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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. The formal lease of the conrso at Bennings to the "Westchoster Racing Association simply means that the course will be under the direction of that association -while preserving tho nam and officials -which have made it popular in the District of Columbia and with a view to increasing its usefulness in the racing world. Tho Washington Jockey Club, having a floating debt and also a mortgage on its property, and being unable to pay for the same, made an arrangement with August Belmont by which Mr. Belmont was to pay off all indebtedness, to pay each shareholder full par value of his stock and to take in return the property of the Washington Jockey Club. A now organization was then formed, with a capitalization of 0O,C0O. The stock of this organization, practically owned by Mr. Belmont, was bought by the Westchester Racing Association, except such shares as former shareholders had preferred to take. The Washington Jockey Club then leased its property to the Westchester Racing Association for the term of twenty years on a guaranteed payment of interest on the 9tock. The organization, therefore, is simply the Washington Jockey Club of the District of Columbia, with the same officials an heretr-fcre. but tho controlling interest is in tho hand9 of tho Westchester Racing Association. This was done in order that the property might not be hampered with any debts, that the stockholders might bo assured a good return on their stock and that tho Washington Jockey Club, backed by an organization of the importance of the Westchester Racing Association, could be in a position to hold racing meetings of more importance, giving better stakes and prizes. Emil Hers has received a letter from Sire Brothers, Now York, asking him to price McChesney and Golden" Rule. He says that he did not make a price, because he did not think that Sire Brothors would consider any price he might make. As matters have turned out recently it looks as though Durnell and Herz have about decided to keep McChesney and take a chance of winning some big bets on him in the early spring ovents in the west the coming season. H. M. Ziegler, the Cincinnati theatrical manager and turfman, has offered John Welch, Spring Station, Ky., ,5CO for the chestnut two-year-old colt by The Commoner Rosa Masso, by Rossington. Welch asks ,000. This colt was a sensational yearling last fall, working a quarter in 22i secondB. He is now in Dan OBriens stable at the Kentucky Association track, having been shipped there several days ago. He has many valuable engagements. Steps have been taken to throw the Kenilworth racetrack, owned by the Buff alo Racing Association, into bankruptcy. An official document has been filed in the supreme court by a majority of the directors of tho association setting forth that the stock, effects and other property of the corporation are not sufficient to afford a reasonable security to those who may deal with it, and that it will be beneficial to the interests of the stockholders and creditors that the same be dissolved. All parsons interested in the corporation are called upon to show cause why the corporation should not be dissolved. Whether, as a result of this action, the debts to horsemen and officials, as well as to the Jockey Club, will thus be wiped out, is a much discussed question. It is tho second time in about -Ave years that owners of horses have been disappointed in the matter of prompt and fnll payment of purses and stakes by racing associations in or about Buffalo, and it is beginning to become tiresome to them, they declare. W. L. Simmols, of George Wilkes fame, who bred the crack throe;year-old Colonel Bill, chief broad-winner of the older division of J. E. Maddens rac ing stable of 1902, and sold by that successful turfman to L. V. Bell for a reported price of 4,000, has a full brother to the winner of the Belle Meade Stakes, Ocean, Omnium and Oriental handicaps, which, from the high form ho showed in his trials last fall as a yearling, gives every indication of making even a superior horse to his sensational brother. Unlike Colonel Bill, which is brown in color, this two-year-old is a chestnut, seemingly having bred back to his grandsire, Prince Charlie, as both his sire and dam are an opposite color. Entries to the stakes to be raced for at the spring meeting of the JLiatonia Jockey Club are all in. Tho eventB have filled remarkably well, and the management is rightfully gratified at the class of the material which will make the racing. There is a very healthy increase in the number of nominations as compared to the very excellent list of last year, and a wonderful showing over tho meeting prior to that of 1901. A total of 798 entries was received, apportioned as follows: Clipsetta.. 85 Hotel 70 Harold 83 Steeplechase 26 Trophy 108 Derby 1904 .. 103 Brewers ......... 76 Oaks 1904...... ,...,:S6 Merchants 74 Decoration 86 Total 798 W. C. Whitney has decided to make no further effort to have his Derby winner, Volodyovski, retrieve tho laurels lost during 1902, when he lost every one of the eleven races in which he started, and the horse has been sent to the stud farm of his breeder, Lady Meux, who has announced that the race courses will know him no more. From a business standpoint it is considered by turf experts moat unfortunate that a racer of Yolodyovakis admitted high class as a three-yoar-old should have gone through his four-year-old career without having earned at least one bracket, but such was his destiny. The racing string belonging to Milton Young, one of Kentuckys most famous breeders, which was moved from the farm at Lexington to training quarters on the old Kentucky Association course, is doing well under the charge of John Rodegap. Ho is only giving them their early preparation, however. On March 1 they will be shipped to G. C. Baker, at St. Louis, Mo. A list of tho horses follows: Dark Myitery, b. c, 3, by Indio Katie Fletcher. First Chip, ch. c, 3, by First Mate Chippie. Rampooza, ch. c, 3, by Wadsworth Miichief. Second Mate, b. c. 3, by First Mata Vera. Lamp Cloth, b. c, 3, by Lamplighter Long Cloth. Jean Gravier, br. g, 3, by George Kinney Hilda III. Black Bird, blk. f, 2, by Pirate of Penzance The Chough.
