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EASTERN RACING AFFAIRS. Of matters interesting mainly to turf followers in the east, but in part of moment locally, tho New York Sun of Monday says: "The turning down of James OLoary, the western bookmaker, by the Metropolitan Turf Association is likely to cause no end of trouble. As the Sun said last week, there is already a great dealof ill feeling among the bookmakers and talk of a split in the local layers organization has been heard. OLoary, who, with Drake, Gates and Co., is said to be behind the Big Store operated at Sheepshoad .Bay by Joe Ullman and Kid Wellor, some time ago wanted to secure membership in tho Metropolitan Turf Association, which is tho name of the book-jnaking syndicate controlling the rings at racetracks in tho Empire State. OLeary is president of the Western Turf Association, a similar organization operating chiefly in Chicago, and is the richest bookmaker in the United States. "When Butch Thompson died at Saratoga he left among his effects a button emblematic of his membership in the Metropolitan Turf Association Here was a chance for OLeary to get; the coveted membership, so he wired, Kid Weller on Futurity day to bid for the Thompson button and not to stop at any price. Weller got the telegram just at a time when Drake, Gates and Co. were cutting and slashing tho members of the Metropolitan Turf Association in the ring on tho victory of Drakes colt Savable. The Ullman-Weller book, however, escaped the scorching. As the western crowd took about 00,000 out of the ring, it can be readily appreciated that thtre was much bitterness among those of tho bookmaking syndicate which had been hard hit. That night Weller attended a meeting of tho Metropolitan Turf Association and when the Thompson button was put up at auction, he bid ,500 for it, twice tho usual amount of membership, and the bauble was knocked down to him in behalf of OLeary, pending confirmatory action of the Board of Stewards of the M. T. A. "The ill feeling over tho Savable killing did not abate over Sunday and on Monday evening there was another meeting at which 230 members of the Metropolitan Turf Association were present, all voting on tho admission or rejection of OLeary. It is said on good authority that 227 voted to admit the western man, but three members voted to blackball OLeary, and that settled it. The men who thus hurled defiance at the Chicago bookmaker were, it is said, throo of the biggest layers in the east, whoso business had been seriously affected by the rush of money to tho Ullman-Weller book. As tho influence of tho Big Throo was of sufficient weight to hold good, OLeary was notified that he could not operate in an eastern ring. "Naturally OLeary was incensed, but so far ho has refused to say a word. That he will even it up in some way there is not the shadow of a doubt. The Ullman-Weller book has been cutting into the others all during the past week, both as to the amount of business transacted and the liberality of prices quoted. Ullman in a talk with the Sun man yesterday said: " We are doing business in our own way. Wo do not wish to hurt anybody else and are not operating with that end in view. Wo simpy offer our own prices and stand ready to take any wager, no matter how large it may be. The other layers have the same privilege. "It was rumored among turfmen yesterday that J. B. Haggin has decided to sell all of his horses in training at an early date. Mr. Haggin has not met with much success in tho two-year-old field tnis season, and only recently ho was without a jockey to ride a colt in the Futurity. Then, too, his trainer, Charles Littlefield, Jr., died the other day, which was a severe blow to the millionaire turfman, who, incidentally, owns more racehorses than any other turfman in this country and is pn bably the largest breeder also. Mr. Haggins ill fortune on tho turf this year began when the groat Water Color went wrong, or, rather, showed signs of a breakdown, and was compelled to go to the stud Since then everything appears to have gone wrong with the Haggin.stablo, so that the owners determination to get rid of some of his property is not surprising. It is not Mr. Haggins intention to retire from tho turf altogether, however, for he will be in lino with a long string of two-year-olds next season, the get of Watercress, Salvator, St. Gatien, Star Ruby and.other famous stallions. "As was told in tho Sun yesterday, Whitney and Duryeas Acofull, which finished second to Irish Lad in tho Flatbush Stakes on Saturday, may start in tho English Derby next year. Tho sou of MirthfulMyrtle Harkness, is eligible for Englands blue ribbon event, and buforo young Mr. Whitney sailed he told John E. Madden that if the colt acquitted himself well in tho Fiatbuandh ho should bo sent to the other side before tho suow flies. Aand Acelull was a ten-pounds better colt than Irish Lad, it is said that Madden lost no time in deciding to send Ace-full to England. It is understood, too, that the trip will be made so that the colt will have the benefit of a comparatively smooth voyage and can winter well in a new climate. After the Flatbush was run and won turfmen wore of the opinion that Ace-full is tho best two-year-old colt iu training. Madden, by tho way, know something when he so readily offered to enter Acofull iu a matcu race with Savable, the Futurity winner."
