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FEATURES OF TRAINING AT LOUISVILLE. Polistena Showing Speed in Her Work — Bedtime Stories Pleases Observers — Hodge Improving. Louisville. Ky.. April 12. — There was a world of work don° by the many horses in training at Churchill Downs last Tuesday, when track conditions had at last improved so as to liecome good once moiv. Of the candidates for the Kentucky Derby the most impressive work was done by Big Smoke. In his mile in 1:47%. he galloped the first quarter in 25. the half in 51%. the three-quarters in 1:18% and the seven-eighths in 1:33. He was without a pacemaker and the fact that he pulled up a bit higher greatly pleased his trainer. Pockichoo — Mile in 1:48%; first three-quarters in 1:18%. Lena Misha — Three-quarters in 1:21%; fractional: 24%. 37%. 51%. 100. Polroma — Three-quarters in 1:20%: first half, 52. Slipshod — Seven-eighths in 1:35%; fractionals: 24%. 37%, 50%. 1:04%, 1:19%. All these are Kentucky Derby candidates and the only one that hard a pacemaker was Slipshod, the three -year -old Hubbub working with him. The best two-year-old work was a quarter by the unbeaten filly Little Ford in 23%. while the real best work for three-quarters yet done at the Downs this spring was by the English four-year-old filly Polistena. in George Wingfields stable, she. paced by Star Shooter, covering the distance in 1:18. Other training works were: frit in 39. Old Man -Thre-e -eighths Bank — Three -quarters in 1:19. Longfellow — Half mile in 52. Julia L. — Three-quarters in 1:21. Black Beauty — Half mile in 50%. Ghetto Girl — Three-quarters in 1:19%; fractionals: 24%. 37%. 50. 1:04%. Dundreary — Three-quarters in 1:23. Black Coffee — Five-eighths in 1:08%. accompanied by Belgian Trooper. Lady Always — Three-eighths in 30%; fractionals: 11%. "24%. Kathleen — Half mile in 51%. Regina — Three-quarters in 1:22; first half in 50. Pretender worked with this filly. Hodge— Half mile in 57. I/ uise Paul — Three-quarters in 1:22%. Waremore — Half mile in 51%: fractionals: 12, 24%. 37%. Was paced by High Geer. Trusty — Three-eighths in 37%. Lady Worthington -Five-eighths in 1:06%; fractionals: 25%. 50. Avlyn Three-eighths in 37%. Hemlock — Quarter mile in 24%. Kenward worked witli him. Robert Rodes —Quarter mile in 25%. Beau Weber worked with him. Alone at Last— Half mile in 55. Top of the Wave worked with him. The fastest work done at the Downs by any two-year-old to date was a half in 50 to the credit of the chestnut filly Duchess of Lizwell, a sister to Infidel, in the stable of W. H. Buckner. The new receiving shed of twelve stalls on the Fourth avenue side of the track is rapidly Hearing completion and adds considerably in the way of improvement to the stable quarters of the grounds. In this respect the course is now unsurpassed. The latest stables of western horses to arrive at the Downs are eight head in charge of trainer W. H. Fizer and the same number in the care of trainer Al Woodman. Both of these strings come from southern racing points. Jockey E. Dugan has arrived here to assume his duties with the Beverwyck Stable of F. J. Nolan. A filly that has made an exceedingly good impression since her arrival at the Downs is the two-year-old Bedtime Stories, in the racing string of William Hurley. This unbeaten daughter of Marta Santa stands over much ground for a two-year-old filly and is exceptionally broad in the back with exceedingly strong hind quarters. All the good things that were said of her when she won her three races in the south, she seems to warrant and is one winter racing development that seems sure to make good this spring on the Kentucky tracks. Hurley has two other horses in his stable now at the Downs, one of which is the three -year-old Busy Joe, that has so far won three races this year. The once -famous rider, Dave Nicol, is here witli the stable of F. .1. Nolan and in all his Derby preparation has the mount on the Beverwyck Stables crack Lena Misha. Nicol does not look as heavy as lie was when last at either of the local tracks and, should he conclude to endeavor to secure a license and begin riding again, he might t o another come back. In 1905 Nicol led the winning riders of America with 221 winning mounts to his credit. He was especially prominent that year in having the mount in many of his most brilliant races on the late J. K. Keenes celebrated horse Sysonby. In exercising Lena Misha and his other mounts at the Downs. Nicol seems to exhibit in the saddle the same grace and skill that marked his riding when he was one of the star jockeys of the day. The noted five-year-old gelding Hodge, which is almost a sure starter again in the Clark Handicap at the Downs and the Kentucky Handicap at Douglas Park, has surprised horsemen by the manner in which he has grown and spread out since last year. He no more appears a type of the miniature race horse, but compares favorably in size with the average geldings of his age in training. It is the general impression that, good as his performances have been in the past, he will lie better this year than ever before, much like such geldings as Raceland. Checkmate and Parole in the olden days. Trainer Kay Spence has no doubt now, that with anything like fair luck in training, lie can have him ready to meet his engagement in the Clark Handicap, though that race is run as early this year as May 20.
