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PLETHORA OF MARYLAND RACING BILLS. By Ed. Cole. New York. February 10. All exes here are trained on Maryland tbeaa days. The avalanche of bills in connection with raring Indicates a sort of battle royal in the Annapolis bouse before the legislative se-siem is over. What the result will be no .lie knows. The belief is general that the sport ill survive the attacks, though it may be eostly to the aaaoqiatiaaa. Some .d the bills presented are extraordinary affaire, with little to recommend them; Other* arc more logical and Worthy of consideration. Thai a commission will 1m- appointed is probable, but for the welfare of the sport and in the interest of the American thoroughbred it is to be hoped it will not be a paid commission but one made up of men of Independent means, who have, the Interest oi the state of Maryland at heart, and who are listed as of unquestioned standing in the social :iiil business worlds. Politics and thoroughbred interests will not mix. Hence the Maryland commissi. .ii should be organized outside of politics. and if possible its members should be men who neither have financial interest in race courses nor are concerned in race horses. There arc many RMh individuals in Maryland, if they can only tie persuaded to accept the appointments. Bach a commission may not be arranged in Maryland, but if it could be it would set a goad example to ether states which now foster racing and to those which may eaeoarage the sport in future years. From what can lie gathered from those most interested in Maryland a composite bill may be framed carrying the ! est points of all the measures under consideration. That Hie sport should be taxed and well governed is admitted in all circles, but how this is to lie done is the question to be solved. The whole subject is in a state of sixes and severs, as it were, for the time being. There will be many arguments and suggestions before a con elusion is drawn that will be satisfactory to the majority. Horse asea and those concerned in the thoroughbred can only ho| e for the liest. From one in authority tin- news comes from New Orleans that Judge Murphys new rule regarding the allotment of jockeys has proved a success. "There has been but one complaint." says my informant, •"anil he complained because he could not pick mounts for his jockey early in tin- morniug and commercialize bis knowledge. That was one of the primary causes for the new system of handling the nutter. The jockeys report in the scales room at one oclock each racing day. Ip to that time they do not know what horses they are to ride nor in Which race. This eliminates the possibilities of jockeys touting their mounts all over the country. Alter tlo- days racing is over. Mr. Conkling. who has charge of the department, remains in his oltice lor thirty minutes. He Informs all riders engaged for the following day what weight they are expected In ride at. which gives them the necessary time for reducing purposes. Owners who have horses entered apply for a jockey, and a list of those disengaged is handed to them. They make their choice and there the matter ends. Owners who have no Jockey under contract seem to be pleased with the rub. and the high class racing we have had shows hat the new rule lias had sonic goo l effect." It is possible the date schedule will be given oat by he .1 .c key Club for the eastern racing season in the- near future. Only one or two minor details have to lie straightened out. it is customary to decide upon the schedule .it a meeting of the stewards, but it i- also permissible tot the stewards to amnion- sanction by letter to the tertiary of the Jockey Club. Tlic- later course- may govern, as two of the members of tin- board expect to leave for the soiiih this Hick. The schedule would have been given out at the last meeting of tin- steward* but for the objection of one of the applicants for elates, who thought insufficient days had been granted to the association he represented. This caused some discussion, and it was decided to bold the qaeation over for a lew days longer and. if advisable, to make- a slight cfaaaga in the schedule.
