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DIVISION OF COVETED RACING DAYS. Saturdays and Holidays Carefully Apportioned Among the Eastern Clubs. New York. February 21. — Making a comparison of racing dates with 1S115, there are only three changes in the racing time, and two of them are offset by surrenders in 1015. These changes are at Havre de Grace, where thirteen days have been a United as against fourteen, but the adding of au-olher Saturday BK re than makes up for the one-day curtailment. Fimlieo is awarded fifteen days, as against sixteen last year, but in 1915 the sixteenth day was not used. The other change is at Saratoga, where twenty-four days are allotted, as against twenty-six last year, but in 1915 only twenty-four days were utilized. Saratoga with its twenty-four days of racing has four Saturdays and the fifteen days at the Aqueduct track ot the Queens County Jockey Club include three Saturdays and the Fourth of July. The division of the Saturdays and holidays is of vast importance in a racing year and it has always been a bone of contention among the associations when the turf is in a prospering condition. Belmont Iark will have opposition on Decoration day as well as one of its Saturdays, when the Piping Rnck Association will conduct its racing. Another clash with the amateurs comes at the second Jamaica meeting when there will be two days at Brookline. This is a conflict that is of no moment for the reason that the sport offered at the two courses is of a widely different nature and Brookline is so far removed from Long Island. fin- change of scene for the New York opening will dunhtless meet with the hearty approval of race-goer-. With the Melropolilau Jockey Club starting the season at Jamaica there are six days in which to obtain some sort of a line on the horses before the running of the Metropolitan Handicap at Helmont park May 25. Itelmont lark is the logical racing ground for the big holidays and Decoration day has become the natural property of the big Queens County course. Jamaica is not equipped to take Care of the big crowds that will be out on such days, but at its second meeting, from June 15 to 2.!. it is natural to expect good racing weather. Aqueduct, the hossc of the Queens County Jockey lub. is well taken care of when it is remembered that the fifteen day- includes three Saturdays and Jr.lv 4. which falls on Tuesday this year. The Yonkers track of the Empire City Racing Association is kindly treated, even though the opening day is an anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, for there are three Saturdays in the meeting. There have been many rumors that some of the other New York associations had hoped for racing time in the fall, but the consideration that has been shown Maryland in the present allotment settles any hope for such a change. The only reason for extending the fall season in New York would be the inability of Maryland to offer entertainment by reason of adverse legislation.
