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SARATOGA TRACK. HELD RESPONSIBLE Spa Course, Trainer Jennings Says, Caused Break-. down of Dodge and Other Macomber Horses. New York, September 8. When A., K. Macom-bers Dodge returned to the paddock a virtual cripple because of his breakdown in the Merchants and Citizens Handicap at Saratoga, on Saturday, August 25, Walter B. Jennings, the trainer, announced in no uncertain terms that all the track at the Spa was good for was to break down horses. Dodges ailment is a rupture of the suspensory ligament, and it is extremely unlikely that he will ever face the starter again. It is the consensus that he will prove a great horse in the stud, inasmuch as he has shown himself a true horse in either fast or muddy . going. Jockey Lof tus announced when he got ofE the horse that but for the mishap he would have "walked in." There is little doubt that .no other sportsman on the American turf since its inception hascever been visited with the ill luck which lias pursued Mr. Macomber, who has sljown himself to be one of the greatest assets the turf has at the present time. He has been the most liberal purchaser of thoroughbreds, domestic and imported, that America has ever known. That Mr. Macomber has shown himself to be a good loser is indicated by the fact that he is never visibly perturbed when, any -of his horses fails to perform in winning fashion. He is extremely concerned, however, when any of them are visited with mishaps such as have occurred to five of his horses at Saratoga since the meeting began these being added to his champions Star Hawk and North Star III., which went wrong in Kentucky. MANY HORSES GO AMISS " AT THE SPA. Mr. Jennings stated a fact which will be attested to by many trainers and owners when he said that "all the track is good for is to break down horses," for never before havo;so many breakdowns been recorded on any one track. The Spa track this year is being held responsible for more horsbs- going amiss than all other tracks in the metropolitan district combined. If any one owner had had at the beginning of the year seven horses in his barn like North Star III., Star Hawk, War Star, Dodge, Ed Crump, Boots and Motor Cop, he. would have felt that he had the turf world by the ears. Those who keep in close touch with matters akin to the horse would have felt that to be the owner of any one of them would be possession aplenty. At the present time their racing qualities are negligible because of mishaps, so that their owner is to be commiserated with because of his failure to realize in" a racing way on his investment. The first two named were put out of commission in Kentucky, while the quintet afterward named have been disqualified by injuries received at Saratoga.
