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THIS YEARS ST. LEGER SUBSTITUTE. There will be no New St. Leger this year in the same sense as there were a New Derby and New-Oaks, but it is only in the matter id nomenclature that then- is to lie a difference. Obviously the September stakes, a sweepstakes of fifty sovereigns. with l.OUl sovereigns added, advertised to be run on Hie second day of the Fifth Kxtra Meeting. commencing on September 14. is designed to take the place of the last of the olas-ic events of the season, as the race is to In- run over the last mile and three-quarters of the Oesarewitea Course. Why it has been found undesirable or impossible to give the title of "New St. Leger" to this race I know not. but one cannot help IT railing the fact that the Boncaater authorities announced not long ago that there would be no St. I,eger run anywhere else than on the famous Town Moor. At the time this statement was issued it was regarded : simply as an expression of sentimental opinion, but whatever may be the reason for describing the substituted event as the September Stakes I in-iead of New St. Leger, the decision would appear to be an unfortunate one from the point of view of the owners of eligible three-year-olds. Apart from the St. Leger at Dim-aster there are a Liverpool St. Leger and a Newmarket St. Leger run for during the ordinary season, and if it be deemed desirable to allow the latter event to retain its title, there appears to lie no sutti Cleat reason why there should not be a New St. Leger. just as there were a New Derby and New Oaks. At any rate, owners of high-class three year olds are not at all likely to be impressed with the prospect of winning a race known simply as the September Stakes. When the rearranged Derby and Oaks were advertised it was found that they were restricted to colts and tillies which had I been entered for Hie original events at Kpsom. but thtre is no such condition in the case of the September Stakes, and one may well be permitted to enquire "Why:" Only ten entries ale stipulated for. I notice, and these, there can be little doubt, will be forthcoming, in spite of whatever dissatisfaction may be aroused by the nomenclature ad ipted. While on the subject of classic entries I may as ! well take note of the fact that the Bttaeai Derby of 1017 has closed with 2s." nominations, and the Oaks with a subscription of 241. These figures naturally compare unfavorably with those for 1016. which amounted to 452 and :S17 respectively, and I for the cancelled races of this year, for which 1 the totals were 417 and SOI; hut how could it be otherwise. Indeed, there is distinct caase for gratification that the subscription lists are as good I a- they .in. a- nobody can. with reason, pretend 1 to foresee exactly what Hie state of affairs will I I.e a couple of v.isons hence. His Majesty, if is pleasing to Bote, has entered four colts for the . Derby iu question and a couple of lilies for the . Oaks, i he former Consisting of h chestnut by Sun--lar Priacesae le Calles. ■ bay by f.einberg Ier-epolis. a chestnut by St. Ainant -Clad fid ings. and a chestnut by Minora — Wnphora. and the latter of a brown, named Neuve Chapelle. bv Sun-star Prim Nun. ami a bay by Spearmint Pintado. Naturally many well known names are missing from the list of regular classic nominators, several of wh of course, have fallen in defence ..f their country since the outbreak of war. French 1 and American .sportsmen have again patronized I the two leading" events lilierally. but in most instances particulars of their candidates are not yet lo hand. Mr. II. P. Whitneys name does not appear iu the li-t. but posalhlj he may be amongst the New York sabscribers, and should this turn out to be the ease, everyone will welcome the prospect of a resumption, on his part, of racing iu this country, which it is to be hoped has only been [ interrupted by the war. — "Augur" iu Loudon Sporting Life.
