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— — , + , * J 1 BIG STAKES OF THE FUTURE IN PROSPECT AT PIPING ROCK By Ed Cole i New York. N.iveinlier 23. — Notwithstanding that Piping Rock had the worst of the dates for racing this season, its promoters are in no way daunted. On the ccjiitrary. yo much concerned are they in the welfare of the sport and so proud are they of their beautiful and natural eanrse in Locust Valley, that there is every reason ti believe they will extend their offerings next season. Piping Rock never has been a money-making institution, but came into the racing game as a helping hand when the sport was tottering badly from the Hughes crusade. It has been a mighty useful institution and has the sympathy of many adherents of racing who believe that a place in the regular date schedule should lie made for it. This year its meetings conflicted with racing at Belmont Park, and while the conditions of the races were so arranged that the two tracks would not interfere with each other in the way of entries, there are many who would have attended Piping Rock had it had clear dates. This fact naturallv affected the gate receipts, and while the association does not look at the returns askance, there is always a degree of satisfaction when any sport is a paying one. and Piping Rock certainly deserves recognition without conflict. Frank J. Bryan has been helpful to the promoters of this newest of racing institutions and is encouraging its backers to give richer stakes and purse*. "We may have a rich stake at Piping Rock next year." said Bryan, "one that will encourage all horsemen to enter their liest horses. It is the object of the association to improve its racing every year, and to do this exceptional premiums will be offered, as thev are warranted or donated. I should not be surprised to see stakes worth 0,000 run at Piping Rock in the near future. You would be surprised at the growing popularity of the sport among the hunting set. Clubs are springing up everywhere. Who would have thought a few years ago that the little town of Greenwich would loast of a hunt club? Yet there is one there, and it is more than probable there will lie a couple of days racing in the Connecticut town before the year 191G has run out. These things are encouraging, especialy to the amateur end of it. and the more of the unprofessional element interested the greater the opportunities for universal recognition." c No better demonstration of the growing popularity of the amateur and thoroughly sporting interests in racing can be offered than the meeting held at Warrenton. Va.. last Saturday. One of the stakes, the Dixie Handicap, had a purse of ,000 added, and it called out a field of jumjiers that would have done credit to Belmont Park or any of the other big institutions. Quite n number of enthusiasts went from this city to Warrenton. though it is practically a nights ride anil costs considerable to get there. These facts are merely mentioned as incidents showing what to expect from the hunt clubs iu the future. It will not lie long before there is a string of meetings through the nearby states that will keep amateur owners and amateur riders busy jumping from one spot to another. There is money in the sport, too. For instance. John Tucker has had but three horses during the past season, yet they have won upwards of ,000 in purses. This lias covered considerably more than stable expenses and is highly gratifying to their Iiopular owner. Of course, much of this money was won through the riding ability of Mr. Tucker, who is conceded to be the best amateur horseman riding today. Others can spring op. however, and will no doubt do so as hunt racing improves and becomes nwre general. But like all ,other racing, the amateur sport needs !• be properly governed with as keen an eye as exists at the regulation courses. There should be no fast and loose playing with the rules. Offenders should be punished with as much precision as in the professional ranks of horsemen. Dignity and social standing should not be a cloak for unsportsmanlike methods. Patrons of racing like to see a contest from end to end. and the nearer amateurs can come to supplying the satisfying article the more rapid will be the strides of advancement. One of the oldest horsemen in tlie profession, Charles Oxx. who raced horses in the early seventies, has been taken to the Mercy Hospital at Baltimore to undergo an operation. His condition is not considered serious. Mr. Oxx was a prominent figure in the days of Brighton Beach and other Long Island tracks, when he owned some fair horses.
