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I . . , , TRACK VIRTUALLY FINISHED ONLY SEVERE STORM WILL CAUSE FURTHER POSTPONEMENT AT CHARLESTON. Course to Be Turned Over to the Horsemen Today-Light Fields Expected at Beginning Because of Lack of Training Facilities. Charleston. S. .. January 20. — "A repetition of last weiks severe weather is the only contingency that may prevent the opening of Palmetto Park for its seventy live days of racing," said General Man age* F. J. Pona today. Continuing Mr. Pons said: "The track is rapidly shaping into good condition and will be completed h noon tomorrow . win 11 opportunity will Ik- afforded the horsemen to gallop their hoi-is over it." Inspection of the course, particularly the had spot on the lower turn, leads one to coincide in Mr. Pons conviction that the track will he in fair shape for the opening, unless a heavy rain storm again retards the Work. Several owners this afternoon announced that they would work some of their horses over the entire circuit of the coins- tomorrow. They deem the track safe and unhesitatingly say that it will be in fair condition to race over by Wednesdty. There are some skeptics who entertain a coutrai ;. view, hut it is practically certain that Mr. Poos will open the course next Wednesday, it no heavy rain falls in athe meantime. Only a stretch «■ ahottt seventy aids of the track remains to he leveled and this will he accomplished before mon tomorrow. The unfinished portion is the part where most of the till had to he made. According to some horsemen, only a few of the horses here will he in a backward condition, as training has been soin on on the numerous roads adjacent lo the course ami mi the half-mile ring adjoining the racing groanda. The entries for tic opening days are expected to he light, hut the beginning of the following week will had conditions greatly improved. The horses til it recently arrived here from Columbia are for the most pari in racing condition in consequence of the excellent facilities that were available at that track after the meeting came to a close a r Jack Kelly, who kcoaghl the four-.veTir old maiih 11 Universal from New York for William Lakeland, transferred the colt to Palmetto Park this morninx. The horsemen here are iii a quandary as to what scale of weights will he adopted for the mortinc The Jockey Cluh provides no scale fog the months of December, January and February, and it is presumed thai the scale in use on the Florida tracks during the past few years will he followed. This meeting is said to he the first, by the way. that ha- en r been licensed by the Jockey Crab during the winter months. The J.ekcy Clubs forfeit list for 1811 was received by the officials of the Charleston Fair and Racing Association this morning, it amounts to something like $."110 ami few Of the horsemen that are on the lists are here. A blanket application for relnatatement of the horsemen who participated in the recent meeting at Columbia has been sent to the Jockey Cluh and personal applications by the horsemen will follow-on Monday. J. W. Hedrick purchased the aged gelding Sir Edward of J. II. Sheldon yesterday and will probably turn the horse over to William Barrett to train. The rest of Mr. Hedricks horses will leave Norfolk for hen- next week. F. Geriaa ha- secured names for the follawiag tw. year-olds: little Dad. ch. e, by Cesarion— Fatty. Capt. Heck. ch. c. by Transvaal Margaret Boach. J. i;. Greener has a two-year-old in .1. w. Mays stable named Ewingli, by Ivan tin- Terrible - li una. Mr. May is associated with C. T. Worth-iagtoa in the ownership of Pericles, brother to the nood race horse. Pris illiaii. by Hastings St. Priseilla. Jack Sheehan. who recently came from Memphis, brings a story that the merchants of that bustling city are making eaTorts for a resumption of racing and expect to have a revival of the sport the coming sprint.. Montgomery Park is no longer available for the purpose, hut Billings Park could he utilised. Mr. Sheehaa stated that T. P. Hayes was recently in Memphis looking over Billings Park. supposedly representing some influential Interests with a view to arranging a short meeting. There has been talk from time to time about the p.-si-btlity of a resumption of racing in Memphis and it is reported that the municipal authorities will interpose no obstacles tor a short hi ;h class meeting. The New Orleans delegation continue sanguine that the track- in the Crescent City will resume Operations next season. They base their hspes on the fact that the two candidates for governor arc • practically pledged for racing. Frank liriten. assistant to John Haebmeister and auditor of the association here, was lately in receipt Of a letter from liis chief in which Mr. H10 Ii no Ister announces his intention of leaving Cincinnati mt week for Naples, ila.. where he will -pen. 1 some lime in company with George M. Hendrie and Walter Parmer, tishinu- and hunting. It is the intention of Mr. Hacbmeister to return to Cincinnati early in March to take up hi- duties pertaining to the spring meetings at Latonia ami Douglas Park. Jockey J. Melntyre has arrived from Juan z . F. J. Pons announces thai the admission t • I.n- inetio Park has been definitely lived at #2 for men and for wonsen. One of iii.- most pleasing pieces of news in eaa- nection with the arrival of 1. F. Carmans string • •f twenty-six horses at Charieatoa i- that his good horse The Turk, which went wrong s]ior!! after Mr. Carman purchased him from W. S. Fan-haw e a year ago last summer, win he able to stand training again. The Turk went wrong in his tin- year-old career, when in- was considered one of the beat of his age in this country.
