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ANTICIPATES A SHORTAGE OF RACERS. A New York correspondent who appears to have studied the situation pretty thoroughly, ventures the opinion that there will hardly be sufficient horses to go around that is to say to make decent fields at atl the racetracks thai will be in operation this year in the United States and Canada. That there will lie a tremendous increase in racing is assured. There seems, in fact, to be a complete reaction against the policy of suppression that the Hart-Agnew bills, promoted by Governor Hughes in New York states, gave birth to. In New York itself there will be continuous racing from May to September. Last year the sport at the big tracks excepting Saratoga, was only for three days a week. This year there will be racing day in and day out. In addition several states have given olficial recognition to the sport by sanctioning the use of the iiiutucl machines or by the appointment of commissions. It Is now that the serious blow dealt by adverse legislation to the breeding interests of our neighbors is being felt. Although racetracks are increasing in number, there appears no appreciable increase in stock farms. This is undoubtedly due to lack of confidence in the continuation or stability of the sjwirt. In short it is a case of once bitten twice shy. With the revival of racing in New York state ami elsewhere, it is hardly possible that the same high class of foreign horses will be seen on the Canadian tracks. In one sense it is a question if this is a state of things lo be deplored. With the big American racing stables absent there will be a better chance for our own breeders ami owners to get a share of the good things going than there lias been in the last few years. It is nice to see the highest quality horses race, but it was not by following a free and open policy that France became the racing power it is. On the contrary, over there the policy in force has been an exclusive and conservative one and is so to this day. There are few good stakes thai foreign horses are at liberty to win. I am not advocating a shut-tho-door policy, although I must confess to liking to see Canadians carry off a goodly portion of their own money- Resides, if foreigners can come and materially enrich themselves at our expense the argument, somewhat weak at all limes, that horse racing exists largely for the encouragement of breeding in the country, pretty well has the prop knocked from under it altogether. Hence the absence of the Beliiionts. Whitncys. Schorrs, et al. will not prove, an altogether unmixed evil. -Harry Good in Montreal Mail.
