view raw text
; , , MEXICO CITY OPENING DELIGHTS COLONEL WINN .Y. jr. 1 Mexico City, Mex., October 30. General Manager Matt J. Winn is well pleased with the opening of the Mexican Jockey Clubs fall meeting, and Is more than ever convinced that Mexico City is destined to become a great racing center and that, with the encouragement resultant from meetings here in the spring and fall, the breeding industry of the country will expand In a surprising manner. "I have seen racing in the United States and in Canada," declared Manager TjVlnn, "but I have never seen on any race track a crowd which was as well dressed and presented such a picture of wealth and fashion as did the Derby Day assemblage at the Condesa track. The class of those In attendance is a high tribute to racing and an indication that there is some ground for the old saying that the contests between trained thoroughbreds is the sport ct kings. The first days sport hero satisfied me that there is a demand here for high-class racing and it will be the endeavor of the management to give the people as good a class of racing as can be seen on the large tracks in the republic to the north." The Mexican Herald, in reporting the opening of the meeting1, said: "The president and Mrs. de la Barra, members of the diplomatic corps, high government functionaries and the society folk of the capital, of the most ex elusive Mexican sets and of the foreign colonies gathered at the beautiful course, not only because it was the thing to do, but drawn likewise by the growing Interest in the struggle of horse with horse, thoroughbred with thoroughbred, with a rich prize hung up for the trim-limbed flyer which could outfoot his field. The broad lawn in front of the grandstand was rather suggestive of a garden party at Chapul-tepec than of a gathering at a race track. The tribunes were filled; about the bookmakers stands to the north of the tribunes the bettors gathered to put down a wager on the various events which had been arranged for the day: there were more top hats than bowlers, there were the latest models of Paris in gowns and hats; it was a little of . Long-champs set down in Mexico, and the color scheme was green, the green of the lawns and the track and the center field and the greys and purples of the distant mountains. No more beautiful setting could have been chosen for a great race and the race was worthy of the setting. "The throng was slow to gather and it was 3:40 before President de la Barra. accompanied by Mrs. de la Barra and other members of the family, with gaily uniformed members of the presidential staff, arrived at the course. Troops of the 18th infantry in double file formed the valley of honor through which the president marched on entering the track while the Artillery band played the national anthem. A cordial reception was given the president and his wife as they appeared on the lawn and, turning, entered the. grandstand to take places set aside for them hi the section reserved for the members of the Jockey Club and their families. "There were eren later comers than the president and the bugle had already sounded for the fourth event on the card, the feature race of the day before the last automobile and the last carriage drew up at the gates of the track. Outside there was a mass of equipages of all classes, the carriage with the monogram on the panel and the highpower automobile predominating, although the more ple-biau coaches of the blue aud red flags were to be seen." Shooting Star, the winner of the second Mexican Derby, while foaled in Mexico, was bred at Hamburg Place, Lexington. Ky.. by the famous American turfman. John E. Madden. Her dam. Star Lily, was sold for shipment here in foal to Requital, and Shooting Star was foaled in this country in the spring of 100S. R. Hoffman, formerly with R. F. Carmans big stable In the United States, has arrived here, aud will do the riding for H. R. Brandt, owner of Har-rigan, Angelus, Sebago and Robert.