view raw text
"FORT ERIE MEETING OPENS TODAY. Splendid Field Namod to Start in Fourth of July Stakes Everything Ready and Track Fast. Buffalo, N. Y., July 3. The Niagara Racing Associations only meeting of the year will be inaugurated at the Fort Erie track tomorrow with the running of the Fourth of July Stakes and six other races. Everything is ready for the meeting. The plant has been burnished up. Among other changes, the jumps have been removed from the infield, the association no longer catering to the steeplechasers. The track itself, with no further rain, will be fast for the opening. There were many important arrivals from Hamilton today, with manj more expected from Latonia on Thursday, the western meeting coming to a close tomorrow. Fort Erie has always been a neutral battle ground for the horsemen from Canada, Kentucky and New York, but it promises to outdo itself this year, for the east has sent on mnny of its best while Kentucky will be. strongly represented and the Dominion will be on hand in force. Indications are strong that Fort Erie will be the scene of some great sectional battles during the seven days racing. Nine of the best horses here are entered in .the feature event for tomorrow afternoon. Among the entries for this stake race are Rancher, Leochares, Liberty Loan, Westy Hogan, Kewcssa, Skeptic and Bondage. Rancher and Leochares will carry top weight of 120 pounds, with Liberty Loan, the Dick Finnell Martha Palmer colt, which recently won the Latonia Derby, in at 115 pounds. That .there will be splendid racing duriugthe meeting is indicated by the wealth of material gathered in the stake entries. The Niagara Racing Association will run off the four events originally earred for the meeting, the Fourth of Jjily Stakes tomorrow, the Niagara Stakes on Saturday, the Fort Erie Stakes next Monday and the Canadian Derby on the final day of the meeting. There were several work-outs of the star performers today while the track superintendent was putting the finishing touches on the course, to prepare it for the racing tomorrow. Harrows and dryers have been continually used for the past few days, and with the great number of work-outs morning and afternoon, the track appears now in splendid condition. The pari-mutuel machine plant was given a final tryout today, and other arrangements were completed by Manager Joseph A. Martin and his associates.
