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SARATOGA FEATURES PAST AND PRESENT. By C. .7. Fitg Gerald. Saratoga Springs, N. Y.. August 1.". Since the days when that remarkable trio, Spuncer. Morrisey anil Reed dominated the various activities of the then village but now an incorporated city and proud of it. Saratoga has never housed as many visitors of note fi-om all parts of the United States as at present. Spencer and Morrisey are long dead and few of the present day remember them, but Charlie Reed, with his sturdy figure, square topped hat, checked waistcoats, white spats and as many finger rings as a dandy of a century ago will livte through the number of stories told about him. Reed belong to the Saratoga of the olden time when it was a duelling ground of the soldiers of fortune of north, south, east and west, and he fitted perfectly into the scene of forty years ago. It was then that deep of chest and heavy of hand he broke the jaws of cabmen who exacted extortionate fares and gave them hundred-dollar bills to pay the doctor, and it was during this period he built the odd-looking brick house on Union avenue, in which there are exquisite mosaics of Thorn and Trouble, two of his most famous racers. This was before ho went to the Argentines to offer 150,000 for the great Ormonde, which was bought by cable bv voting William OBrien MacDonough, of California, while Reed was on the water, or silenced competition by making a single bid of .00,000 for the Derbv winner, St. Blaise. Charlie Reed is dead less than a decade, but if he could come back he would find an improved and chastened Saratoga as viewed by the average citi-cen. The state lias assumed control of the waters, new parks have been developed and the racing of thoroughbreds tinder the auspices of the Saratoga Association for the Improvement of the Breed of Horses has assumed an importance which it for-merlv did not possess in the estimation of the general public. Today the. thoroughbred stands for something tangible in the economic development of the couutv. Men and women of wealth who love the outdoors and the sports which are part of it are buying thoroughbreds and preparing for future campaigns, and tiiere is a ready market for as many good specimens as can be produced at prices which guarantee an expansion of the breeding industry which could not have been hoped for by the most sanguine of a twelve-month ago. Saratoga is full of these and they have made this meeting a phenomenal success. The third weeks program has many attractive features. The Grab Bag, a handicap for two-year-olds at throe-quarters,, is AVednesdays chief attraction This is a subscription event and candidates may be leased. It was won in 1915 by Jacoba, when she ran for Mr. L. S. Thompson. On Thursday the best of the three-year-old selling platers will try conclusions in the Mohawk at a mile. Roly won it last year. This years eligibles include Fernrock. Dick Williams and other smart performers. Fridays card is composed exclusively of overnight races, but the conditions of the money offered should produce good fields and strong competition. Saturdays urogram is starred by three sparkling events tiie Saratoga Steeplechase Handicap at two and a half miles; the Grand Union Stakes of 7.500, for two-year-olds at three-quarters, and the Merchants and Citizens Handicap at one mile and three-sixteenths, with a value of 2,500. Weldship, Brentwood. Iobeto, Lough Foyle, Syosett II., Hib-!er and all the other good timber-toppers are in the former and if the first-named can duplicate last years victory he must be crowned as the best jumper at the course. Every good two-year-old in the country is eligible for the Grand Union, among tilt nominations being the formidable Whitney colts Hard Cash, Bellringer, Hwfa, Rickety and Vivid, tin? latter a half-brother to Regret. Canipfire, Hourless, Ivory Black. Harry Kelly, Ilollister. America. Ticket. Omar Khayyam and others that have proved their quality will probably go to the post also, and it should be one of the best races of the meeting. The Merchants and Citizens Handicap has always been a good race, and it is one of the few cvents that has been won in consecutive years by the came horse. Herbert won it in 1901 and 1902 for Walter Rollins, and the Beverwyck Stable annexed it in 1909 and 1910 with Sir John Johnson, which, by the way, is now eleven years old and will be seen under colors at the meeting after several seasons in the stud. Roamer captured it in 1915 and Mr. Millers little champion, if he starts, will have a chance second, to none, as he has had a long rest and should lie at his best. Regret, Short Grass, Stroniboli. Friar Rock, Ed Crump and all the other cracks of the handicap division, with the exception of Spur and Dodge, are among the nominations and. with a good day and track, the record of Sir John Johnson for the race, 1:5S, should be equalled or surpassed.
