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SEVERAL TURF REFORMS SUGGESTED. Breeders Should Be Barred from Racing- and Stable Rent Abolished. By Thomas B. Cromwell. Lexington. Ky.. January 7. "I have two turf reforms I would like to bring to the notice of the State Raring Commission, the Thoroughbred Horse Association end the racing associations." said Fletcher E. Driver, breeder and owner of several good racers and still a devotee of the sport, on the eve of his departure for New Orleans this week. "The first is a Modification of the rules governing jockeys so that a rider who is placed under suspension for a given number of days, or even indefinitely, may fulfill engagements made for the succeeding d .y. The other is a rule barring bleeders in the betting. In Australia a horse that is known to have bled twice is not permitted to race. . bleeder is not ■ sound horse and it is not fair that the public should be permitted to wager money on mi. h animals." "One thing I would like to bring to the notice of the State Racing Commission." said J. Tandy Hughes, who I into is to spend the winter at New Orleans, "is the practice of charging stall rent at Churchill Downs during the race meetings. That practice is not in vogue at any of the other three tracks in this state and there is no justification for it anywhere. There should be uniformity. If the Churchill Downs management can establish the equity of its practice, then the other three tracks should be making the charge. If it cannot establish it then it should stop the practice. No horseman objects to paying stall rent during that paction of the year when there is no racing, and no horseman objects to paying stall rent on year lings and other horses not in training for the meeting in progress." John E. Madden, master of Hamburg Place, who is counted the largest broodmare owner in America at the present time, stopped for a chat a day or two ago and. in the course of his comment, dropped these interesting impressions: "The past season has demonstrated that the American thoroughbred is the equal of any in the world at any distance. The Lexington blood in the horse Star Hawk, that came fmm England, and other stake winners shows that American blood will assert itself. "The marked improvement of the race horse of today and the demand for the service of the thoroughbred sire by the farmers shows its increasing popularity. "Another pleasing feature of the situation at present is the large increase of patrons from the leisure lass, both as breeders and attendants at the race tracks. "It is to be regretted that the xvestern associations. Kentucky among the number, have abolished steeplcchasing. a sport admired by all and especially the ladies. "The war in Europe has awakened the authorities to the great necessity of having good thoroughbred stallions for our native mares, and those who form crly abused the running horse, now stand in the ranks of those who see much virtue in him." Thoroughbred Horse Association Aims. The Kentucky Association, in response to a suggestion originating at a meeting of the directors of the Thoroughbred Horse Association, will light the stable yard at the local track with electricity and will have a night watchman on duty the year round. Another improvement that probably will be made- during the year will be the erection of a shower bath on each side of the track for the use of grooms and exercise boys. An official of the Thoroughbred Horse Association this week stated that it will be a put of the work of the organiza tion during the coming year to have better toilet facilities established at all race tracks, especially those in Maryland and Canada. Horsemen racing in Maryland have raised objection to the payment of stall rent during racing time at Laurel and one other track, likewise to the practice of charging for the privilege of operating a public kitchen. Where the grooms and exercise boys board. The argument is advanced that the kitchen keeper is compelled to reduce the fare at his table in order to have a profit for his labor after paying the association for the use of a building, which it should gladly proride without cost for the accommodation of the workingmen of the stable ground. Another tiling that many are opposed to is the rule compelling purchase of horse feed at a store or warehouse operated by or for the association owning the track. Horse feed at such store is always, the horsemen contend, somewhat higher than elsewhere. The State Racing Commission has not indicated its preference in the matter of a successor to the late- W. H. I.audeman in the position of supervisor of pari-mutuol betting on the Kentucky trick-and it seems that none of them are pledged to i n man. but. judging from the manner in which horsemen, breeders, trainers and racing devotees generally are expressing themselves. John B. McLaughlin, of Lexington, will be the best -indorsed man. whose name will go before the commission When it Meets to make the- selection, which may not be for several weeks. Chairman Camden has not indicated when. McLaughlin, who is Interested in the ownership of a promising youngster in R. L. Bakers stable and who has a partnership interest with his brother-in-law. Jack Baker, in John Guml and Constant, winner and second in the Latonia Derby of 1111.". will spend the winter at New Orleans. He left Lexington tonight, accompanied by Harry Laudenian. R. L. Thomas and John S. Ray are two well-known Lexingtonians who departed for New Orleans this week. Thomas very likedy Will furnish the bankroll for some of the operations in the ring. John S. Wallace, who is to be one of the stakeholders, left her the day after Christmas. Mickey Shannon also is ou the ground; likewise Joe Tevis. Some Cracks in Winter Quarters. Harry Morrissey, whose work as starter on the Kentucky tracks during the fall was a big improvement over that of the spring which was undertaken before he had fully recovered his strength after a siege of pneumonia, has Beach Comber at his Ke mplaiid Farm in .er Lexington. Morrissey is half owner, with E. K. Bradley, in the disappointing son of Bock Sand, and will put him in the stud the coming sens, hi. There is not a better-bred son of this illustrious sire anywhere probably, but this, and the tact that he brought 4,100 as a yearling in spite of his limp, did not sustain him in racing. He was. becanse of his ailment, a dismal failure on the turf, hut Morrissey believes in his future as a sire and will give him the best chance possible. Morrissey has three mares of his own that he intends to breed to him. Faux-Col. Leo Skolny and Waterford are a trio of distinguished indi viduals wintering at Kempland Farm. The first named two are owned by R. J. Mackenzie and Jack Aelkins. and Waterford is the property of James P. Ross and J. T. Loom y. Waterford is one of the best of the coming three --year-olds and looks like he is going to show big improvement over his two-year-old form. His owners refused gs.ooo for him in September. Leo Skolny and Faux-Col have been fired and both are ill good shape. Jefferson Livingston has arranged with Walter S. Payne to keep at Mapleton Farm the twelve weanlings he recently purchased in England and which are expected to reach Kentucky next week. No message has come from J. O. Keene recently, but he- is expected home from England during the- coming we-ek with several patrchaseo made during his three months abroad. Superinte-ndent James M. Ross stated today that there are IM horses in ipiartc-rs at the Kentucky Association track and a large number will come in from the- farms within the next fortnight. The main track will be closed until good weather and the- winter training will be- done over the- s uid track and cm the re els. See re tar O. D. Wilson of the Kentucky Association is expecting a large number of third payments for the Breeders Futurity of 1*17, which is to be-decided in the fall, and second payments for t he-same- stake- to be- decided in the fall of 1918. The payments are due January 1. John i.allahe-r and George- Innes are back from an extended hunt for birds in tin- south. The] report goad sue. ess until the past week, when they encountered rain.
