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FAVOR OPENING AT BELMONT PARK. Horsemen Want to See Metropolitan Racing Sea -on Started with a Flourish. New York. February 11. — While no definite information has been given out as to the probable dates for racing in the metropolitan district, it is generally accepted that the season will be about the same length as last year, and will open in all probability on May 19. There, however, is a decided trend in favor of having the opening at Belmont Park instead of at Jamaica, as was the case last year. The principal reason is that at Belmont Park the snort would start with a flourish that would be impossible at Jamaica. liven a good send-off. which practieally is assured for the big track, the at tendance naturally would be increased all along the line, and Jamaica, coming later. would reap the rewards of following a meeting that was high -class in every respect. If Belmont is soleeted to open tiie season it is probable that the sport will run right along at that track in one long meeting to include Decoration Day. on which more people may In- expected to visit the track than on the opening day. Even before the Jockey Club has decided on the dates far the regular tracks the principal amateur meetings will be decided on. The annual meeting of the Hunts Committee of the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association will be held next Thursday, and this committee will pass on the dates for the hunt meets which will precede the regular season. The Hunts Committee ts composed of the representatives of the hunt clubs of New York. New Jersey. Maryland. Pennsylvania. Virginia and New England, and three representatives of the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association. Frank J. Bryan, racing secretary of the Piping Rook Association, is greatly pleased with the gnat entry of fifty-nine for the L. Stuart Wing Memorial Cup. the new steeplechase event to be run at the spring meeting. This is one of the largest entries ever received for a steeplechase and will make the first running a rich event. An entrance fee of S10 is charged, witli a starting fee of 850. In addition there will be a cash prize of ,000 and a gold challenge cup, given by the two sons of Mr. Wing. Owners Pleased with Stake Proposals. Turfmen arete greatly pleased with the fine stake card announced last week by the Empire City Racing Association, especially with the new three-year-old fixture, the Empire City Derby. It is the evident intention of Mr. Butler to build his track as near the standard set at Belmont I.irk and Saratoga as possible, ami each additional stake ■Med to his program places Empire City a little nearer the maik. In talking over the new stake recently Victor Scliaumberg. the racing secretary, explained that the Derby would have been set for a mile and a quarter, instead of a mile and an eighth, but for the conformation of the track, which renders such a distance an unfair test on account of the turns. A strong effort is being made to make long-distance events more popular. s:nd when it is established that sufficient competition can be expected the distance of the Derby will be increased to a mile and a half, which is the regulation Derby route. In giving guaranteed stakes of good proportion the Empire City management has also improved on former years, and further changes are promised that will tend to the advancement of the sport. By next year, for instance, it is hoped to follow the lead of the Westchester Racing Association and make the Derby an event that will have its losing When the horses entered are yearlings. This has proved a success witli the Coaching Club handicaps. Which closed recently, the entries for the horses now two-year-olds and yearlings being nearly three times as luge as that made for the present year, for which three-year-olds are entered. Saratoga has adopted this plan for the Travers and Alabama Stakes, and tin- tendency appears to be toward stakes that close far in advance. Empire City already has two first-class stakes for two year olds in the Whirl and Eastview. but it is planned to go further along these Ihsea by instituting stakes on the order of the Futurity. The Empire City traek is at a disadvantage, because of its ilistance from the usual racing locality, but it seems only a question of time before Mr. But lers liberal policy will have its reward and the Yonkers track will be placed on an anal footing with the rest of the metropolitan circuits.
