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STAMPING GROUND. Stamping Ground, the sterling daughter of Lamplighter and Elise, has been near to death within the last few days, says the Morning Telegraph of December 19. She had an attack of pneumonia, and it was only through the incessant vigilance of Dr. Farley that her life was preserved. "When this filly won the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga, at a mile and a sixteeth on the turf, last August her performance was of the kind that made people believe that she was about the best of her age and sex that had thus far been uncovered. The three-year-old fillies of 1903 had made no bright mark in turf annals until this particular race, and when Stamping Ground finished first, with such performers as Gravina, Astarita, Ada Nay, Stolen Moments, "Wild Thyme, Judith Campbell, Girdle and others behind her, it was not going far to say that she dominated her class. It will be said that the conditions were all in favor of Stamping Ground on the occasion of her victory. The running of the Alabama Stakes over the new grass course at Saratoga was the initial race on that particular track, and so it was particularly unfortunate that a steady, soaking rain had put the course in such condition that all previous work counted for nothing at all. But the fact remains that Stamping Ground was first home, even though it was apparent that her advantage lay in her ability to negotiate the doubtful going. Off none too well, Stamping Ground trailed in the early part, but when she made her move, there was nothing else in the race, for she won easily, leaving it to Gra- vina and Astarita to fight for the place honors. After the race F. R. Doctor, the owner of Stamping Ground, received an offer of 2,000 for his filly, which he promptly refused. Although she was not always successful after that, she showed her extreme worth by beating Injunction and a field of others at Sheepshead Bay in September, following this up by a defeat of Eugenia Burch and others at Gravesend. On her last appearance for the year, at Jamaica, on November 10. Stamping Ground beat Colonsay, Sheriff Bell and "Wild Thyme in the Mineola Handicap, at a mile and a sixteenth. In spite of her recent serious illness, Dr. Farley believes that Stamping Ground will race again next year.
