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f + ADVOCACY OF REFORM IN PROVISION OF MORE MONEY AND RACES FOR STAYERS - a. ., I I at .■ t v , a , | , , , , , | J j ; . . I--xinfrtfin, Ky., August IS, — Tlie Bnateeaa Mens Racing Association of New Orleans. Judge Murphy and his associates, ale certainly to be congratulated on the reform- ihev have instituted for iheir next winters meeting. Aa a result of a conference of tlie Crescent ity officials it was announced last Sunday in tin- columns of Dall] Racing Form, that New Oilcan- longdistance racing would be encouraged, weights increased and no entrance fees charged for overnight race- and everything possible done for the convenience of the public and the welfare of the horsemen alike. Bravo, New o, leans. This is the sort of spirit with which t.. tackle the proposition and such honesty of purpose must steel with the commendation ami approval of all thot-e who are in anyway connected with tin- thoroughbred horse ami the Business Mens Association can look forward with conndence to a winter aeaatoa of apart unparalleled in the racing annals of lliis country. How conies it that a winter track should take the lead in the racing reform movement. As a rule winter racing does not walk hand in glove with reform- and many abuses in the past have been permitted to creep in. However, now that New Orleans ha- set the pace, a good purpose WOald be served if the other associations could be Induced to follow this lead. Personally, 1 have ever been an advocate of an Increase in the weights and of long -ilistam ■ r.i.ii g, K.ues over :i considerable distance of mound are tremendously popular witii tin- race-going public and also tend to the improvement of the tlioroaghhred horse. For some reason, on.- that is impossible to fathom. those responsible for the production of the daflj racing bill of fare, ignore the slayer ami cater almost solely to the sprinter. In tad. they seem to have fallen int.. a rut from which it appears they are unable to extricate themselves. As things now stand, the sprinter has every ad vantage over tie.- long distance runner, in tact, outside of the few stake lac.-, the earning capacity of the sp.-edy nui saying horse i- greater than that of the -layer. Surely this merits correction. Sprinters are capable of putting in their wo races a week the racing season through. On tlie other hand. tWO or line.- -ever.- races, close together. over a considerable distance of ground, is more than apt to knock a hole in the lust of them. Strange as It may seem, sprinters and stayers are as a general thing asked to race for purses of equal ralne. Tin- aaaociatJoaa hen- in Kentucky, by order of the Kentucky State Racing Commission, are required to -iv. purse- Of a Certain value. Why not require those associations to distribute a certain amount daily, thereby enabling the powers that be to add a larger amount for the longer distance racea than is hung up for the sprinters.- List spring I presumed to approach one of the "Uvest" members of our commission ami suggested to him that the racing associations which come under the Jurisdiction of the commission la- required to include in their daily racing program at least one race at one and one quarter miles up to .lune 1. after this date tlie mile and one-quarter races to continue, supplemented by three races each week of one and one half miles or over. 1 am not aware that anything has yet enaae of my temerity. The suggestion. 1 trust, however, may some day tie put into practice. The Kentucky State Racing Commission is in absolute control of ail matters pertaining to racing in this state and they, of course, can compel the racing associations operating under their jurisdiction to ion form to their wishes. Trainers nowaday- an- rather prone to tight shy of distance racing, and by distance racing I mean races of from one and one-half mil. s to two and one half miles, which in all conscience is as far as any bone at racing pace should be asked to travel. However, a substantial iiurea-e in the value of the pur-. -for the slayer will quickly bring about a change and there will In- no lack of entries for the long races. Our eastern friends arc perhaps as deep in the mire as are "f the went, lake Monday- Saratoga card, for instance, and Saratoga is popularly stip-posed to be the keystone of the racing arch in North America. What do we Kadi tint of the ;i.-flat races not one of them was run at a g Water distance than one mile. Surely this style of racing docs not appeal t. the public, neither does it tend towards the improvement of the breed of the Amer leaa thoroughbred. Some day perhaps il halt may be called. Anyway, the New Orleans folk have made a big stride forward and have won for theni-sei s the admiration ami resntct of all boraeaaea and racing enthusiasts. Co thou and do likewise. DR. M. M. I.KACH.
