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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. "It was said yesterday that the six horses owned by Mr. Keene which reached here from England on the Minnetonka on Monday have been leased to Mattle Corbett, who will control their running qualities until they are retired," says Morning Telegraph of Dec. 9. "Although Mr. Corbett has not recently been prominent as an owner on the turf, one does not have to go back many years to remember when he had a very useful string. His colors, a combination of dark blue and black, were not registered this year. The horses that Mr. Keene had in England will be trained by Jack Odom, who superintended their transfer to Gravesend yesterday. Odom reports that all six stood the long ocean voyage remarkably well, and the appearance of the horses confirmed what he said. They attracted general attention among the horsemen at the track. They will spend the winter at Gravesend, and Odom promises to have them out for a limbering up gallop today. Cap and Bells was naturally the best known of the lot, and she came in for a great deal of critical examination that was thoroughly complimentary. The foreign yearling filly by Cyllene Lady Morton, was another greatly admired. She is a decidedly racy-looking miss. Dazzling has grown to be a remarkably handsome filly, and a study of her conformation leaves small wonder at her being selected as an excellent Oaks possibility. Little beyond long daily gallops will be the portion of the new arrivals until early next spring, when they will be sent along seriously, and will doubtless cut considerable figure in the turf history of 1904. Mr. Corbetts last horse of any prominence was the sprinter Zanone." E. E. Smathers had a party of friends at Gravesend last Tuesday looking over his runners that are in winter quarters at the Brooklyn Jockey Club course. Frank Taylor brought out McChesney, the star of the lot, first, and with Tug French in the saddle, he was galloped about briskly in the infield. The handsome big son of Macduff Manola Mason never looked to be in better health, and his frisky antics spoke volumes for his spirits. French was busy every moment he was in the saddle, and the big Red Horse seemed to be sorry to go back to his stall. Mr. Smathers expressed sincere gratification at the condition of McChesney, and he expects to see him go to the post as a five-year-old better than ever before. Since the close of his active campaign he has taken on some flesh, but under the present system employed by Taylor he has exercise enough to keep moderately hard, so that the training operations in the spring will not be as arduous as would be necessary if he were turned out for the cold months. Grand Opera and the filly Witchcraft were also shown, and, like their more aristocratic companion, they both showed every evidence of excellent condition. Grand Opera has fattened up considerably, and had the appearance of having been indulged somewhat but he is built in the big-little mold, and usually carries considerable flesh. The filly -was the picture of health and high spirits. During Mr. Smathers visit Tom Welsh had out several sets of the yearlings he has in his care. In the first lot there were eleven, the property of W. B. Leeds and Phil J. Dwyer. The youngsters were greatly admired by the Smathers party, and a Henry of Navarre yjoungster was, one which attracted most attention. Another sturdy brown chap, which is a half brother to Highball, was a conspicuous figure in the bunch. Welsh has in all thirty-seven horses in his care now, with a very large percentage of yearlings in the lot. He has been going along steadily with them through all weathers and as a result there is not one but knows about what is wanted when the saddle is girthed. The green and gold colors of Garnet Ferguson have been very prominent during the last seventeen days at Oakland. His two-year-olds have come out this winter in grand shape, and Bearcatcher, The Mighty and Miss Betty have each earned brackets. Bear-catcher beat Don Domo, the "gray streak" from Texas, the first time they hooked up, but Bearcatcher was unfortunately left at the post recently when he met the Burns and Waterhouse crack. Cascine. Ca- seine, by Colonel Wheeler Early Rose, is j a colt of high class, has won all three of his j starts in impressive style, and easily holds ; safe all the two-year-olds shown up thus far. He goes well, wet or dry, comes in the stretch gamely, and it will take a good one to take his measure. A new rule has been inaugurated at Oakland with regard to bad acting horses at I the barrier. The starter is now empowered tp place all such fractious racers in any position before the tape that he sees fit. He also has the privilege of lining up the bad actors behind the other horses and starting them from that position. This rule will make owners more regardful of giving their horses regular schooling at the barrier, prevent long delays at the post, and is a good move from every point of view. Speaking of the recent mix-up at Ben-nings, where the positions of the second and third horses at the finish of a race were changed at the instance of the stewards, Judge Post said recently: "Such a thing could never have happened had I been in the judges stand. I would have put up the numbers in the order that I saw the horses finish, and no power on earth could have made me change them, if I knew I was in the right. If any stewards saw fit to change the order of my placing I would have left the stand and that would have ended the episode effectually. When the judge at the finish knows that he is right, his word is supreme." The fact that the Detroit Jockey Club has reserved no dates for 1904 has caused considerable talk among those who follow the running horse game, and reports are current that there will no meeting at Grosse Point. A Detroit man intimate with the racing game says: "Detroit has shown itself a town that is only good for a limited season of racing. Last year there was too much, and the early and late meetings suffered in consequence. Grosse Point broke about even, but it was merely a matter of luck. Next season the club will have to lower its price of admission and have a syndicate ring, or else it can not make money at the Point. Detroit people will not pay more than a half dollar to see the runners, and they will not bet high enough to encourage open booking." Henry Ziegler received word last Tuesday that his horses had been shipped to New Orleans, where they will be raced during the winter. The three that were sent were Totness, Lady Lavish and Miss Melton. These are all in racing form, the rest of the string having been turned out for the winter.
