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RACING AT THE MEXICAN CAPITAL. Organization Formed to Conduct Meetings Twice Each Month R. L. Pate on Scene. Mexico City, July 2S. After being apparently lifeless for some months past, racing in this city has taken on a boom, and there is every indication that public interest in the turf will be sustained until the Mexico Jockey Club takes up racing in 1010. when the 5,000 Mexican Derby is scheduled to be run. In February a live-day meeting was held in Aguas Callentes on a new track with modern accessories, but that city was too small to make the meeting a success, and the distance too far from this city to induce more than a handful of the enthusiasts to make the journey. In June, however, the Americans ot the capital city got together and decided to hold a day of racing on the Fourth of July, at the Pcralville track, and the plan resulted in one of the greatest sporting and social events ever pulled off in Mexico. President Diaz and Mrs. Diaz. Vice-President Corral and many other dignitaries attended, and the card ot six races was run off in a manner which opened the eyes of those accustomed to the slip-shod methods which have characterized tile racing days given here in the past. The judges represented the class of the city, they being Colonel K. Kly-Goddard, a prominent American resident; Jose de Romero Dusmet, Spanish minister to Mexico, and Lieutenant-Colonel Luis Perez Figueroa, secretary of war and navy. The local turf enthusiasts had never hoard of such things as paddock judges, patrol judges, official timers and the like, and President Diaz. Governor Landa y Kscandon and other lovers of racing expressed their pleasure at the businesslike manner in which things were conducted. The purses aggregated $.S,r7S, of which most was by subscription. The feature was the American Stakes for two-year-olds, at four and one-half furlongs. Willi a value of ,250, all of which was raised by small donations by the local American colony. The Bankers Stakes for two-year-olds, at four furlongs, was the other big event. This stake was worth ,210, and was, subscribed by the banking houses of the city. The third two-year-old event was the Starters Stakes, for non-winning colts and lillies, and was worth 011. The following Sunday the annual races of the French colony were held. and. although they did not compare in turf or social brilliance with the Fourth of July races, nevertheless a big crowd attended and betting was brisk. With the enthusiasm aroused by the holding of two Sundays of good racing in a row, an association of enthusiasts was formed to give two Sundays of racing each month, the organization being known as the International Racing Club. Two-year-old races will be the feature, as there are fifty or more youngsters in the republic, most of which are eligible for the Derby. The aged division is neglected because the same platers have been racing here for a number of years, while in the two-year-old division there is considerable, class. There are but three jockeys of any account here, and they have things their own way Tod Walsh, Willie Shea and Dick Osmers. Harry Kelly is here and will open a public training stable. It is rumored that R. L. Pate, who conducted a race meeting unsuccessfully here a number of years ago. is figuring on some sort of a race track concession. He has been in the city for several weeks.
