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• . I ; I - | " • : LOOKING AHEAD FOR 1917 A PROPHECY AND A RETROSPECT CONCERNING AFFAIRS ON THE AMERICAN TURF. Many Indications of Spreading Revival of Interest in Thoroughbred Racing — Some of the Great Performers of the Year Just Ended. By Ed. Cam. New York, December 31. — if the weather forecaster could turn his instruments on racing for a few moments and predict what is likely to occur during the year 1917, it would read something like this: Racing Forecast. Increased interest, continuous sunshine, large purses and stakes everywhere excepting beyond the Canadian coast where a legislative storm may cause a slowing down of the racing engines. In the eastern states then is promise of excellent sport with an abundance of rare good horses and a more lengthy season thai? usual, lieginning in May and concluding the latter part of September. A new track may be born in Maryland and one in Canada, but those are the only two prospective additions to the present list. The clouds appear to be clearing in the Far Wi st. and it may be that California will look with a favorable eye on the sport and provide laws for a resumption of racing which has been stormswept for the past seven years. In Kentucky there is likely to be continuous fair weather throughout and greater interest in turf affairs, owing to the wonderfully large purses to be offered and rich stake.- to be decided. Over all the indicating finger of the racing bureau instruments points decidedly to increased interest in many circles, addition to the ranks of owners of men with money and influence. • promise of extra good horses, foreign and domestic, little friction as to dates, atterni-ancc that will surpass that of last year, and a general uplift of the sport, North, South, East and West. If this prediction is true — and there is no reason to think otherwise — it will be said that the season of 1917 has been a bumper. It deserves to be. for the tfioroughbred industry is growing at such a aaee that it should be given nationwide recognition. Millions upon millions are invested in it, yet it has to battle almost every year for its existence. Normal and equitable legislative regulations are needed to put the sport ou a satisfying foundation for all concerned. With such permission horse racing could be made to impress more favorably those who an now opposed to the sport. Looking at the prospects from a thoroughbred point of view, there are in this country today more real blue blooded horses that never have bean at ana time Imparted or bred here. The war has c.iuseil American buyers to send abroad for stock that will eventually tell its tale in the improvement of the domestic stock. This is assured. Hundreds of horses have been brought to this country that will be important factors in breeding in generations to come, as were the importations of many years ago. and from which much of the old stock of domestically bred horses was derived. What then can be expected from the hundreds we now have compared with the tens shipped here in the early ays of racing/ Even from the old stock arose such wonderful horses as Hanover. Hindoo. Parole. Iroquois, Sysonby. Colin. Commando anil a hundred others of more or less note. At this writing there is ten times as much foreign blood here from which breeders can choose. Surely such a wealth of good horses should bring about a proportionate result. Thus it is predicted that during the next decade the American thoroughbred will be so much improved that it will compare favorably with any country in the world. Years Good Three-Year-Olds. A glance over the racing material of last year shows no particular shining star in any division. There was no undefeated Colin or Sysonby. The nearest approach to it probably was Friar Rock, a three-year-old, which won the Brooklyn and Suburban handicaps and the classical Belmont, a feat of rarity. But what did Friar Rock beat? It cannot be said he beat truly representative thoroughbreds -rather, a fair sample of handicap horses. In the first place. Roamer was not within fifteen pounds of his true form. Stromboli was not a horse of consistency. Pennant was a patched-up cripple when he went after the Brooklyn Handicap, Short Graan could not be considered a great horse, though he won many creditable races. The Finn was probably the best older bene Friar Rock beat, and Spur tiie best throe -year-old, and there are those who believe Spur was a more durable and reliable horse than Friar Rock, notwithstanding the latter beat him in the Belmont over a mile and three-eighths course. That Friar Rock anil Spur were the best three-year-olds in this section is positive. Whether they were superior to Star Hawk. Oeorge Smith and Dodge is a matter of opinion, though there was one test race at Saratoga between Dodge and Spur at a mile that indicates Dodge and Spur were about equal. In any event it can be presumed that Friar Rock. Spur. Dodge, Star Hawk and George Smith will be useful four-year-olds for handicap and stake purposes. These with Tin Finn. Stromboli, Roamer, Boots. Ed Crump and probably one or two from the Whitney anil other stables should provide excellent material for the handicaps of 1917. Campfire, Hourless and Others. Passing to the younger division, or two-year -olds of last year, there i, a diversity of opinion as to the pick of the band. In the east, Campfire was the most consistent winner and won considerably more money than Hourless, an imported horse of August Belmonts. Campfire was bred in this coun- try by R. T. Wilson. Notwithstanding Camp-fire won more money than Hourless the latter might prove to be the better horse this year. Campfire beat Hourless at Saratoga at even weights, but the claim was made, upon that occasion that the latter was not quite at his best. That there were grounds for this assertion was proved a week later when Hourless ran a much better raci . from a time standpoint, witli three pounds more in the saddle. Then again atmospheric conditions might have been more in his favor ou that day. In any event the Continued ou second paje. LOOKING AHEAD FOR 1917. Continued from first page. two are good horses and much interest will be manifested when they meet as three-year-olds. There were two good two-year-olds in the west last year. Harry Kelly and Westy Began, the former almost a sensation owing to his phenomenal speed. There is little question in the minds of those who saw all the younger horses race that over a five-eighths coarse Harry Kelly could heat any horse in his class. What he will do as a three-year-old is yet to be decided, and if he develops into a staying horse it is doubtful if either Campfire or Hour-less will be capable of holding him down. Good judges, however, are of the opinion that he will not stay over a long course, that he will be a sprinter only, but one of the highest class. As for Ivesty Hogan. he may be the star three-year-old of the west over a mile or longer course. His victories were impressive and though he was badly beaten by Kt llj- at five-eighths it was not a disgrace, as Kelly was a phenomenal horse at the time. At Latonia Westy Hogaas races were much better than Kellys roan ■ time standpoint. Kelly nrai excused at that time by his owner. Mr. Schorr, who claimed that his colt was on the downgrade while at Latonia. All considered, there will be a rare good group of three-year-olds out this year in Hornless, Camp-fire, Ivory Plack. Harry Kelly, Westy Hogan. Tragedy, Ticket. Koh-i-noor, Sunbonnet. and possibly one or two others which may make rare strides between their two and three-year-old form. Of the two-year-olds to appear this year little can be said any more than that upwards of 2. 000 have been registered and that if half of them go to tin-post it will be a good percentage. Many of these are imported and reports from whiter training quarters are favorable as regards the looks and early trials of some of them. Last year the imported stock did not come up to expectations. It may be the same this year. No one can tell until Una tests are made. Should an idol be shown, no matter Whether it be imported or domestic, it will add zest to racing, for the public likes idols of the thoroughbred world. Newcomers in the Field. Regarding the newcomers on the turf A. K. Macombi r is unquestionably the most prominent, with more than fifty head of horses in charge of Walter Jennings at Charleston. It is to be hoped he has greater success with his strings this year than he had last, when he ran persistently in second place with good horses. Luck did not favor his entries on many occasions. Mr. Macomber has tried to get the best horses obtainable in ■■rape. Eventually he will unquestionably become a decided factor ia racing circles. Another addition to the ranks is W. S. Kilmer, whs is al-.i willing to spread out as an owner of good horses. He has also purchased many horses abroad. Bernard Barnch is gathering a stable together at the suggestion of John MoGinnis, and being of a speculative nature, there is no telling how far hi- will go to procure the pick of the world in thoroughbreds. Then there is Congressman G. W. Loft, who has taken a keen interest in turf affairs. His chief interest is for the welfare of the turf and the enjoyment of its followers. It is ae who has purchased the beautiful estate of Hilton in Saratoga, which he intends to turn into a gigantic club, where members can enjoy their daily pastime of golf, polo, tennis and other outdoor exercises within the grounds. The late W. C. Whitney helped considerably to make Saratoga what it is. Congressman Loft is finishing the work that peahahly would have l een done by Mr. Whitney had he lived. It may be that in the near future championships of all kinds of sport will be decided at Saratoga during the month of August. Much speculation has been going on in the east it ganging the court decision-; by Which two men named Cohen and Solomon were sentenced for pro fessional bookmaking contrary to the laws edicts of the state. Will the decision interfere witli future credit betting at the local tracks? is the question asked. In conversation with those who had much to do With the case and the authorities of the county ia which the alleged offense took nance, it was sent I U ll that had not these two men overstepped the boundary of the laws lines they would not have been arrested. They solicited wagers from anyone who looked like a speculator. They wen-sentenced in Queens County and the appellate court upheld the action of the lower court. There is a third case still pending in the appellate court of a similar nature. A different construction may lie put on t!ii- ease when a decision is arrived at. and should -noli be the ultimatum it would mean that tie- eases of Cohen and Solomon would be taken to a higher cunt, which would cause legal en-tangh mints that would take many months to unravel. In any event it is safe to say that the credit system of speculating has dominated for the past four years on local courses will be operative, and as long as speculators abide by the law and are satisfied to make a anger that is permissible there will be no trouble. The associations are living up to the courts decisions and will always do so. They will also use every effort to see that their patrons do the same; they can do no more. All things considered, there are no darkening i bMldS hanging Over the thoroughbred Industry id lacing at this time: on the contrary, everything looks bright and cheery. The Jockey Club will have new rules to gin era which will no doubt prove satisfactory to nine tenths of the horsemen. Fashionable Stables have provided the best racing material obtainable. A-sociations are increasing panes as warranted. AH the patrons a-k is for good contests, an idol in ever- class, and the year 1917 will be memorable in the history of the American turf.
