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HAS NOT RETIRED. In selling to his partner, Herman B. Duryea, his half interest in the Mirthful colt, Acefull, now in England, it appears that Harry Payne Whitney has no intention of retiring from the turf. The statement that young Mr. Whitney would retire frorn active racing could not be accepted by turfmen who knew of the unbounded enthusiasm and genuine love which he has for the sport. A boy with a new toy is not so happy by one-half as is Harry Payne Whitney when a horse bearing his colors or the colors of his father gets home in front. Therefore it was that the report of his retirement seemed improbable on the face of it. The story had its origin in the announcement made recently that Mr. Whitney had" sold to Mr. Duryea his half interest in Acefull, which was shipped to England at the close of the Morris Park meeting and which will be prepared for the Derby by John Huggins, the trainer of the English division of the elder Whitneys racing establishment. The story of the reason for the sale is an interesting one, and, moreover, one that, in the opinion of many turfmen, reflects great credit on the judgment of, young Mr. Whitney. Until the running of the pagne Stakes Mr. Whitney, it seems, looked favor on the plan of shipping Acefull to England, but the defeat of the colt in that race convinced him that Acef all was not a Derby horse. Mr. Duryea, on the other hand, was bent on having a try for the Derby with Acefull, and the young owners, agreeing to disagree, Mr. Whitney sold his half interest in Acefull to his partner. Despite the fact that Enoch Wishard, who knows the course and the colt, and that John Madden, who developed him, believe Acefull to be of Derby caliber, there are any number of horsemen who hold a contrary opinion and who.will not change their views unless the result of the race should prove them to be in the wrong. Acefull, they say, is more likely to develop into a first-class sprinter than into a distance horse, and, in support of their views they point to his high action. If Mr. Duryeas estimate of the colt, backed as it is by the opinion of such shrewd horsemen as John Madden and Enoch Wishard, should prove to be the correct one American turfmen of all classes will join in congratulating him, and the congratulations of. none will be more sincere or more hearty than will be those of Harry Payne Whitney. Mr. Duryea offered additional evidence of the high hopes which he entertains of Acefull by entering the colt in the Champion Stakes, to be run at the second October meeting at Newmarket.
