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j • I READY FOR BUGLES CALL BIG MEETING AT NEW ORLEANS OPENS TODAY WITH A GREAT ATTENDANCE INDICATED. Certainty of a Heavy Track Destroys One of the Intended Features but a Good and Interesting Card Is Provided. New Orleans, La.. December 31. — The eve of the opening of the second annual race meeting at the Fair Grounds, under the auspices of the Business Mens Racing Association, finds this city filled with racing folk, who have gathered from every section of the country and there are some here from England too. Never in the long history of racing here, even when the sport flourished twenty years ago, has interest been so widespread as that which is now-being manifested. Never before was there sued a large aggregation of followers of the turf here. The newcomer, whether he be from New Yorks great White Way, the loop district of Chicago. Vine street, Cincinnati; .Main street, Lexington; Fourth street, Louisville, or, for that matter St. Louis, Memphis, San Francisco. Toronto or Montreal, meets a host of acquaintances who make him feel as if lie was not far from his favorite haunls. Everywhere is there an air that augurs success, for the fifty-seven days of racing. Each visitor -feels an individual interest in the coming meeting and there is, on all sides, a spirit of wilUngnens to CO operate to make the sport a great sue. ess. The one drawback is that the course will not bo in its best condition tomorieiw and this has militatwl to some extent against Racing Secretary Joseph McLenuans efforts to bring ont the best at the track for the opening day card. The inaugural scramble which was intended to bring Pan Zareta and other crack sprinters into action had to be called oJt on account of a aearcity of entries. To complete- .i card of six races the original third race, for which eighteen had been named, was split and one section of it will be rim as the first race. The New Years Handicap at one mile, for a purse of 00, is the outstanding feature and. considering the bad track, horsemen were generous with th"ir nominations for this event. S-c-oLd in point of interest is the "bauy" scramble at three-eighths. Nbie juveniles are name el f. r it and their ownes nit regard them highly. 1he remainder of the card contains merit from the fact that the starters are we-Il balanced and should furnish interesting spot* None of the races, except the juvenile scramble, 1s at less than, one mile, which will enable the 10,000 or more visitors expected, to view the starts as well as the finishes. Arrivals throughout the day were again numerous. One of the eastern steamers brought over 100 turf enthusiasts. Starter A. B. Dade was the last official to reach here. He arrived this morning from his home In Henderson, Ky., and at once began a minute inspection of details connected with bis department. For weeks one of his assistants has been diligently at work schooling youngsters at the barrier and they have been showing proficiency. No yearling that has not the schoolmasters approval as being barrier wise, will be permitted to start. According to present arrangements only 150 stake-. holders will be employed for the opening and the number will be Increased next Tuesday to 200. t They have been fully Instructed in the matter our their duties and the spirit of the law will be liveijiy up to. Transgressors will be summarily ejected amrr once shown the gate, they will remain on the outside. Every one will be dealt with fairly, but there will be no overstepping of ruh-s as laid down by Manager Joseph A. Murphy in conformity with the law. "I am highly gratified by the spirit of co-operation that is being shown by horsemen and others to assist me in the conduit of a high-class session of sport." said manager Murphy today, "and I am satisfied that we will succeid in furnishing a brand of racing here this winter that will compare favorably witli any of the pretentious racing ini-etings anywhere in the country. There is every thing lure that goes to make for success — a grand collection of horses, the liest riders in the country and a host of the better element of horsemen and turf following."
