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FUTURITY TO ITS FORMER PINNACLE Far-Sighted Policy of Westchester Racing Association Commended by Breeders and Turfmen. The recent announcement of the Westchester Racing Association that the famous Futurity Stakes would have a guaranteed value of 630,000 for its 1920 running was pleasing news to all interested in the welfare of the turf, especially to the breeders throughout: the country. Everywhere followers of the sport are commending the far-sighted policy of Americas leading racing organization, of which August Belmont is the president, in its endeavor to restore to Its former plnacle of glory what has always been considered the foremost of American stake races. No race that was ever framed in the United States has had the glamor and appeal of the Futurity, to use the words of C. J. Fitz Gerald, prominent racing official, who is at present the presiding steward at the Oriental Park meeting in Havana. "The Futurity is for two-year-old colts and fillies, -whose dams were named when they were bred and the fact that the original nominators of the first, second and third at the finisli have a share in the priz.e money, is a contributing influence in making the race the popular feature it has been since the day it was first contested in 1888 at the Coney Island Jockey Clubs superb course, Sheeps-liead Bay. Conceived in the fertile brain of James G. K. Lawrence, then the secretary of the Coney Island Jockey Club, it was designed to stimulate the thoroughbred breeding industy of the United States and in this it has succeeded to an extraordinary degree. It engaged the attention of the multimillionaire with his band of richly-bred matrons in blue grass or alfalfa pastures, and it cast a spell upon the poor man with a mare or two whose blood lines kindled the hone that a winner of the great race might come from his paddocks. It is the lure which has tempted many an enthusiast as he sat at the sales ring and bid on a mare whose blood he thought would "nick" with that of his favorite sire. "The original race was won by Proctor Knott, a bald faced gelding by Luke Blackburn, with the negro jockey Barnes in the saddle in second place came Salvator, by Prince Charlie, destined afterward to be one of the stars of the turf, with Galen, a Missouri-bred and owned colt, third. It was a triumph for Kentucky and Democracy and Sam Bryant, owner of the winner, with his red hair and beard and long boots, was the most picturesque figure New York boasted that autumn. Proctor Knott, Sam Bryant and Barnes have all passed these many years, but there isnt a breeder of thoroughbreds today, big or small, who doesnt know the story of that race and in whose breast there is not an ambition to win a Futurity. BAROMETER OF SPORT IN THIS COUNTRY. "With the exception of two yeafs 1911 and 1912 the Futurity has been contested either at Sheeps-head Bay, Saratoga or Belmont Park, and its history is a barometer of the sport in the United States from 1888 to the present day. When Proctor Knott won the race it was worth 5,000. So great was the interest in the new event that the total nomination the following year exceeded the initial offering of about 35 per cent., and the tidy sum of 1917.sh3,075 was divided between Chaos, St. Carlo and Sinaloa II., this trio fighting their way through a pack of twenty-three starters. Still greater in popularity Avas the year 1890, when the high water mark for the event was reached with 7,000 as the reward Potomac, Masher and Strath-meath. It was on this occasion that the late August Belmont achieved the most signal triumph of his long racing career by running first and second with colts of his own breeding. Though many owners have since that time been represented by two or more candidates, none has equaled this record. It was a fitting climax to a long and honorable term of service in behalf of the turf and its perpetuation. When another year rolled round and His Highness flashed in front, though of Nursery lineage, he. bore .the. blue jacket of David Gideon in place of the maroon and scarlet of his breeder. Yorkville Belle was second and Dagonet third, and the total was 2,000.. "From that year the value varied with the vicissitudes of the times, until in 1913, when Pennant won for Harry Payne Whitney over Southern Maid, Addle M. and five others, its value was but 5,0i0. Through all the years, however, the faithful in Kentucky, California, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and every other state where grass grows green and pure water runs, have kept the traditions of the race alive. With a brighter era dawning and. fresh infusions of blood coming from across the sea, the beacon light of progress is illuminating the way to a bigger and better Euturity than ever before." The Futurity of 1818 nnd 1919, entries for which have already closed, will have ,000 added and, while the value will be considerably more than that of this year, it will fall considerably short of the 0,000 guaranteed for 1920.
