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EASTERN TURF TALK. "Turfmen were discussing yesterday the report that the racing season next year will be extended so that the first day locally will be April 1 and the closing day December 1." says the New Tork Sun of Tuesday. "There was an uncomflrmed rumor at the Jamaica track that when the State Racing Commission files its annual report, which, by the way, is expected to show an increase in the amount of the state tax over that of last year, it will contain a recommendation that the Legislature add thirty days to the present allotment. If this provision is made legal, each of the New York tracks operating under the control of the Jockey Club will be allowed to race for thirty days. "When the dates were assigned last spring by the Jockey Club it was necessary to crowd some of the tracks to let in the Metropolitan Jockey Club of Jamaica. Aqueduct was the chief sufferer, the Queens County Jockey Club getting only twenty-one days; Jamaica received twenty-two, split up into three meetings; Brighton twenty-eight, cut up into two meetings; Saratoga, twenty-three consecutive days, and Brooklyn, Westchester and Coney Island each thirty days. At that time, it is said, the racing associa- tions received notification that the season of 1904 would be longer, and it was with that understanding, so the story goes, that the Queens County Jockey Club proceeded to spend a large amount in making the Aqueduct track up to date in every respect. If the season is lengthened Washingtons spring meeting will open about March 10, the fall meeting beginning there about the first of December and ending on December 20. Under such arrangement there would be no conflict with the Saratoga meeting in August. "The impression has taken root that before next season opens the Jockey Club will have yielded to the general desire of horsemen by appointing a board of handicappers. Not a day passes that this reform is not favorably advocated by both owners and trainers. A canvass of horsemen recently showed that more than 80 per cent, of them were desirous of a change. It is said that several of the millionaire turfmen have followed the suggestion originally made by L. V. Bell, and have promised to use their influence with the racing authorities, who are seriously considering the matter. "It is said that Waterboy has recovered from his recent lameness and will be trained again next year. At first trainer Joyner believed that the Watercress horse would never be able to race again, but lately he has succeeded in bringing Waterboy around all right, and he believes that after a good rest this winter he will be as formidable as ever in the spring. As a result he will enter the horse in all the big handicaps and cup races for 1904. B. E. Smathers will send Frank Taylor to New Orleans with Irene Lindsey for the winter meeting there, but he will keep McChesney in winter quarters, probably at Gravesend, so that he will be fresh for a campaign on local tracks in the spring. "Jockey Wonderly, who has been riding in the west this season, arrived at Jamaica yesterday. He will be a free lance at Washington and will then go to the coast to ride for Frank Regan. Wonderly can make 103 pounds aid says that he was never in better physical trim In his life. "Perry Belmont has ordered all of his horses, including yearlings, to be sold at Jamaica on Thursday."
