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M f c h i 1 1 s J 1 1 1 ; EASTERN PLANS STILL INDEFINITE. l No Announcement from Jockey Club as to 1914 Schedule Expected Immediately. New York, January 19. Though the racing dates for 1014 in this state have not been definitely decided upon, it is a sure thing that if the plans that have been discussed are carried out, it will be a season of sport that will far outshine the return of the thoroughbreds to the State of New York last year. Already more stakes have been provided for than at any time since the most prosperous seasons, and others are in contemplation. The most recent stakes to close are those of the Westchester ltacing Association, and it is safe to predict that Belmont Park will be the New York scene for the opening of the racing year. These stakes were closed January 5, and each one of the eleven on the list met with a most liberal response. These stakes are the Metropolitan Handicap. Toboggan Handicap, Belmont, Withers, Bouquet. Juvenile, Fashion, Keene Memorial, l-idies Handicap, Harlem and the Amateur Cup. In addition to these renewals there will lie an allotment or the Owners Finn stakes to the meeting and there will be no lack oi feature rates. The Saratoga Association has announced its rich list of fixtures that, will be closed in March, at a date not yet finally decided upon, and other associations are making ready for the season. Within a short time there will be a meeting of the representatives of the various racing associations and a division of the racing time will be agreed uiMin. Until that meeting it is only possible to gues at what will be the schedule. The track owners themselves do not know what schedule will be adopted until that meeting, but for the most part they are sanguine that there will be an abundance if high-class racing. II. is said that tlie schedule of racing dates for ihe coming season will not be made public for several weeks yet. The assertion was made by a man well acquainted with the situation that racing men will have nothing to complain of when the chedule is made up. The ollicials have about made-up their minds that the only way to obtain high class siort is to race- every day in the week instead of three or four times a week, the custom that prevailed last year. That racing every day is the keynote to success was proved by tlie Saratoga meeting last season. The meeting at the Spa was better in every way than those held at Belmont Park, and the argument i.-! made that if Saratoga can carry out a meeting with racing every day New York surely can sup-IKirt the same kind of a programme. The plan as iiitlincd is to race at Belmont and perhaps at Jamaica. Empire City is likely to come in for ,i short session, but there is no likelihood of racing at Grave;end or Sheepshead Bay. The purses are to be made more attractive than ast vear anil it is understood that the stakes provided" by the Owners Fund wil not be parcelled nit gratis to the racing associations, but that thev will be put up for the different associations to hid for. With racing every day it is expected that western owners will rally to the support or the east. While the big track managers are busying themselves in preparation for the meetings, the amateurs have also been hard at work for the hunt club meetings. This branch of racing never was in a more nourishing condition, and already some of the dates for the year have been lixed by the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association. Never liofore has there been a like activity among tlie amateur turfmen during the winter and all ndicatioiis point to a tremendously successful season of sport at the hunt club meetings. Such races .or which entries have- already been invited, have tilled exceedingly well and the amateurs have made maiiv important purchases of horses. No longer are worn out Hat horses the only ones that are put through the lield and then? has been a corresponding improvement in the sport itself. All of the amateurs of other seasons will be found in line with some enthusiastic newcomers to the sport.
