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CHILIAN RACING OF HIGH CLASS. Jockey Michaels Gives Comprehensive Idea of South American Sport. Jockey II. Michaels, who lias been riding for some time in Chili, with headquarters in Valparaiso, tells the New York World that the South American republic presents a fine field for turf operations. "The two big racing centers of Chili," said Michaels, "are San Diego and Valparaiso. The former has the biggest course and is the one best patronized. The Club nipico, as it is called, is located a few miles out from San Diego, at a little place called Vina del Mar Wine of the Sea. This track Is a mile and three-sixteenths in circumference. It !s a turf course, and all races are run to the right. The meeting usually begins in August and extends !o December. "Racing Is held only on Sunday and holidays. As the Chilians are descendants of the Spanish, they have many holidays, and at periods we have racing two and three times a Veek. After the meeting at Vina del Mar ends the racing scene shifts to Valparaiso, where it is held continuously until the meeting in San Diego begins again in August. "The smallest purse is ,000. This money, of course, is not equal to the American dollar. The Chilian dollar is worth a trifle less than half the coin of similar denomination here. The smallest purses, therefore, are worth about 00 in our currency. "The races begin usually at 2:30 p. in., six or seven a day. If the entries are very heavy, seven races will make up the program. "The majority of the big races, such as the Chili Derby, the Futurity which is for three-year-olds, and the Cup. are for horses foaled in Chill or the Argentine Republic. But all other races are open to all other thoroughbreds. The Chili Derby and the Futurity are for three-year-olds and the distance is a mile and a half. These races are worth from 0,000 to 5,000 each. For these events weight for age is carried. The colts carry 56 kilos 124 pounds and fillies 54 kilos. "The best horse in Chili and the Argentine Republic . is Petrarque. He won the Cup, a race of one mile and seven furlongs, from a big field of horses, carrying 142 pounds. He can race well at any distance from six furlongs up to two miles and a quarter. "Strange -to say, Petrarque is not a thoroughbred, as under the rules of the Jockey Club, a horse to be. a thoroughbred must have seven uncontami-nated crosses. He is by Wanderer Lady Washington, and has but six. The latter is an American mare and he inherits his endurance from her. Wonderer is an English stallion. "That Petrarque has plenty of courage was made evident when he won the Cup, which was worth 5,000, in a long driving finish by a neck. "Each race is started by the aid of -a barrier, which is released by hand. There is no recall except in case of an accident. The starter performs his work well. He seldom fines or suspends a jockey. The horses are placed by two judges, and four stewards decide the other points in the race. "Horse racing is the popular sport. The crowds are immense and compare with the attendance at Sheepshead Bay on Suburban Day. The price of admission to the grandstand is .50. The second class stand and the field stands are much cheaper. It only costs twenty cents" to go into the field. The two cheap iuclosures are fairly packed with humanity. "There are no bookmakers. All betting is done through the Paris mutuels system, or Apuestas, as it is called in Spanish. Tickets valued at , , 0, 5 and 00 are sold at various booths. "The Chilians are always willing to bet on a horse race. Some idea of the amount which passes through the betting booth may be gleaned from the total on the last Sunday I rode. It amounted to 20,000. This was not a big day, as there were only six races, one of which was a hurdle race. Speculation on the latter races is very light, as they are not popular. As the club deducts ten per cent, from the total, it can "well afford big turf prizes to horsemen. "All bets are made to win and place. If eight horses start, 1-2-3 betting is permitted, but not otherwise."
