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JAMES R. KEENE WELL IN THE LEAD. Vice-President of the Jockey Club Again in Fair Way to Head List of American Owners. New York. May 24. — James R. Keenc. whose horses have won more money than those of anv other owner on the American turf for Coax years in succession has made an excellent start towards once more achieving thai distinction. Since the opening of tlie Belmont Park meeting his horses have earned in excess of J1S.4MHI. which is far and away in excess of the earnings of any other stable raced ;:l the meeting. Maskette and Hilarious account tor all of this total except a 00 purse won by Sweep. It is already being predicted that Mr. Keenc will again head the list of American owners, in spite of having sent Ballot and Colin to Knglind. In Maskette he undoubtedly has tlie best threc-ycar-oid filly of the year, and the opinion is gaining ground tiiat Hilarious will prove to be another IVallot. What he has in the two year-old division can only lie conjectured. So far. with the exception of Sweep, none of the woungstcrs has shown startling speed. Sweep certainly proved that he can run fast, ami if he can carry weight and go I distance it will take a mighty tine colt to beat him. So far as the three-year olds are concerned there can lie no doubts. Masketles budding promise if last year has blossomed into sterling performance. Her Futurity foretold her victory in the Ladies Stakes. She is certainly the queen of the fillies and has only to retain her health to win all th • races reserved for her sex. There is not a fillv of her age that can beat her at a mile or a mile and a furlong. Hilarious showed beyond peradventnre in the Withers Stakes that he is "tlie" colt par excellence to date. Hilarious is by Voter and has all his sires fine speed. Like Ballot he is robust, deep through the heart, short coupled and stands over plenty of ground, although seemingly a buaehed-up horse. Like the Voter family lie carries a lot of flesh, and so far has bandied his weight seemingly without an effort. His stride is good and his action fine. When he laics he moves over the ground freely and without any unnecessary expenditure of strength. Such a horse can go the Derby route — a mile and a half — without flinching. It is in tlie races for tlie two-vear-old stakes that the Keene horses will meet the greatest opposition. John K. Madden, who had the liest two-ycai old colt of last season in Sir Martin— the colt now second favorite for the Kpsom Derby — has a bunch of two year olds that cannot lie excelled for looks. Some of them have already shown their quality. No doubt the vice-chairman of the Jockev Club regrets keenly that Hilarious is not eligible for tin-Belmont, the Westchester Associations :«:;o. Ht0 nee at one mile and three furlongs, to be run next week. Tie- Keene horses in the Belmont are Casque, son "f Ben Brush and Rosegailaiid: Iltinius. son of Commando anil Banning Stream and Sunhiirv. son of Kingston and Edit ha. Casque will probably lic.ir tin- Keenc colors in the Belmont if anything dow He is said to have worked well for the Metrouoli tan. Hilarious next important stake engagement Uj in tile Brooklyn Handicap, this year a ,4144 race, at one mile ami a quarter, to be run at Oraresend track on the opening dav of the Brooklyn Jockey Clubs spring meeting. Mr. Keene has won three ltrooklyns witli three-year-olds. His first winner of that age was Conroy. a son of St. Lismanls : hi-second was Superman, a son of Commando and Anonialv. and ills third was Celt, a son of Com ■Undo and Belle of Erin. Celt has not start, d since last seasons Brooklyn, hut be is eligible lor this seasons race anil lie may start again. Cell I-traiaiag as satisfactorily. It is said, as any horse at the Bay.
