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DISCUSSES KENTUCKY DERBY CALIBER. Lexington Writer Expects Field to Be Superior to Any Ever Seen in the. Classic. With the crop of coming three-year-olds the best that lias been developed in recent years, the field in the 3917 Kentucky Derby gives every promise of being the superior of all preceding ones, says the Thoroughbred Record. Two-year-olds of the highest caliber were shown in the west during the past season, and it is almost a certainty that the cream cf eastern talent will be on hand to strive for the rich reward and the prestige that always goes to the winner of this race. The international aspect presented by the event in the last two years also will not bo missing, and contention from foreign-bred animals promises to be even more worthy than before. A. K. Macoin-ber. who to narrowly missed capturing the 191i Derby with Star Hawk, will make a still more determined effort with English blood. In addition to the good imported performers raced in this country during the past year by Mr. Ma-comber, he will have in his string one of the greatest three-year-old colts ever brought to America. This animal is North Star, one of Englands leading two-year-olds during the 191C season. North Star was bought from J. B. Joel, and the sale by the wealthy Britisli sportsman is taken in England as a jar to racing and breeding in that country. North Star won the Middle Park Plate and was rated by all Britisli experts as one of the favorites for the Epsom Derby and Doncaster St. Legcr. The fact that Mr. Joel lias seen fit to dispose of this son of Sunstar is taken as an indication that he does not look with hope on turf prospects in England. With such a string to his bow, Mr. Macombers stable undoubtedly will occupy chief consideration in any possible winter book calculations. His good filly. Sunbonnot, also appeared to be of Derby caliber in racing here, ami should he decide to send more than one representative to the post, as last year, it is not improbable tiiat this route-loving individual will be pointed for the Downs event. Although It. T. Wilson has confined his racing activity to the oast, it is hoyed he will make a bid for the Derby next year with his good colt. Camp-lire. The acknowledged star of 191 two-year-olds is a logical representative of American breeding against the imported colt and, with the huge reward for the winner, it is lielieved that Mr. Wilson will venture to Kentucky next May. Kentuckys prospects were never better for Derby material. Most highly rated of the animals which performed in this section during the past season are Midway. Westy Hogau and Harry Kelly. Some doubt the ability of the latter to stay a route, but the caliber of Midway and Westy Hogan seemed proved during the fall campaign. Others just a trifle short of the form of this trio in two-year-old racing demonstrated marked class, and with the remarkable change in many types in developing from two-year-olds into three-year-olds, numerous serious bidders for the mile and a quarter crown appear a certainty. There is also the prospect of invasion from the east by a number of stables with sturdy repre-f Mentation, probably most prominent among them be- ing August Belmont with his good colt, llourless. This two-year-old demonstrated beyond doubt that lie would prove most formidable over a distance, and I experts have pronounced him the ideal type of Derby I horse. Mr. Belmont considered wintering part of his stable here and, although he abandoned the idea, it is believed that he had in mind the Kentucky Derby. Harry Payne Whitney, as usual, will ba represented should his three-year-olds work to the liking of James Rowe, and Rickety seems to be the lead-ting prospect. Schuyler Parsons, it is believed, will fiend his good filly, Kooh-i-noor. All in all, Derby prospects appear most rosy.
