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RACING GOSSIP AT THE METROPOLIS. War with Germany Not Likely to Affect Sport on This Side — Interest in Hot Springs. By Ed Cole. New York. February 13. — What effect would a war with Germany have upon racing in this country? This iMiestion was put to one in close touch with racing affairs and the reply was immediate: "None whatever. On the contrary, the attendance might be improved, especially in this state, for the reason there would be a mobilization of troops and plenty of momy would be in circulation." Continuing, the man interviewed went on to cite the conditions in Germany. France and England at the present time. He told of the popularity of the apart in Germany where there has been pleat? of racing for the last two years. Many of the principal stakes have been decided in England and although little has been going on in France in the way of racing, the thoroughbred industry and its adjuncts have asea protected and cared for in every way pebble under the strenuous conditions existing. "No better example of what can be expected iu a racing line can be found than the experience of the past three seasons in Canada." int •reepted one of the crowd sitting around the Waldorf table. "At all the tracks the attendance has been exceptionally good and the immense amounts of money hung up in purses and stakes should be almost sufficient guarantee that similar conditions would exist in this •antry. Of course if Germany procured such a .foothold in the war that it came in close touch with New York and began playing tenpins with our alley of high buildings it would be a different proposition, but so long as tin- Oermans arc held at bay and kept well on the other side of Sandy Hook there is not much fear of racings being bothered to any great extent. Associations Confident of the Future. "The fact that the racing associations hereabouts have progressed considerably in the way of --takes for the future is sufficient evidence that they are not at all skeptical about the outcome. They have gone on with their work though war clouds have been hanging over this country for a long time. Had they had any doubts they would not have framed new stakes and features and increased prizes as they have done. "Ooing back to the Canadian situation, there has been more raeug in Canada dining the past year than there ever was iu the Dominion. New tracks have beCB built and the amount of money passed through the mutuel machines has reached record points at several of the institutions, cspccally at Woodbine and Windsor. At the Woodbine track, in Toronto, the attendance increased considerably over BthCt years and the volume of money in circulation was so great that at times it taxed the ability of the machines to hold it. These facts herald the future here, even though war be declared. As 1m--fore state, I. il would only be in an extreme instance that the snort would BS afTocted. Everyone knows that the thoroughbred has to be preserved and this can only be accomplished through contests for su promacy. A few old fogies might object owing to their si ntimeutalily. but the broader-minded patriot would look farther into the future and would encourage the medium through which the blood of the horse would be perpetuated. No. sir. it is a sure thing that only under the most distressing conditions of war would racing l e curtailed in this country. Inconveniences may arise in the way of transportation and othe minor details, but so far as the-sport is concerned, there will be raeing as long as men hare horses to race and money to wager on the superii i -ity of one horse oer another." Concerned About Hot Springs Racing. Racing folks here are anxious to know the exact arrangements of the business men of Hot Springs in regard to the spring sport in the valley of vapors. There appears to be a degree of uncertainty as to the date of opening though it has been asserted March 7 has been decided upon for a beginning. Nothing authoritative in the way advertising has been published and the sooner the question is positively settled the sooner New Yorkers, of whom there ale hundreds ready to make the trip, will arrange their business affairs. After New Orleans closes there will be but Havana and Tijuaaa in operation and the borseinen and regulars are not likely to make an exodus to either plan", hence racing at Hot Springs would be a great convenience to BOrseBMS as well as to invite a targe gathering to the Arkansas resort. To Hot Springs rs lag would mean as much to the business of the tears as it has meant to New Orleans, which, all repoits declare, has been crowded with visitors for the past six weeks. It has been many years since what could be termed a first-class meeting in Hot Springs has been held and while party politics s. ems much concerned it is generally believed that the business organizations of the town will dominate sad bring about a resumption of the sport that for several years brought much grist to the financial mills id the citizens. Racing folks want a meeting Bach as Hot Springs would provide to fill in a void between the closing of New Orleans ami the opening of the sprinjf season in Maryland and Kentucky. If the citizens cannot see the golden opiiortunity pre Bested by advocating a racing carnival during Man h and the early part of April then they seed a little- education from the recorded pro cecils derived since the revival of the sport at New Orleans. There are two tracks that could be- util-ized and hundreds of patrons of the sport are anxiously waiting to hear from this noted health and pleasure resort.
