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PREPARING FOR KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN Entries Already Pouring in for the Douglas Park and Latonia Stakes. Louisville, Ky., August 11. General Manager John llaclimeister, of the Douglas Park and Latonia race tracks, is on a trip to Saratoga, looking after stake nominations for the fall meetings at these two plants. These stakes, of which are three at Douglas Park and live at Latonia, close next Friday. August 17, and at the rate the entries have- been pouring in it is more than probable that all will draw far" more nominations than in any previous year. To Latonia willfall the honor of giving the most valuable stake in Kentucky next fall, the Latonia Cup, a handicap at two and one-quarter miles for three-year-olds and over which will have ,500 added. Mr. llaclimeister expects the easterners to respond more liberally than ever with nominations to this stake, which has always proved the best cup race in Kentucky. The memorable stretch duel between Pif Jr., and Star Hawk last year will not soon be forgotten by turf-lovers in these parts as such a close finish after going a route of two and one-quarter miles was especially inspiring. The Louisville Cup. at two miles, will be the stellar offering at Douglas Park. It will have ,500 added. There will be only seven days of racing at Douglas Park next fall. The other two stakes will be the Douglas Park Inaugural Handicap. ,000 added and the Becchmont Selling Stakes. ,500 added, the latter for two-year-olds. At the present time the stables at Douglas Park are well filled and horses arc arriving daily. Before leaving for the East Mr. Hachmeistor made the positive announcement that no stable room will bo provided for yearlings during the racing at Douglas, Park and Latonia, because of the fact that in previous years stable room was at a premium, owing to many of the large racing establishments having from five to twenty yearlings or even more in their barns and they took up too much valuable room. After the Douglas Park meeting is over accomodations will be plentiful for the yearlings at the Becchmont course. Louisville Impatiently Awaits Racing. Even this early the turf enthusiasts of the Falls City are anxiously awaiting the opening of the local racing season. The owners and trainers who are resting their charges at Douglas Park, are going along slowly with them, as it is a trifle too early to "tighten them up" as yet and many of the horses which had a hard campaign, need a rest. It will take a good horse to win in Kentucky next fall, as a majority of the big Eastern stablqs, including the establishment of Andrew Miller will canipaign on the Blue Grass circuit, and the Kentucky owners have plenty of high class thoroughbreds eligible for all kinds of races. The minimum purse value of is the magnet which attracts the cream of racers to Kentucky and the stake values are higher than in any other field. In addition to having an unusually large amout of money to run for in stakes and overnight races there is to be a ,000 or over handicap daily. Owners and trainers are requested to make their applications for stable room at Douglas Park not later than two weeks before the meeting opens. Latonia gets one day more of racing this autumn than the other three Kentucky tracks combined, Douglas Park, Churchill Downs and Lexington, there being a schedule of twenty-five racing days allotcd the Milldale course. It will be at this plant that the two-yearrQlls will get a chance to shine in the Queen City Championship Stakes, which will be a handicap dash at one mile. This race will have ,000 added and it is sure to draw out the best in the juvenile line from all localities. Each year the Latonia management has endeavored to get the best two-year-olds shown during the spring, summer and fall together and have made liberal inducements in a purse way, but it was not until this year that the big stake was built. The distance will be a test of the stamina of the youngsters and upon their showing in this big race will depend much of their chances in the Derby races of 1018. Latonias Good Stake Offerings. Two stakes of ,000 value cacli will bo offered at Latonia, the Autumn Inaugural Handicap and the Fort Thomas Handicap, the former for three-year-olds and over and the latter for two-year-olds. The Fort Thomas is at three-quarters and it also will serve as a good test of the staying qualities of the youngsters. The only selling stake on the roster is the Autumn Selling Stakes which will hare ,000 added and it will be for three-year-olds and over, at one mile. In order that there may be plenty of chances for the stake horses to contest in the handicaps, which will be offered when there are no stakes down for decision, a fund of ,000 has been set aside and out of this fund bonuses will be taken to be added to the ,000 "handicaps and some of tliem will be worth as much as ,500 or ,000. Great improvements are being made at both Douglas Park and Latonia, especially at the latter plant where the betting ring is being enlarged to twice the size it was in the spring.
