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EASTERN CRITICS ON KENTUCKY DERBY. A. K. Macombcrs Colt, North Star III., Will Be . Popular Choice — Rickety Should Be Strong Second. By Bd Cole. New York. March 2T.— There has Im-.-h more talk about the Kentacky Derby, to be run at Louisville, this year than of any Derby since its inception. This 1 i- pi ibably due to the areaeacc of so many imported ; ■ homes. No matter which way one tarns among raciag folks, the que at JOB is: "What do you think , about the Kentucky Derby":" Opinions differ la regards to the probable aria in r. The uncertainty of the race has made it doubly Interesting. The reanll ia in considerable doubt, notwithstanding the fact thai A. 1. Macom-bers colt North Star III.. winner of the Middle Park Plate last year, is the popular choice. It i- usually conceded ia Bngland that the winner i of the Middle Park Plate b one of the logical 1 favorites for the Banaaa Derby. This h lag the 1 I English line of argument, there is no rraaaa why 1 the same ideas should not exist in this country. Some have said. English Critics chiefly, that it is doubtful if North Star III. will go a Derby route. While these critics may he correct ia their statements, il is a question which will not be knowa until Welter Jennings has given thia son of Su.i-atar -Angelic, a good and sufficient prenaratl m. Mr. Jennings evidently betteves North star III. will go Cue route, juduiai: from the financial outlays of hi- Meads, many of whom have backed the colt for goodly -um- and tiny woual led have done so had not th y been actaatod by the opinion of Mr. Jenniaga or aatiafled hy the reports of the colts work at Charleston. May Go to the Pest a E-.vorite. That the Macomb-i- stable will go to the post a slight favorite there is little ouostiou i: tie- work of North star ill. satisfies ins trainer, a report was s; read a. weak or so auo that the colt had pulled up lame. Thia was not; true. North Star III.. according to a letter from Mr. Jennings, he- never taken a lame step and at the present tin: is doing all thai i- naked of him. Hence there is no reason. under favor.-. hie conditions and with the BagH h tradition in his favor, why North Star III. should not be the choice for the Kentucky race. That James ItoWC will send a strong represent a ; ie to carry the Wbitii- y colors is roaawaaak He hi- four eligibles. Rickety. Tumbler, Hwfa and BeUriager. Logically, Rickety should be a stronc secoad choice to the Macomher stable, as he ran second to Ilourlcss and fourth to Campfire at Saratoga in two stake-, and wliile he did not have quite as much Height up as they did. lie cave an excellent account of himself. If either Ilourlcss or Campfire was in the Derby they would run a dose second to North star III. in favoritism. They wen tho i„.-r two-year-olds from this section ami were generally thought lure to ]■• Letter than either Barrj Kelly or We-ty Uogaa, tlie westcra champions. Omar Khayyam must also 1m- givea c -nsideratioii. as he too. -howe.l :. -emewii.it lemarkable performance in the Hopeful Stake at Saratoga. These - ven borsei North Star III.. Rickety. Omar Khayyam. Westy Bogaa, Harry Kelly. Mill way and Cudgel, are conceded to be the logical choices for the Derby, and on all form, the winner Should come from this collection. There arc many others in the race, however, that did not show np a- ..Ill last year as they may do this year. Two- jrear-okh can make rapid strides of improvement from their two to their three-year-old form. Much Defends on Condition. It is early to predict any decided Choice, M much depending upon the condition of the boraea ami the all-important factor of which horses are likely t 1 go lie Derby distance so early in tin- aeaaoa. for Instance, many betteve thai Barry KeBy will not Stay a long route and that Cudgel may • the slab,. reliance the i.iy of ho race with Harry i Uj as pad maker. John W. Sihorr owns both and le i- a Shrewd horseman. He never would have paid tie goodly pri.-e !.. did tor Cudgel had he not be n satisfied that be Was a Derhj possibility. It BMJ also happen that Johnson aV BflBaga, Corrigaa A McKianey, Janes Bat! r, John E. Madden ami others will have improved celts or fillies to create an argument. All are weii represented. That. John B. Madden think- well of Defense i-ga the red from the fact that he leased this colt from the Sunset stable ami entered him ill the Derby along with Milkman. These facts ladies te that Mr. Madden thinks well of both horses, especially Defense. Schuyler Cars. ,11- also has a good filly in Koh-i Noor. which looks like one of the best 01 her -o. if not the best, in the three-year-old division. The more one looks over tie list of entries, the more posslbUtlei arise, but the seven horses first men tamed, on what they have shown publicly am! what is expected flam North Star III., stan.i well out from the remainder. They are tie- choi 1 - of horaeasea in tic east, who voice their opinion oa wiiat they have seen am! heard. Considerable wagering has been going on for weeks anions the sportsmen here ia an oral way. A tentative |jne on the prices quoted from the poll of a callable price maker indicates that the Macomb r and Whitney entry should he about - to 1 against each at thi- writing, play or pay. Omar Kb would figure about 8 to 1 as would the Schorr ■. no Westy Bog in. Midwaj com.- next at about 1-t, 1. foBowed by th .Madden stable, Kofa l-Koor 1 1 20 to 1. with the remainder varying between 20 .Hid SO to 1. Fbese figures, however, are th" la dividual opinion of a price maker and must BOl I taken authoritatively a- a good work of some bone would change the figures materially in a few hours. ihe race will b. a mixture of imported horses and home product and will do much to enlighten race-goers and bn 1 th re, a- to what to expect from the three-year-okk throughout the racing reaven.
