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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. The New Orleans Picayune of Nov. 22, says: "The books of the first weeks racing at the Fair groundB were distributed among the horsemen yesterday. The conditions have been carefully compiled by Secretary Clark, so aB to bring together the best-claes horses at the track. On the opening day but one of the races has selling allowances. As a matter of fact, Mr. Clark has eliminated as much as possible these kinds of races. This would tend to show that he expects a better average aB regards class than was hera last season, or for that matter any other season. The inaugural Handicap sweepstakes is, of course, the feature race of the opening day. In it ara entered fifty of the beat sprinters in tha west, and from their number the field will be condensed to probably about a dozen starters. Those likely to go to the post are : J. W. Fullers ch. h, George Arnold; J. Wink-field, jockey. J. F. Newmans ch. f, Burnia Bnnton; Coburn. J. Call and Co.s ch. g, Sevoy; Bobertson. A. B. Cowsers br. g, Mint Sauca; Yandusan, W, H. Williamson and Co.s br. g, Tom Kings-lay; Harshbarger. M. and G. Fosters b. m, Lennep; Gormlay. J. Arthurs b. c, W. J. Deboe; Otis. S. LHommedieus ch. g, St. Cuthbart; Bice. A. H. and D. H. Morris b. f, The Hoyden; Lyne. D. P. Bodgers blk. h, Kentucky; Minder. W. M. Sloans b. m, Maggie Davis; Hope. Bolich and Sweets ch. g, If You Dare; Hicks. J. O. Keenes b. g, Little Jack Horner; H. Cochran. If half of the above number face the flag, an excellent contest should result. This list is not official, but is merely a surmise of those likely to start. Of course, when the weights are announced one will have a bettor idea of the ones which will be sent after tho money. Mr. J. O. Keene, just in from Memphis, was at the track oarly yesterday looking over his thoroughbreds. He has six in his Btable this winter, among them Braw Lad, an old favorite with local racegoers ; Little Jack Horner, Miss Conrad, Siren Song and two yearlings, one a bay filly by Bey del Bey Marsa, and the othor a chestnut colt by Phoenix Energy. Mr. Keene stopped off at Memphis on his way down from Chicago, and while there vieitod Montgomery Park, where he looked over the yearlings. He reports that the Memphis track is in better shape than ever. The track superintendent has the heavy rollers at work every day. Montgomery Park shelters nnra high-class horses this winter than ever before, and Secretary M acfar- lan looks for the bast meeting next spring in the clubs history." Mere Hill is a brown mare, foaled in England in 188?, and imported to this country by the McssrB. Keene. She is by Macgregor Miss Penhill, by Newminster, and hor son, Unmasked, 4, a brown gelding by Domino, has won brackets this year. In the spring of 1900 Mere Hill produced twins to St. Leonards. These have lived and thrived, and are as big and Btrong as any yearlings in the stud. They ara browns, a colt and a filly, and look alike. They have not yet been tried, but Major Daingprfleld is of the I opinion that they will, with opportunity, acquit themselves well on the turf. Probably tho Messrs. Keene will give them a chance. The Stud Book Bhows very faw instances of twins long surviving birth. It is exceedingly rare for them to reach maturity. Only accident or unlookod for disease will cut short the lives of the Mere Hill twins. Turf, Fisla and Farm. H. Shields, who has been riding in the east this year for Senator McCarren, stopped off in Chicago yesterday on his way to the coaBt, where ho is to ride this winter for J. G. Brown. He had a long talk with Cash Sloan and Piggott befora leaving New York. Both were looking in excellent health. They said that they had made plenty of money riding across the water and that they intended to go back, as both had contracts to ride there next season.
