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NEW RULE WORKING WELL TRIAL ALREADY GIVEN IT YIELDING FAVORABLE RESULTS IN PRACTICE. Winners Now May Earn Enough to Defray Their Expenses While Growing- and Improving in Their Enforced Retirement. By M Cole. K«W York. January 30.— While the fields at the Viator tricks might have lieon I trifle larger. :is a whole, liail nut tin- new two-year-old rule been operative, it does not appear that anyone Jias suffered much. The sport has gone along pretty well notwithstanding the scarcity of 1 wo-year-old tteata. It is DOC of those changes in turf affairs the effect of which cannot be decided until they have had ■ fair and impartial trial. No criterion can be taken from what lias occurred up to the present. So far not more than sixty t wo-year-olds have lien raced on three tracks — New Oilcan.. .Inarez and Tijuana. Not a two-year-old race lias he- n put on in Havana, nor will there he unless the ideas of Martin Nathanson. Urowns secretary, change. The youngsters that have In en wnt to the post are the culls of the stahles. or were heli.-v d la be of hut moderate or little value. At New Orleans Henry R. hail won three races up to Friday last and is generally conceded to be tie- best of the band exposed. It will he argued by some, perhaps, that his having won three races would indicate he is better than the average, and his lieing barred from starting at the larger tracks may prove a hardship on his owner. On the other hand, it may prove a Measlac i" disguise, for the long rest he will have during the slimmer and autumn may give him a chance to develop and grow, whereas further racing might cause him to be stunted and become, perhaps a cripple. It is possible lie will come out as a lire- year-old sound and perfect. These things •k will have to lie proved by time, but at this writing K appears as if ■ large majority of horseni -n are satisfied, there not being a general disposition to break the rub. Naturally, the new edict makes little difference to the larger racing stables, which rarely begin a campaign until spring is will under way. but it is an assured fact that the rule has kept prospective good oiaigsiors from being raced and probably lias lieen the means of their becoming good horses instead of broken-down cripples before they have had an opportunity to show true ability and value. Some "Early Bird" Trainers. A shrewd horseman like Frank Weir may have profited by the rule by dropping a fairly good youngster or two into rac.-s and winning a few purses while oUMT horsemen Were asleep — in other words, •grabbing early opportunities." To win a theaaead or two under these conditions would be shrewd management. A crop of early purses has always been the object of some trainers, notably William Garth, whose horses in the spring season are always ready for the races, while the majority are only partly prepared. If Carth operated at winter race tracks, it is almost assured, he would have sent out a youngster or two after careful selection. Th- y would lie of the kind with little future prospect. Cartli would soliloquize thus, perhaps: "There is a colt." picking one of the number in his imagination, "which is not going to be much when the racing is in full swing. If I enter him in some of these early races lie might win a couple of purses. aft t which he could he turned out until it is time to prepare him for his three-year-old career. By that time lie might develop into a good horse." The result is the colt would probably have earned enough to pay its expenses for a season, and maybe more, Mist through the good judgment of the trainer. It is more than likely that one or two owners of youngsters have taken this view of the situation, while many of them have overlooked the opportunities. Cons pientlj . the fields have been light this winter in all two-year-old races, and the same youngsters in Dearly all cases have been racing against one another. Many have at least one purse to their credit, which would not otherwise have happened bad the rule not been in existence. as far as better horses would have bee* entered. Some good, therefore, has been derived from the rule already, and it is more than probable that the boraea which bare been reserved will he boa-e-fited by the three months permission to grow without having to undergo the strain of excessive preparation and strenuous racing while in their Jcndcrest physical period. In European countries the rule prohibiting the early tuition of young horses has proved a valuable asset to the improvement of horses. It will, no doubt, prove s., in this country, and while the 00-soeiitions may have suffered a temporary inconvenience in the way of long entry lists, the chances are that next year entries in two year-old races will be more numerous, a- owners will select from their strings horses which can he raced with possible profit at the winter meetings. Another item. too. that will increase the number of entries is the fact that many more two-year-olds will lie in training, ilue to the progress of the breeding industry. Th re • -. little question that in the end the new rule will work itself into wide popularity and be satisfying to owners. Hirschs Radical Ideas. Turning from the two -year-old question to the new -. Ming -race rules. Max llirsch. who is looking after the horses owned by Congressman I.oft. suggests a lather rabid movement that would stop horse trad ing an I pre Teal "pore*, cliaibera" from gouging money from men whose methods are more lionor- al |e. "Von know what I think would be the best rule," said .Mr. llirsch. while arguing the matter a few-days ago. "I think that all surplus money in sell lag and claiming races should revert to the associations or jockey clubs as a fund to provide a home » r home comforts for old horsemen and persons connected with the turf, who have to struggle m their idfi lining yean for sustenance. There are hundreds Wfca have to depend upon their friends, and friends .-ire f-w when a fellow is broke ami old. Such a rule would put a check on the porch climber and sharpshooter — in fact, he would tie put out of baatocaa, practically, and it would not interfere in the hast with the sport, as any horse could be bid up or . I lime | if its owner was not living up to the customary regulations of a selling race" d.v - audience agreed there was merit to the suggestion, but the rule would have to be universal throughout this country uud Canada to be effecthc. I i
