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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. Although it was expected that last week would bring about a final settlement of the Kenilworth race track tangle at Buffalo, little of anything was accomplished, and as a result there will hardly be a summer meeting at that handsome course this year. Probably a meet will be arranged for this fall, in the event of the track being sold, but if there is it will be similar to the one held last year. From present indications the referee will not give his report in the case until next month, at which time it is expected the corporation will be rendered insolvent, which will permt of its being placed on the block. The past week was spent in arriving at the total indebtedness of the plant, which, as has been previously published, was found to be in the neighborhood of 00,000. All of the claims against the corporatoin were filed at the meetings held last week. The only thing wished is that the concern be declared insolvent, and then it will be put up at auction. R. W. Carter, manager for Mrs. Allien, proprietor of the Rancocas Stock Farm, announces several recent purchases: "We have just purchased from Joseph E. Widener, Philadelphia, Pa., Holly Queen, gr. f, 2, by The Sailor Prince Elizabeth, by Rayon dOr," says Mr. Carter. "From the estate of John McCloskey, Erdenheim Stud, Pa., we bought Iuka, ch. m, 20, by Reform Sister of Mercy, by War Dance; Sea Puss, ch. m, 8, by Greenland Hutoka, by Reform Maggie B. B.; Miss Nellie, ch. m, 12, by Fellowcraft Hanap grandam of Elizabeth M., by King Ban. We have five foals to date, among them a very nice chestnut filly by Standing Miss Lois, by Tea Tray. There are forty-nine yearlings on the farm, and I consider them the most promising lot we have bred since 1896, when we produced Caiman, Sibola.Myak-ka, Tarolinta, etc. They include full brothers to Caiman, Petra II., Diakka and Jouvence, and full sisters to Dr. Walker, Tantalus Cup, Luetitia, Monte Carlo and Sir Christopher." Among the owners that will try for the classic Kentucky Derby on May 2 will be J. W. Schorr and J. F. Schorr, father and son, both of whon have proved important factors in the settlement of western stakes on znany tracks. Since midsummer of last racing season the junior Schorr has campaigned in colors of his own, started and trained his own horses, and has commenced the present season very auspiciously by winning the California Oaks with Esherin, a filly by the dead sire Esher. Esherin is at present in California, with the remainder of the string belonging to young Schorr, but she will be shipped to St. Louis in a few weeks, and from there she will be sent to Louisville, to be prepared for her engagements in the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. Though prejudice and general feeling among horsemen invariably is against fillies winning derbies in the spring of the year, both the senior and junior Schorr think that each has a chance to break the long losing spell that has always attended the running of Schorr candidates that started for Kentucky derbies of the past. Schorr, Sr., has Rightful and Spencer Reif entered, and Rightful will probably be the elder mans representative in the race, while Schorr, Jr., will depend on Esherin and probably Gold Bell, although present prospects point to the filly carrying alone the sons "scarlet, blue S on back, blue hoops and blue cap." E. E. Smathers, the new owner of McChes-ney, is having trouble in finding suitable horses with which to re-enforce his small but select string. His agents, having been commissioned to buy crack colts or fillies, have searched the southern tracks, and though several promising two-year-olds and Derby candidates have been offered for sale, the amount wanted has been invariably too steep for Smathers agents. Gilfain, the three-year-old son of L6cohatchee Dolores, and an eligible for the American Derby, was priced, and it is understood that B. J. Cunningham, Gilfains present owner, set figures of 0,000 as a minimum amount for his property. Considering that Gilfain started but eight times last year, winning two races, one of which he was returned as conqueror of McChesney, the price asked is considered by owners and trainers as a high-water mark which can only be met by millionaires who are not particular about the price of thor-i oughbreds.
