, while Nasturtium, for whom Mr. Whitney paid S30,000, won only ,850. King Hanover won 4,680. John E. Madden did nearly, as well on the season, his share of the stakes and purses being 03,115. Blue Girl won 0,130 for him and Yankoe took 9,130, including the rich Futurity, Frank Far-rella horses, especially Blues, Bonnibert and The Musketeer, won 9,110. Green B. Morris comeB next with 6,135, of which his two-year-old Cunard won 1,155. Clarence H. Mackays share was 0,137. Heno won 0,287 for him and Banastar ,020. The Pepper Stable captured 0,600, "Whiskey Eiug being the most successful horse with 4,305. JameB R. Keenes winnings amounted to 6,001, of which the great Commando corralled 17,141 before he broke down. Water Color won 6,330 for J. B. Haggin, whoso total was 0,405.
