Eastern Racing Affairs, Daily Racing Form, 1902-07-31

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EASTERN RACING AFFAIRS. "The most successful meeting in point of patronage that the Brighton Beach Racing Association has ever held will end next Saturday. Then comes the sport at Saratoga for nearly a montb. The meeting at Brighton Beach will wind up with the running of the 0,000 Brighton Derby at a mile and a quarter for three-year-olds, and at this writing it looks as if a good sized field will be drawn to the : post. Gen. F. C. McLewees Major Daingerfield, winner of the Brooklyn Derby, the Lawrence Realization and other rich stakes, is a sure starter and has already been made the favorite. He will carry 126 pounds and will probably give away from ten to fifteen pounds to all of the others. The black son of Handspring Mon Droit pulled up lame after the Realization, but be soon walked out of it and is now as sound as a new gold dollar. , The performance of 8. S. Browns Hyphen on Saturday, when he ran a mile and a sixteenth in 1 :44 4-5, establishing a new record for the Brighton track, entitles him to a high place in the figures of the handicappers. He will take up only 111 pounds on Saturday, by virtue of a fifteen-pound allowance for not winning ,000 this year, and if the track is faBt ho will probably be royally supported to defeat Major Daingerfield. Incidentally Green B. Morris sterling pair, Old England and Homestead, will be sent to the post, the former packing 123 pounds. August Belmonts Namtor is a possible starter, and so is Frank Farrells DeReszke. Jere Dunn is sure to let his game filly Sun Shower run. especially in view of her exhibition of pluck in the Brighton Cup race on Saturday," says the New York Sun of Monday. "The Derby, however, will not be the sole attraction on Saturday, as the 0,000 Brighton Junior Stakes for two-year-olds, at three-quarters of a mile will be decided on that day. Among the eligibles are Mizzen, Hurstbourne, Sir Voorhies, Rigodon, Prediction, Whitechapel, Dalesman, Mexican, Irish Lad, Artvis, Janeway, Dauphin and others of merit. The second half of the 5,000 Produce Stakes for two-year-old fillies at three-quarters of a mile will be run on Thursday. A high-class field is looked for. Other stake events for the week are the Winged Foot Handicap for two-year-olds at five and a half furlongs tomorrow and the Islip Handicap for three-year-olds and upward at a mile and a furlong on Wednesday. t "The liberality of the Brighton Beach management in the way of offering from 00 to ,500 in added money for overnight races has not been genarally appreciated by horse owners. Just why this is the case appears to be a puzzle to some people although a partial explanation was made the other day by a well-known horseman who said to The Sun reporter : "If there was more and better stable room at Brighton the western horsemen would flock here. As a matter of fact the eastern purses will be the means in time of breaking up racing in the west, if they have not begun to do so already. The liberality of the Brighton management is unquestioned. It has spent thousands of dollars for the accommodation of the public and yet the horse owners have seemingly been neglected in the way of having provided for them comfortable quarters for their horses. It is a fact that many owners I stable at Gravesend and Sheepshead Bay, while others, finding no accommodations at all, are forced to remain idle. If it is true that the Brighton Beach Association owns as much land adjacent to the track as common report has it, there should be no reason why more stables could not be constructed before another season. If such a move is made I believe we will see better horses and more of them funning for Brightons stakes and purses. "Horsemen were discussing yesterday the performance of Gold Heels in the Brighton Cup, and were also wondering how much longer these high-priced, long-distance races which practically end in fizzles will be continued. At present there is no way to compel an owner to run his horse in one of these events if he does not care to do so, but a suggestion has been made that a rule should be passed by the Jockey Club compelling an owner to pay a heavy forfeit unless he signifies his intention of not starting his horse at least a week before the event. Up to Saturday morning the public was led to believe, for information to the contrary was not to be had, that there would be at least six or sight starters in the Brighton Cup race, including Gold Heels, Bonnibert, Herbert, Argregor and others of their kind. But when Saturday arrived it was found out that Gold Heels stood alone, his only rivals being a couple of selling platers. Naturally this was a source of bitter disappointment, not only to the racing public but also to the Brighton officials who had done their best to induce owners to start their horses if only for the good of the sport. But owners, nowadays, seem possessed with selfish motives and, fearful of defeat, are willing to let rich stake events dwindle to nothing. The public supports racing liberally. If it was not for the flood of money poured into the box offices daily, big stakes would be out of the question. It would seem, therefore, a matter of good policy to cater to the public by providing racicg that will enthuse, not disgust the army of patrons who have helped to make the sport what it is. "The need of an emergency flag, to be used in conjunction with the starting barrier, appears to be worthy of serious consideration. On Saturday in the last race the barrier was released by an error and all but two of the field went away. The starter cried, Pull up! and was obeyed. If a larger field had been at the post, however, there might have been serious trouble. It was at Aqueduct last fall that the barrier went up by mistake and those that left the post, including the favorite, ran the distance only to be ordered to run over by the stewards. At that time there was talk of an emergency recall flag. The point raised is that if a favorite should get away with a false start and run the distance, it would not be fair to his backers to make him run over when completely tired out. Bets, of course, would not b9 paid on the result of a false break. With an emergency flag there would be no alternative but to pull up. The releasing of the barrier, according to the rules, means a start and those left at the post have no redress. But according to starter Fitzgerald, a start takes place when he cries Come on I and lets the barrier go at the same time. Mr. Fitzgerald has placed the blame for releasing the barrier by mistake upon himself, but so far there have been no serious results. Some day, however, there will be trouble unless a provision is made for just such mishaps."


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800