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WEIGHTS FOR HARFORD SATISFACTORY. W. S. Vosburghs Initial Allotment for 1917 Seems to Have Met Approval of Experts. By M Gate. New York. April 12.— W. S. Yosburghs initial handicap for P.H7. tke Harford, to be run next Monday at Havre do Grace seems to have met tke approval of nearly all the experts on Broadway. Some disagree with him in giving Pennant the place of honor with 189 pounds, considering he is not a sound horse, but the answer to the critiePm is that all horses are sepposod to l e at their best in the eyes of a handicap* r. The consensus of solatia is that Leochares. whieh has 1.11 up. will be the choice of the top weights with Sand Marsh and A. N. Akin following. Otep-perbUl is given weight sufficient but is is Mr. Yosbnraks method to give ■ heeae that he has little line on a steadying weight until it has shown some publio form. Little can be said of the possible result of the race only in a ixeneral way. exeepting that the eeadtttea of the t— butaata will have much bearing on the outcome. Some Favor Splitting Handicaps. The Harford Handicap is an event which could well be split, as lias been suggested by some folk. Mr. Yoslmrgh has always favored splitting handi-eaps. especially overnight parses, ta provide more ni.mey for handicap horses and create further interest. "It would be far better." said one horseman in the Jockey Club ottiee today, "to see all allien .low n to lOS pounds, run in one end of the race and those below in the second half, the Baaoctettea adding suflieient to make it worth while, and substituting the see 1 half of the race for one of the cheaper races carded. Tke argument has much merit, but it would be an innovation t. be thought out by the management before action. It would not be the first time a handicap has been split. The id. -a was much favored thirty years ago. The principal argument in its favor is that it gives handicap horses mere spportaalty to win races and tkerekv enhances their value. This naturally applies to keeses that are a trifle tea good to m .hissed jis selling platen, •Those earning capacity as handicap horses is less d an that ■creamti Overnight handicaps are pat sa to sapply the needs of this eteaa of horse, hat for aaaae reaaoa they do not aptte conn up to the demand. Will Be Tried out at Some Tracks. Splitting haadicapa is sure to he dtecaased at some tracks this year if they fill in ateaaaanee, whieli secaaa probable, owing to the large aaanher of three-year-olds la training, selling races are frequently split an. I good ceatesta reaalt. Handicap aorscs are of greater vahu- than s.-lling platers, or are sapposed to be, hem. it is only in Itee with taiiia m that the] shoald be given more earning possibilities. . c. Edwards, aecretary of tke Jamaica track, is convinced by applleatioaa for stalls that tkere will be no shortagi of horses at any track this year. "Jamaica will have more than it ran bease and of that I am positive," said he. "it will not bo surprising to aae to see selling rates overflow with entries, as many races for three-year-olds exclusively will cut quite a figure in the programs. This fact will shut eat many of the selling races in the books of conditions. At the same time if will elevate the class ■: barsca racing oa the larger tracks as the cheaper article will be driven ta the less important racing iastitatieae. Patrons of ra -iag, however, like goad-slaed fields and there i-i.o question their appetites will be appeased this year."
