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GRAND OUTLOOK FOR 1916 WHOLESALE IMPORTATIONS EXPECTED TO GREATLY HELP RACING IN THE EAST. Coming Season to Bring Clash Between Pick of American-Bred Juveniles and Choice Yearlings Recently Brought from Abroad. [ By Ed Cole. ] New York. December 7. — Xo bettor indication could |,. uttered of ill.- increased attention paid t.. the thoroughbred and horse racing llian the extraordinary number of lu.rs.-s that have lieen entered lor "• MMkma to lie run at Saratoga and Belmont Park the coming year. Never in the history of old harm toga have the nominations lieen as great as they sli iw on their recent closing. "They ale simply phenomenal." -aid Secretary Earlocker. as he folded up liis reams of typewritten copy of names, hri-cd-ing and owners of the horses made eligible to contest for the rk-h Saratoga stakes. "Of course, this gre;it influx is partly due t«. the English and French thoroughbreds which have lieen im|iorte l. Many of them iiave lieen entered in the two year-old slakes. Owners have nominated lavishly, trusting to luck that they will get some returns for the motley invested." Baying two-year-olds js something of a lottery. The most promising will frequently turn out jioorly. Before education all one knows al out a yearling comes from its premising looks and bleeding", ami a person who has iH.uglit a half dozen of what he con siders choice stock from abroad will enter them in almost any race where the conditions lit. As one owner put it. "We are taking as manv chances at a big prize as we can. and that is the reason 1 have eutered every youngster I have." IxKiking over the list of eligible* for the Hopeful, of which there ate nearly j:.0. not only are there many entries of foreign breeding, but tiie names of owners appear who have not hitherto been interested in turf affairs. This is a good sign of the coming prosperity of the turf. Men of high standing socially and of influence are much desired to replace those who retired through the crusade of live years ago. Some of the latter are returning to the sport, too. Men like A. K. Maoouiber. Irice McKinnev. James Corrigan. W. R. o and Oscar Lewisohu. together with others of more or less inijiortaiice, will add greatly to the prestige of the turf. In speaking of the season of 1«1«. rhil J. Twver predict* a great change for the better, not ottlvon account of the international interest but because racing is at last being recognized as the greatest of sports and something which should be fostered. •"There will not only be local rivalry next vear." said the president of the Brooklyn "and Aqueduct tracks, "but the foreign interest will infuse still greater enthusiasm into the soort. It will really be the first time in this country that a partially "true line can be gotten on the relative ability of the European and American thoroughbred. With upwards of one hundred English and French two-year-olds racing against those of our own breeding, "there cannot help but t e increased interest in the sport. I only hope we shall have some good horses among the home-bred stock, so that .we can take a fair crack at the imported youngsters, some of which will surely turn out good. Now is the time that New York tracks ought to be giving the richest purses and stakes in the country, but with no revenue coming from speculative sources we have to depend upon the gate receipts only, and they are only a trifle more than sufficient to cover expenses. But we are having raring, and that is something. and some day we may be able to give as rich stakes and purses as we did years ago." In the course of conversation. Mr. Dwver said lie did not anticipate opening the Brooklyn track the coming year, if ever again, though the growing sentiment in fav-r of racing might bring alKHit all sorts of things. At present there are four local tracks which will Ik- operated next season — Belmont Iark. Aqueduct. Jamaica and Empire City. They will lie sufficient to provide all the sport necessary to appease the New York appetite, especially as Saratoga tills in the month of August. letting back to the two-year-old question, it is twenty-three or twenty four years since there was an invasion of English horses. Then they were brought here by Lord North, known as the "nitrate king." after the late Tom Ochiltree had used his persuasive powers on his lordship. While the horses were what could lie termed a fair lot. they were not the top-not chers of England nor the choices of American buyers, as some of those recently imported are. It is to lie hoped there will lie at least one or two good horses developed from each country represented the coming year. This will increase the interest, for if there is but one god one comparative to Sysonby. Colin. Iolymelus or Sceptre, much of the contestant interest will lie taken away, though there will still remain the interest which always develops. Whichever way one looks at the future, prospects are bright. It is hinted that the Jockey Club may offer suggestions to the associations conducting racing under its jurisdiction which will bring about changes in selling race practices. It may even pass rules that will partially clone the doors against what can lie termed "horse traders." Something is being considered by the Jockey Club directors, but it is doubtful if the rule concerning the disposition of surplus run-up money will be changed, as associations can do as they please with their own funds. There is only a remote chance that the new two-year-old rule suggested by Captain E. B. Cassatt will !« defeated when it comes liefore the stewards of the Jockey Club. The delegates to the conference to consider the matter— Messrs. August Belmont, J. N. Camden and W. I. Eraser, representing the east. Kentucky and Canada respectively — have consulted and decided that the thoroughbred would lie benefitted by abolishing the early racing of young horses. That no two-year-old shall Ik- raced liefore May 15 is the contention, and from all accounts it is now only a question whether the date is agreeable to all three organizations. Some believe May 1 should be the date set. while others go even further and assert that if the dale was set a month later it would have a better effect. In any event, it is almost assured that two-year-olds will not race in 1!»17 until May.
