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BELIEVES LONG DISTANCE RACES BEST. Joseph McLennan Says Races of a Mile or Over are Becoming More Popular with Public. ! l By J. R. Jeffory. Baltimore, Mil., April 21. — The circumstance that the many long-distance races provided for in the Bowie program book this spring did not fill as well as they deserved lias in no way changed racing secretary Joseph McLcnnans ideas as to their desira-fcbility from the breeding standpoint and their attractiveness to the general public, lie is strongly of the opinion, based on much experience and observation, that the race-going public would much rather see and wager on races at one mile and over than on the sprinting contests, which are more popular with the majority of the owners and trainers of horses. lie has taken particular pains to note the interest with which patrons of the sport enter into the enjoyment of a race the start of which they can readily see rather than those that are started at distant parts of the track, as sprinting races invariably are. And lie maintains there can be no question as to the preferences of the public in this respect. Then, again, he thinks that jockeys arc more inclined to be alert under the immediate eyes of the stewards and the public. Mr. McLennan believes that an unwieldly number of entries for a race is a detriment rather than otherwise, which latter view some racing secretaries appear to adhere to and which, it is safe to say, is a view that is not shared by the general public. Mr. McLcnnans idea of the ideal racing field as to numbers is about eight, provided the contestants are fairly well matched. Such races, he contends, are much more satisfactory to the average racegoer and result in l cttcr racing contests than when a dozen or more horses go to the post ami become involved in the mixups that so frequently mar races of this description. All this is aside from the conceded desirability of developing stayers rather tlian sprinters ;n the interest of the improvement of the breed of horses in America. Mr. McLennan is strongly of the opinion that all racing associations should go to the greatest lengths possible to foster racing at a mil" or over, and tli.it such a policy will be found to repay them in every way. Miss Feature of the Totalizer. rations of the pari-inutuels at Havre de Grace miss the facilities fur determining the progress of the betting that Mortimer Mahoneys totalizator provided at Bowi". Last season the Havre de Grace management provided a substitute for the totalizator by employing an expert to post an approximation of the odds at various stages of the wagering in the big betting ring. The practice for some reason best known to the management, has been diseontiiiuod this spring, although Julian White, who made the calculations last season, is still posting thtiu in the clubhouse for the benefit of those who patronize that part of the enclosure. Word conies from California that the final rulings have been issued in the investigation into the despicable practice of placing spongos iu the nostrils of various horses at Tijuana to keep them from winning races. These latest rulings bar G. Sadlo. trainer-owner, and Jerry Bowers, trainer for former jockey C. II. Shilling, from the turf for life. It has also been announced from the San Diego office of tin- Lower California Jockey Club that Bresid nt J. W. Coffroth has informed G. Alexandra, who raced the biggest string of horses at the Tijuana track, that he is among those whose patronage is not desired at the Mr I Iran track next winter. Horsemen who have arrived here from Tijuana, say that Manager Coffroth has determined to blacklist a considerable number of the owners and trainers who rand at the Mexican track the past reason, so far as his track is concerned, in the interest of cleaner racing. Adalid Only Horso from Famous Santa Anita Ranch Adalid, which ran second to Dunga Din at Havre dp Grace Wednesday, is the only horse from th famous Santa Anita ranch of the late "Lucky" Baldwin now racing. This seven-year-old son of Atnigo and Lady Diamond is under lease to !•. Foisting, who has won a considerable number of races with him since the horse took his eye while on a visit to the Baldwin ranch in Heathen Cali-l fornia a rear or two ago. Adalid has a good turn of speed, but cannot be regarded as anything but a selling plater. Kdward Trotter, who has nine horses in training nt Havre de Grace, will make his usual summer campaign on the Canadian tracks. He still holds the contract on jockey K. Bobinson. which crack rider he developed, having only disposed of first call for tin summer season to Harry Cayne Whit-in v. In the meantime he will utilize the services of jockey L. Mink. Dunga Dins victory on Wednesday at Havre tie Grace was no surprise to those who knew that the colts bad i-liowiiig in his previous race was duo to his having been so seriously interfered with that he emerged from the race witli one of jockey Oberts stirrups out of service as a result of the jamming, to which the colt was subjected. As a result of protests received from various parts of the state against tin- proposal to tax the race tracks to help make up the deficit growing out of wartini" expenditures. Governor Harrington, of Maryland, has intimated that he will not recommend to the forthcoming special session of the legislature that recnue be raised from that source. The governor, in lnakaig public his decision, stated that the opposition had come from churches, associations and individuals all over the state. John Lowe is among the recent arrivals from Hot Springs with the string of horses he is training for Charles W. lark. California millionaire. Former Jaefcey Willie Travels is among the regulars at Havre de Grace and will go on to the New-York tracks later in tiie season.
