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RACING PROSPECTS IN THE EAST New York February 11 The announcement by the Jockey Club stewards that the metropolitan nic ing season will open at Aqueduct on April 15 was received with enthusiasm by leading horsemen at the whiter tracks who at once began to telegraph to the local racing associations for stable accommo dutioiis Judging from the unusual number of re ¬ quests received it is safe to say that when Aque ¬ ducts gates open there will be plenty of racing material available in fact about twice the number of horses that were on hand when Beliuont Park opened the season last year on May IS ISAugust August Belmout chairman of the Jockey Club has framed the liberal policy which provides 1S4 days of continuous racing on the New York tracks in spite of the financial loss that may be incurred Mr Belmont made a study of the conditions last spring when the tracks were racing only three or four days a week with poor fields and small crowds and he realized then that In order to attract the best horses together with those of the socalled poor own ¬ ers there should be few if any open dates Owners of racing stables who make a business of the sport are in the majority and it is natural for them to go where thev can secure the best results So with April ir as the day for the beginning of racing here horsemen of all classes have received assurance that they will be taken care of for seven mouths with little extra expense Incurred by transportation from place to place AVith liberal stakes and purses offered by everv racing association aud conditions framed to provide chances of winning for all horse ¬ men are quick to see that the Jockey Club has not overlooked their welfare and as a result they are going to ship their stables here with renewed renewedTurf Turf patrons who have advocated the full quota of dates on the New York tracks are ready to com ¬ mend Aqueduct and Jamaica for their willingness to go ahead with the usual spring meetings regardless of a conflict with Pimlico As a matter of fact few believe that Pimlico will cut much of a figure in eastern racing this vear as New Yorkers will be able to save railroad fares and hotel bills by attend ¬ ing the sport in Queens County The stakes and purses to be hung up for competition at Aqueduct aud Jamaica will be more attractive than those of ¬ fered by the Maryland track which means that many owners and trainers who went to Pimlico last spring will remain here hereIn In the allotment of dates to Brighton Beach aud Empire City which received fourteen and twelve days respectively there was 110 intention to be un ¬ fair These tracks did not want fall dates under any circumstances and their owners made that point clear at the preliminary conferences Each could have secured ten days in the autumn if desired but the proposition was declined with thanks That was whv Aqueduct and Jamaica received sixteen days each for fall meetings more than ever before beforeThe The racing itself bids fair to be more attractive than last year which probably means increased pub ¬ lic interest and if the rights of individuals to bet among themselves are not interfered with there will ha reasonablv plain sailing The Jockey Club has determined to make a jwreistcnt fight to keep racing alive and horsemen are praising the turf solons for their pluck
