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+- BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR THE LATONIA MEETING Interest in Latonia Derby Crowing and a Great Contest Assured— Kenton County Track Scheduled for Its Share in Present Prosperity of Kentucky Racing T — — Cincinnati. O.. May 27. — The Latonia Derby, to be run at the Covington track on the opening day of the Latonia meeting. June ID. will eclipse .iii brilliancy any former running of this old established lixture. Never before have conditions been so aus-picious for a great race between the acknowledged three-year old stars of the west. The winners of three D rbys already run this year and also the victor of tlie Clark Handicap, ranking in Importance with the Kentucky Derby, and a nuich-eovcied prize, will be among the starters. The horses that have already achieved distinction by Derby successes that will meet in the Latonia Derby include Richard t. Carmans Meridian, winner of the Kentucky Derby: Governor Gray, winner of the American Derby run at Jacksonville and Round the World, victor in the Juarez Derby. Star Charter, which likewise bxnns as a likely factor in the race, gained distinction by a brilliant victory in the Clark Handicap, in which ho took the measure of that good racer Countless. Star Charter showed good form as a two year old, but sickness interfered with his racing early in the year and he is only n w beginning to show full recovery. He was not en tend in the Kentucky Derby, consequently his ad miters have not had the opportunity to guage his merit by the test of lacing against the acknowledged cracks of his age. Were the above quartet to solely make up the held, it would insure a great contest, one worth going a long distance to witness, but interesl in the race will be materially enhanced by the addi tiou of Hcalherbrooni. owned by apt. B. B. Cassatt: Colston, which linished third in the Kentucky Derby; Messeagac Roy. with the record of third in th" American Derby to his credit, Any Fort. Mud Sill. White Wool and others. The indbations are that ten starters will go to the post to contest for the ,000 prize and the glory that goes to the winner. Prevailing odds against the probable starters in luture hooks operated at Louisville foil w: Horse. Owner. Odds. Meridian R. F. Carman 5-9 Governor. Gray R. N. Smith :;i Star Charier J. W. Schorr .1 Heatherbrooin . .E. B. Cassatt SI Round the World W. G. Yanke 10 1 Messenger Boy Mrs. M. Lots 15-1 Colston R. Colston 20 1 Mud Sill Woodford and P iukner.20 1 While Wool W. P. Cisco 20-1 An] Port C. Woodford 25-1 Starry Night T. W. Plynn 25-1 Jack Desman P. J. Pons 30-] Adams Express II. C. Hallenbeck 80-1 Local Interest in the Derby is at fiver heal and indications are thai a record-breaking crowd will be on hand to witness the struggle. Special trains are scheduled from various points and as the opening falls on a half holiday, it will afford many the oppor lunitv of witnessing the Derby who have njt before been able to see it. Advices to John Hachmeister, general manager of Hie Latonia track, are to the effect that some distinguished New Yorkers will come to witness the running of Use Derby. There will also be delegations from Chicago. Indianapolis, St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans. Special trains will also be run between Louisvile and Cincinnati on Derby day and an extensive delegation is expected from the Falls City. Lexington will also contribute a big quota of racing enthusiasts + for the occasion and with line weather, the audience should tax to its utmost the recently remodeled and spacious plant. Judging from the numerous applications for stall room there is every reason to believe that the num her of horses at the track tin.- season will exceed all former records. Quality will be conspicuous as well, lor all the easterner* thai have engaged iu the sport al Churchill Downs will go to Latonia. Not for a great many years has the sport of thoroughbred racing in the State of Kentucky enjoved such a successful season as the present one. The recent record breaking meeting at Lexington and the meeting now being conducted at Churchill Downs, which is conceded to be the most successful and prosperous of any meeting ever held at that historic course, afford abundant evidence of this satisfactory state of affairs. Tins successful revival of the sport is due in no small degree to the efforts of the gentlemen at the head of the different racing asso-ciations in the Blue Grass State who have striven to restore the sport to its former glory. Tlie Installation of the pari -niutucl system of betting has been an important factor, of course, as has the presence of many high-class horses that heretofore raced exclusively upon the metropolitan tracks. That I he meeting at Latonia. which commences June 10 and continues until July 15, will prove just as Successful as the Lexington and LsaJSVlUe meet lags there is no reason to doubt. Identical conditions will prevail at the Kenton County track. High-class officials will watch over the desiinies of the meeting; tlie same high class thoroughbreds will be seen in action, and the pari niutucl machines that have won popular favor at Lexington and Louisville will again he in operation at the beautiful Latonia course. The Latonia management is completing some expensive improvements at the famous old track in the Kenton Canary hills._ The club has already expended no less than 135.000 in improvements, anil every penny of this amount has been put to good us". Those who have visited the rehabilitated course declare it to be the handsomest and best appointed in the west. Nature has done much for this rack, but the management has been improving upon nature. No inconsiderable s moan I of money has been expended upou the infield and grounds, and for this purpose the services of an expert land scape gardener have been called into requisition. The result of his art demonstrates that a race track can lie turned into a beauty K| of. The list of improvements embraces a remodeled grandstand, with a generous seating capacity: an enlarged betting shed to meet the demands of the increased attend ance. and the construction of no less than seventy-tivo private boxes. Another improvement that will be welcomed is a new automobile shed capable of housing any number of machines that it may be asked to. A new press stand is an innovation that will prove popular with the newspaper men. Improved slabling sccomssods tiou for the lmndreds of horses that will lx on hand for the meeting will be appreciated by the horsemen, and will n a long way towards making the management popular with the men who furnish the material for the racing. The extensive improvements and the bright prospects of the Latonia track arc due in no small measure to the efforts of John Hachmeister. the energetic manager of the beautiful course. Since taking hold of Latonias affairs he has worked diligently to restore the apart to its former greatness, and success seems in sight as his reward.
