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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. Two hundred and thirty-four yearlings will be led into the Fasig-Tipton Co.s sales ring this month as representatives of the immense Haggin breeding establishments. All of the famous matrons of Rancho del Paso and Elmendorf will have sons or daughters in the list. Thirty-two of the best bred stallions in the world sired these youngsters. Among them are the stallions Watercress, St. Gatien, Golden Garter, Goldfinch, Loyalist, St. Andrew, Golden Dawn, Sir Modred, Ormonde, Prospector, July, Bassetlaw, Calvados and Darebin. The native sires represented are Abercorn, Anchorite, Colonel Wheeler, Del Paso, Dorian, Fitzjames, Fresno, Ossary, Hiero, Indio, Maximo, Milesio, Montana, Orsini, Primrose, Rosseau, Rubicon, St., Carlo, The Greek, Torso and Tyrant. Mr. Haggin has been gradually concentrating his best thoroughbreds at the Kentucky farm, but so vast are his breeding interests and so numerous his horses that he still is forced to retain the 44,000-acre ranch near Sacramento for their accommodation. Mr. Haggin is still buying horses wherever one of desirable blood lines is found on the market. A sensational story to the effect that Pittsburg Phil had decided to quit the racing game and sell his stable, was denied at the Gravesend track- recently by William Smith, the brother of the famous plunger. It was intimated that Pittsburg Phil had decided to get out of racing because of the trouble that his jockey, Shaw, had with the Jockey Club stewards. "There is absolutely no truth in the yarn," said Mr. Smith, "my brother was simply worn out and needed a rest, so he decided to go up into the Adiron-dacks for two or three weeks. He has no intention of selling his horses. The horses are all doing well and are going right along in their training. Phil will be back inside of two or three weeks and resume his operations as usual. The story that he had any trouble with the Jockey Club officials is absolutely false." This is not the first time that sensational stories have been sprung regarding Pittsburg Phils alleged retirement. Every time he is missed from the track for a day or two rumors are set afloat to the effect that he has decided to quit the game, either because he has been hit hard or else has made a fabulous winning There has been much recent talk about the immediate cutting up of Morris Park into building lots, and other talk about the immediate transfer of its racing meetings and its fixed events to the new course known as Belmont Park, near Queens, Long Island. August Belmont himself,- and he is the absolute authority in the matter, definitely set at rest all speculation by announcing recently that there will surely be two more meetings at Morris Park— the Autumn meeting of this year, and the Spring meeting of 1904. Belmont Park, so far as the track itself, the grading, the landscape design and the transit facilities are concerned, will be ready in time for the Fall meeting of 1904. In order, however, to guard against any possible delays in the construction of grandstand, club house and other buildings, by reason of strikes, inability to obtain material promptly, or for any other reason, the Westchester Racing Association has continued its lease of Morris Park for two years. The length of the lease is a guarantee that the New York public will not be disappointed and that when racing moves from Morris Park it will go at once into the greater and even more complete Belmont Park. It is confidently expected that the new course will be ready to the smallest detail in time for the Autumn meeting of 1904 and the opening will then take place. An unknown dastard sneaked into the stable of Albert Franklin at Latonia Tuesday night and stuck a knife into the right front leg of Ovedia, a filly by Ornus. The thrust was made through a cotton bandage, leaving a gash about three Inches long. The presence of the bandage prevented excessive bleeding and probably saved the filly from serious injury. Mr. Franklin offered 00 reward for information as to the identity of the guilty party. I
