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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. F ?Che JngliBhlFiold draws attention to the fact j that the prosecution of John Oka, a steeple- -chase rid9r, at the Bideford Petty Siasions re- cently, raisas the qas3tion of the expsdiency or f otherwise of the use of spars in a race and Bays: "It was alliged that on Okas moantr- fusing a fence at the Bideford steeplschases , eha was nnmercifally sparred. There was, of coarse, the usual hard swearing, for, whereas, one side declared that the mare had ben . crnelly sparred, witnesses for the defense stated that she was scarcely touched at all. Tbe bench, however, fined the defendant 1 and costs. Of the facts of the case we say nothing, bat the question of the use of spars is involved, sb also is that of what to do with a refuser. There is no doubt that spars were originally nothing more than goads, except so far as spars of gold or silver marked the social position of the -wearer. Then, in later days, when horsemanship came to be better understood, the spar was an aid, and, as one writer stated, waB employed to turn the croup in othor words, when the left spar was applied, the horses hindquarters went to the right. On the turf many owners and trainers will not allow jockeys, especially lade, to wear Bpurs at all, aDd they are doubthss right. Spurs, as we know, are almost universally worn in the hunting field, but simply as a set off to a boot, whether a top or black, and nearly every man who buys i a pair of spurs has the rowels nipped off, or has a three-penny piece inserted instead. A bloodstained - hunter is quite the exception, with men l who can ride, and it is happily the case that ; when spurs with what has been dalled in America . a business end to them are worn comparatively . few men can use them, with effect. The i girths get more of the spurs than does the horses body. Those who know most about riding are.perfectly well aware that in en ordinary way spurs do more harm than good; but what to do with a refuser in a steeplechase is, it must be confessed, a difficulty. Most experienced jockeys are of opinion that the application of the spur causes a contraction of the muscles and does not conduce to the horse putting forth its best powers, nor do6s the use of spurs, as a rule, cure a refuser. A whip is much more effective, and hands and leg pressure, perhaps, do more than either." J. B. Haggin, the multi-millionaire breeder j f , . i - l ; . . i and owner of thoroughbreds, is contemplating an extension in racing affairs. At the present tima he has upward of one hundred yearlings and horses of other ages in the care of C. Llttlefleld, Jr., at Eatontown, N. J. So extensively doss Mr. Haggin intend to pash his racing interests that he has purchased four acres of land on Neck Road, near Ocean Boulevard, Bheapshead Bay, on which he will build the moBt modern racing stable in the country. While the building has not yet been commenced, it is more than probable that it will be completed bafore the opening of the season at the la rger tracks next year. The colors of Mr. Haggin were not seen on the New York tracks for some years until this year when he raced Water Color and a few others. Next year there ISiB every probability that the Haggin colors will be very prominent in all the stakes. A decpatch from Washington says that August Belmont and his associates constituting the Eastern Jockey Club have announced that all participants in the proposed race meeting at Charleston, will be outlawed. This is a severe blow for the new racing association and will keep many of the second raters from the east, from participating. While this order will keep many fair horsee from going there, it will probably have no influence on the promoters, as they have enough horses at the track at present to successfully conduct a race meeting. Many of them are already under the ban of the West-i em Jockey Club and the new order wont hurt them to any extent. Just why the ban was placed on the Charleston meeting has not been announced. The chief reasons were, probably, that it is a half mile track and that the meet-, ing will be conducted by J. N. Hill, of St. Asaph fame.
