Eastern Turf Topics, Daily Racing Form, 1902-07-24

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EASTERN TURF TOPICS. "Mexicans signal victory in the Produce Stakes on Saturday will serve to make him a factor in the Futurity calculations, Incidentally, the statement to the effect that Mexican got several lengths the best of the start on Saturday and won in consequence is offset by the remark of .Shaw, who rode Hurst Park, that the start was perfect and that both Hurst Park and Injunction were away on a line with Mexican half a head back. Trainer Rowe has so many good two-year-olds in the Keene stable this year that he is at a loss to know just which ones to send to the post in the Futurity. At present he fancies Whitechapel, winner of the second part of the Double Event, and Rigodon, the St. Gatien colt, who has just made his debut and is as green as grasB. But whatever decision Rowe makes the fact remains that the Keene representatives in the Futurity will meet such dangerous rivals as Irish Lad, Mizzen, Mexican, Africander, Hurst-bourne, Sir Voorhies, River Pirate and others. John E. Madden, by the way, is reported to have a surprise in store for the public in Merry Reel, a chestnut filly by Mirthful Amanda V., wh has I been burning up the track in private trials," says the New York Sun of Monday. "While most of the big stables will be shipped to Saratoga within the next ten days, it has been officially announced that the Keene horses will remain at Brighton until the end of the present meeting. Last year the Keene colors were not seen at Saratoga, partly because the stable was not long in good horseflesh and partly, it was, said, because of the supposed feeling between Mr. Whitney and Mr. Keene. The great interest Mr. Whitney has shown in building up Saratoga within the last two years has caused him to be recognized as the man in control there. For that reason land because of the gossip relative to the rivalry that exists between the two millionaires, turfmen are anxious to know whether the Keene stable will race at the Springs next month. So far there has been no intimation of the stables plans, one way or another, but it was, said on good authority yesterday that the white, blue spots would be carried at Saratoga in several of the more important events. Mr. Keene is expected back from Europe shortly. He will bo home in time to see the Futurity run. The success of his two-year-olds is said to have hastened his departure for this country. "According to Robert Pinkertdn, who has passed many seasons as the official guardian of the tracks here, this Is a phenomenal year in point of attendance. Pinkertou says that the crowds have averaged 20 per cent more in numbers each day than last year, and that the tracks, all of them, have been overtaxed. Ever since the Jockey Club secured control of racing in the east, said Pinker-ton the other day, there has been a steady improvement year by year. Of course, as to the racing itself, other men can speak with more authority, but I would like to say a few words about the people who patronize the races. We never have had such crowds as this year, both in numbers and quality. Every day I see parties of ladies come to the track unescorted. They are as safe as they would be on Fifth avenue. Such a thing was never heard of before.- On Suburban Day, for instance, with 40,000 persons at the traok, there was not a theft, a loss or a figkt and net one drunken man on the grounds. That speaks pretty well for the class of people that attend the races. " Honesty in racing was never more convincingly shown, said a well-known horseman yesterday, than during the week just ended when the public picked winners ; the horses ran true to form and the bookmakers were burned up down at Brighton. "It is estimated that more than fifty bookmakers have been driven to the wall since the racing season opened. At Brighton alone a dozen layers have been forced to get upon the ground and turn guess-ers. Several members of the bookmakers association nave made the assertion that the talent, bo called, must be at least 00,000 ahead of the game. David Gideon, PatricK H. McCarren, J. H. Carr, Dave Johnson, W. M. Barrick, Tom Mannix, Pittsburg Phil and Packy Ryan are the men who have been chiefly instrumental in making the layers unhook their bankrolls. "The improvements at Saratoga have been completed. The grandstand has been moved nearer the track and the tiers of seats raised to admit a perfect view of the racing. The seating oapacity has also been increased. The clubhouse has been rearranged so that an unobstructed view of the track may be had from the porches. The betting ring is now joined to the stand by added overhangs and is 175 feet long by 90 feet wide. Back of the grandstand the new paddock has been built, 220 feet long by 50 feet wide. Near at hand is a new building exclusively for the use of jockeys. The new track is a beauty. The surveyors say that it is one thirty-second of an inch over a mile in circumference pretty close figuring."


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1902072401/drf1902072401_3_2
Local Identifier: drf1902072401_3_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800