view raw text
PIMLIC0 FOLKS ARE PROGRESSIVE Highest Values in tho Clubs History Provided for Its Coming Fall Meeting. Baltimore, Md., September 15. With two great specials of 0,000 each, two of ,000 each, one of ,000, two of ,000 and four of ,500, the Maryland Jockey Club announced back in July a stake program for the coining autumn race meeting at Pinilico which recalled the brilliant programs the Coney Island Jockey Club was wont to offer in the old flush days of racing at Shcepshead Bay. And now comes Secretary William P. Riggs with the -declaration of an overnight program that will fittingly supplement Pimlicos stake offerings and insure racing of the highest class all along the Hue throughout the eleven days season that will begin on November 1. There are to be twelve races of ,000 each and fifty-four of 00 each, which will make the total amount offered for overnight races just 9,800. This added to the 3,000 that will be hung up in tlie stakes will make a grand total of 2,800, which probably is a greater sum than was ever offered for eleven days of racing by any other American racing association. The average daily contribution to horsemen will be somewhat more than ,300. Statistics for an accurate comparison are not available, but it is doubtful if the Coney Island Jockey Club even ever did better. For this 2,800 is to be added money. In neither stakes nor overnight races are nominators required to put up entrance fees. The comparatively small starting fees that will bo charged in the stakes will be added to the winners share of the purses. MARYLAND LATE RACING OF IMPORTANCE. Such a program is calculated to greatly stimulate general interest in thoroughbred production throughout the United States and Canada and, specifically, it will redound immeasurably to the advantage of racing in Maryland. It is now worth the while of the owners of the great stables of this country and of Canada to keep their best runners of all ages in training to the end of the racing year. Because of this Havre do Grace and Laurel will get horses that under ordinary conditions would be retired early and, after tlie Pimlico meeting, most of the good performers will stay over for the years valedictory at Bowie. And this is to be the permanent policy of the. Maryland .Jockey Club. Neither this year, nor hereafter, will it be necessary for the owners of first-rate staying runners to seek profitable employment for their horses at Louisville and Latonia.. . It being "the aim of tlie Maryland Jockey Club to develop the types of horses that promise to be of the greatest military value to the country, the development of army horses being now recognized as one of the most important missions of racing, Pimlico. will offer more and better races for long distance runners than any other eastern track has featured in a short meeting in a half score of years. There will be thirteen races at one mile, three at one mile and forty yards, six- at one mile and seventy yards, five at one mile and a sixteenth, one at a mile and three-sixteenths, five at one mile and an eighth, three at one mile and a quarter and three at one mile and a half a total of tliirtynine at one mile and over. Through the field there will be six races at two miles and five at two miles and a half. The other thirty-seven races will be run at distances under one mile, but most of them will be for two-year-olds. Several of the considerable distance races, the ,000 Walden among them, "also will be for two-year-olds, experience having taught that two-j-ear-olds race exceptionally well over long distances of ground in the autumn. And one important feature of this program is that tlie conditions of all the races will be so framed as to keep up the weights, and thereby give jockeys of age and experience a fair chance. VALUABLE AUTUMN STAKES TO BE BUN. The stake program announced by Mr. Riggs in the summer, the stakes to close on September 22, is as follows: For two-year-olds, Walden, ,000 added, one mile; for three-year-olds, Pimlico Autumn Handicap, ,000, one mile and a quarter; Elkridge Steeplechase, ,000 added, two miles for three-year-olds and over, Bowie Cup, 0,000, one mile and a half; Arlington Handicap, ,000, one mile and a sixteenth; Monumental Handicap, ,000, one mile and three-sixteenths; Pimlico Serial Handicaps, Numbers 1, 2 and 3 at three-quarters, one mile and one mile and an eighth, respectively, eacli of ,500; Pinilico Autumn Selling Race, ,500, one mile and a quarter; for four-year-olds and over, Mauley Memorial Steeplechase, 0,000, two miles and a half. In each of these stakes there will be money for four horses, which distribution will serve the double purpose of making it worth while for the owner of every eligible animal that may seem to have a chance to train for them and to inspire the competing jockeys to ride out to the last jump. Along witli these autumn races the Maryland Jockey Club will close on September 22, for decision next spring, the Pimlico Nursery Stakes, a sprint of four furlongs and a half for a purse of ,500. The other races of the stake program at Pimlico for the spring meeting of 1918 will be announced later. The youngsters to be named on September 22 for the Pimlico Nursery are yearlings now, of course.
