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WANT TO RAISE STEEPLECHASE WEIGHTS. Hunts Committee of Governing Body Favors In-crease— Gossip of the Jumpers. The Hunts Committee of the National Steepler-hasp and Hunt Association are to m.-.ke an effort to bring a general increase in weights for the steeplechases that will be run under their jurisdiction. They have made careful inquiry among those interested and find a disposition to help in the work even rm *djf under way. Some few objections have been made, hut most of the complaints comes from owners whose sentimental interest in this line of sport is limited. The effect nt first may be some absentees in races where the weights are high, but once the olan is generally adopted, as it is sure to be, they will make the best of it and run their horses. There is just BBS thing that may retard the movement and that is that while the Hunt meetings will tie run under the high scale plan, the steeplechuses it the regular tracks, which are under the sanction of the National Steeplechase ami Hunt Association direct, will lie run under the lighter scale. What is needed is a ruling fr tin- stewards of the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association which will bring united action. Once the edict is made general, racing secretaries can help materially by framing the conditions for their races in conformity with the general plan. In the old days of steepleehasing in this country it was a common thing to find top weights in handicaps and condition races carry 170 pounds or more and winning. Of late years to assign an impost of this sort has brought abuse or criticism for those framing conditions and the withdrawal of the horses so weighted. Co-o|ier.*it ion is all that is needed now to bring back the scale to the desired limits. Greentree Stables Strong Band. The strong string of jumpers that will carry the colors of the Oreentreo Stable this year are getting steady work at the farm at Red Bank. EC. J., win-re tiny wintered. Trainer Owens is confident that his baud is the best he has ever handled, and unless some disappointments develop the stable will l»* well represented at Hewhtts, the first of the Hunt meetings. Interest in this stable naturally centers on Syosset II. This son of Hamburg Mineola made his debut as a Jsaapsc last spring. His first start was in the Hopeful Blate at Belmont Bark Terminal and he won cantering in a field of ten. His next effort was in the Old Guard Steeplechase and in this try he fell early in the struggle. He then won the Coopers-town Blate at Piping Sack and two days later won tin- Whitney Memorial Steeplechase in dazzling style. beating such good ones as lebeto, I.rentwooil. Compliment. Footlights. Cherry Malotte, Dill Dmllev. Robert Oliver. Rhomb and Chivalry. A few days later came the news that he had gone amiss, and later it was said that his handlers feared the breakdown was permanent, but a long let-up has brought what looks like a complete cure and he has for a few weeks hi-on doing all that has been asked of him in a way that almost warrants a predict ion that In- will come to tie- post closer to a sound horse than at any time in his career. He is a hors.- of great speed, fast rasagl to win flat races in good-class company, and jumps in a style that earned for him last spring from competent judges the reputation of betas the lust over obstacles that has been seen in many years— in fact, some of the experts even rated him a better prospect than Oood and Plenty, which will always hold a prominent position in the annals of cross-country racing. Mr. Bambergers Two Good Ones. Ilermis Jr. is one of the latest recruit; to the list of steeplechasers. He was parchsmd last fall by Morton DeWitt Bamberger, when thought to l«* close to a past i the crippled list, but prompt treatment brought the desired results and he has been schooling ill a way that justifies his being entered in several of the more important stakes that have bees arranged for the cross-country division at the Hunt meetings. Osasjarrsr, another of Mr. Bambergers string, has come back to his lust form after being on the ailing list for more than a year. This horse is receiving a special preparation for the Maryland Hunt Cup. which will be run in the Creen Spring valley May "i. and for the BeaSM-l of the nice, which is at four miles on the flat, which will be run at Bimlico on the morning of May 12. The parse for the latter will be fl.SM ;ui,l it will be a race confined to horses that start in tin- Maryland Hunt Cup Steeplechase. The program for the meeting of the Rockaway Hunt Club at Hewhtts on April 28 and May ."i. las not been distributed, but the committee in charge are no doubt at work, and will announce the result within a few days. The purses will be liberal and the conditions framed to provide for the several classes that go to make up the lacing at th - Hunt meetings. The Halted Hunts Racing Association, in arranging the program for its spring meeting, has scheduled the Timber Toppers Champion Steeplechase for the second day of the mis-ting. Saturday. May ID. This is done with the idea of giving the hunter* a chance to compete in the Maryland races before being shipped on. Iresent indications are that the interest in the race will lie greater than ever. Last year, the first running of the race brought tn the |x»st a field of fifteen, and those in charge look for a showing equally strong this spring. The distance of the race is four miles, and all the jumps are of timber, the real test for the hunter. From recent reports, all the gentlemen riders of skill are already engaged for the race, and this means horsemen of national reputation. Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore. Washington and Virginia will send the liest they have.
