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POPULARITY OF RACING Steady Growth in Sport in New York State Encouraging. Season Recently Closed Greatest Since 1907 Rehabilitation of Turf On Sound Basis. New York, December 4. The curtain is flown on racing In this section of the country- Horsemen and followers of the turf in general are housing themselves for the winter, as one of them remarked "we are laying the straw and stacking the canned Roods on the shelf." It has been ;i most prositerous year for the sport in every way in New York and Maryland, the latter place having enjoyed the greatest meetings ever held in the long history of that state. The steady growth in popularity in this state shows the sport of horse racing is taking hold on the ieople as it should do excepting those who are generally opposed to all things that other persons desire. Since the crusade against racing, which threatened for a time to wine out the sport and compelled it to lay dormant for a couple of years, it has grown somewhat slowly but on a substantial basis. It is safe to say that it is being built upon a foundation that will stand the test of all opposition. That is one of the many reasons why racing in this section is secure in its present condition and, while many ask why mutuels have not been installed, it is their ignorance of the law that causes the query. Better is it, perhaps, that mutuels do not exist in this state. That system of speculation might be the bone of contention which would be the subject of battle between the powers that be and promoters everlastingly. Under the existing system of oral speculation, while it has its faults, it nlso has its virtues. The only objection to it is the opportunities a person has for welching," otherwise it. is acceptable and more-likely to stand the assault of the professional reformer or the devices of the selfish individual than any legislation that could be brought about. Under this- system liot a voice lias been heard in Albany :ih associations and individuals are complying with the latvs-demands and living up to the decisions of Supreme Court justices. Years ago there was always some one to raise a disturbance every winter either locally Or in the legislature. Consequently racing was always in danger of being damaged. It is not so under the present rule. That is the reason it is going along and improving every year, living on its merits without revenue from any spuculative source, the gate receipts alone paying expenses and paying a fair dividend Upon, money invested". As the late "Phil" Dwyer said: "The days of big revenues from race tracks are over and may never come back. Perhaps it is better so for the perpetuation of the sport, though the Trich stakes and purses did much to increase the value of horses and encourage the breeding industry." The jolt racing received, at the hands of Governor Hughes has turned out a blessing in disguise to this country. Had it not been for that occurrence, we would iirobably still have had that nondescript band of old mares and stallions here that we had years ago. There would not have been the wholesale importations to freshen up what remained here and provided new blood. It is doubtful if we should havo ever witnessed the great race between the two colts Hourless and Omar Khayyam. WAR HELPED OUR BREEDERS. The war probably had much to do with their being brought to this country, but it was the fact that we needed the best, money could procure and the purest blood in existence that instigated the wealthy owners to stock up with the cream of both Frauce and England in the thoroughbred line. Much credit must be given to those who aided in t the resurrection of the sport in this state, to August Belmont and his associates in the Jockey Club; Without racing in New York it is doubtful if such men as Messrs. Macomber, Kilmer, Cochran and many other wealthy men would have become interested to the extent of spending large sums of money to secure the best horses obtainable. Without New York patronage the American thoroughbred would suffer considerably. It is the New York market that breeders look to for the disposal of their young stock and the knowledge that if they can produce one good horse, it will bring full value owing to the competition of buyers in this vicinity. Consequently horsemen should not complain if purses and stakes are- not as rich here as they are in some sections. New York is struggling along under rather trying conditions and cannot afford to hang up 0,000 or 0,000 stakes as in days of old, or ,000 and ,500 selling purses as was the case when the attendance at the tracks numbered tens of thousands and bookmaking revenue was forthcoming. Owners should never forget these facts In arranging their campaign and not ouly enter freely in stakes, but be represented in races if they have racing material good enough to cope with the class that dominates hereabouts. During the year of 1917, this country was entertained by wonderful performances of such horses as Omar Khayyam, Hourless, Cudgel, Westy Hogan, Old Rosebud, Sun Briar, Papp. Jack Hare Jr., Tip-pity Witchet and Escoba. With the exception of Old llosebud, they are all young and possibly will achieve more than they have done. There are others, too, which might attain even greater prominence in 1018 than in the past. War Cloud, for instance, might develop into the best three-year-old, there being a doubt about the stability of Sun Briar and the ability of Papp and Jack Hare Jr. to go the routes that are prescribed for three-year-olds. All considered, this country will start the year of 1918 with a much better stock of horses than usual in the three and four-year-old divisions. Not since Colin and Fair Play has there been two horses in one year as good as Hourless and Omar Kahyyam and, while the two-year-olds of this year may not be absolutely what could be termed first-class, there are at least half a dozen which can be designated as high-class. In a few words, we are well oT in racing material and the stock on hand speaks -well for the future generations.
