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AMATEUR SPORT IN THE EAST. New York, October 4. Although there will be no racing on the Jockey Clubs tracks this fall because the Legislature has failed to repeal the directors liability law, many hunt meetings promoted by amateur turfmeu have been arranged and some excellent sport is expected. Cross-country racing and contests on the flat with expert gentlemen riders or army officers in the saddle have grown extremely popular wherever it is possible to conduct them. The fact that the Government has taken an interest in the breeding of thoroughbreds has acted as stimulant to the men who have spent time and money in promoting this once enormous industry only to see it dwindle to comparatively nothing because of widespread anti-racing legislation. Race riding has become a fed in the cavalry and artillery branches of Uncle Sams army because of the chances to display horsemanship at these hunt meetings. Officers who can ride as well as profes sional jockeys are increasing in numbers, while in due time they will be able to pilot army thoroughbreds as swift of foot as the racers belonging to professional turfmen. The quality of the horses that compete at these amateur meets has Improved to a marked degree since the closing of the big racecourses, so that every meeting attracts more entries of known merit than ever before. While gate money must be charged by some of the amateur promoters to cover the amount of the purses hung up for competition, other meetings are arranged at the expense of sportsmen who delight in horseracing and do not care about deriving pecuniary gain. Amateur racing has evidently come to stay. It is encouraged and controlled by the Hunts Committer of the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association, composed of Charles K. Harrison, Jr., of Maryland, chairman; Fletcher narper of New York, vice-chairman: Frank J. Bryan of New York, secretary: James W. Graves of Virginia. William M. Kerr of Pennsylvania, Charles Pfizer of New Jersey, Joseph W. Burden of New England, II. S. Page of New York. A. Henry Higginson of Boston and Joseph E. WIdener I of Philadelphia. Nearly fifty hunt clubs are enrolled I and next year there will be many additions to the list. Good sport has been enjoyed at private racecourses all the way from Boston to Savannah and as far west as Cleveland. The fall campaign now is under full headway and Important events have been arranged until the first week in November. Joseph E. Widener; whose horses are racing in France, will hold the usual meeting at his private track, Elkins Park, Pa., tomorrow. Seven races will be run. On Friday five races will be ruu at Locust Valley, L. I., under the auspices of the Piping Rock Horse Show. The Rose Tree Fox Hunting Club will hold a two days session at Media, Pa., on October 12 and 14. seven races the first day and six the second, including steeplechases and events on the flat. The Great Neck Racing Association has a days sport scheduled for Great Neck, L. I., on October 21. The United Hunts Racing Association follows with the annual fail meeting at the Belmont Park Terminal course On October 28 and November 4, each date falling on Saturday. As usual, there will be events for army otiicers and Government-owned thoroughbreds, while the cross-country races will probably attract the best junipers in training. The amateur season will wind up at the same course on November 7, when the Sleadow Brook Steeplechase Association holds forth. In view of the success of all the meetings held this year it has been suggested that more events of this kind can be arranged next year.
