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HIGH-CLASS RACING FOR THIS YEAR. Debut of Mr. Macombers Crack North Star Awaited with Eager Interest. Never has American turf promised lxtter racing than it does for 1917. Not even in the hahyon days of the sport, before the passage of the nnti-r.icing legislation in IMS, was there the quantity and quality of thoroughbreds that are now awaiting the arrival of spring and the contests that are synonymous with it. Stakes have been richer and more numerous, and perhaps more renowned champions wen- eligible or them, but Betar was there such a large and fine collection of foreign-bred horses in this country to give battle to the best of the home-bred industry as are here now. More than OM thoroughbreds came from England and France within the last two years, and of this number few are of the selling plater variety. A vast majority of them are stak ■ horses, the b st produced in Kngland and France. Many of them raced here last year, but a much larger number arrived since the metropolitan tracks closed in the autumn. Several of the foreign-breds displayed more than .he average amount of apeed and stamina last year and won rich handicaps and turfmen predict that the later arrivals will fare even better. Some even go so far as to say that they will carry off a majority of the big handicaps. Those which raced last year are expected to show improvement, but the last importations are of higher class. Trainers say the French and English horses must be reckoned with when considering the probable results of the high-class events. Among the new arrivals is North Star, owned by A. K. Macomber of California, who has the largest racing stabl • in this country. North Star was probably the best colt in F.ngland last year. He won the historic Middle Park Plate and would have been the winter favorite for the 1917 Derby ha«l he remained abroad. Tanfaoea who saw him on his arrival in this country say he has the conformation of a great race horse; that he is built for distance as well as speed, and his performances in Bag land showed that he is as courageous as a bulldog. North Star Hope of A. K. Macomber. With North Star Mr. Macomber expects to win many rich stakes, but if he fails to live up to expectations the California turfman has many other notable racers in his h.-irn. including Star Hawk, his importation of last winter; Boots. Ed Crump. Hank ODny. Dick Williams, Dodge. Ilollister. Star Qaaer and Star Master. i.esides these high-class haniMcap horses Mr. Macoinlicr has a host of good younger horses. To gather together such a stable Mr. Macomber spent a fortune, and because of the fine horsemanship he displayed while meeting with a long string of reverses last year he earned the approbation of all of Americas leading turfmen and the patrons of the sport. As a result of this well earned popularity any successes he might score either with imported or home-bred horses will meet with hearty approval. The contest between foreign and horn. -bred horses will tend to give the events an international flavor and help the sport. Kesides. practically all of the stakes have been increased in value and many new ones added to the different programes. For the Saratoga meeting at least 00 has beea added to every stake, while the Empire City Racing Association has added the Empire City Derby to its list of stakes and increased the value of several others. At present it is the intention of the Jockey Club to open the season on the metropolitan tracks in the middle of May and run until October 1. It is likely that the first race of the year will be decided at lielmont Fark on May 19. The Belmont meeting probably will begin May 19 and end June 2. From lteimont Dark the scene will change to Aquiduct or Jamaica. New York Sun.
