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WONDERFUL SPA SEASON ASSURED Quality of Opening Days Racing at Saratoga Pre ¬ lude to Mere Sparkling Contests to Come ComeBy By C J Fitz Gerald GeraldSaratoga Saratoga Springs X Y August 3 While the quality of the sport witnessed on the opening day of the Saratoga Kacing Associations meeting was brilliant there is every reason to believe that it was merely the prelude of still more sparkling contests to come as the program for the next three weeks fairly bristles with events which will call for the appearance of the best horses in training trainingThe The downfall of such popular favorites as War Cloud and Cudgel the superb form shown by Itoaiucr and the growing conviction that the west ¬ ernowned twoyearolds taking Billy Kelly as an example may be up to the standard of former years after all increases to a still greater degree the ele ¬ ment of uncertainty which is a part of the sport of kings By his performance in the Saratoga Handicap Koamer increased his already large army of admir ¬ ers and it is doubtful whether Mr Millers won ¬ derful gelding ever ran a better race than in that event The fact that Cudgel was not at his best was generally known by those who follow the fortunes of the turf his preparation for the race not having been of a character that would tighten him up for a supreme effort and when Commodore Koss arrived at the course he was told by trainer Bedwell not to be disappointed if Cudgel should be beaten He explained to some friends that a mile in 138 and a mile and an eighth in 153 had been all the strong work he had been able to impart in the ten days prior to the race Those who saw Cudgel per ¬ form at Aqueduct when lie was at his best noted the added bulk of the son of Broomstick which had not started since June 23 and he lacked the springy cherryripe appearance of Iloamer whose campaign at Empire City had put him at the top of his form formWhile While taking nothing away from Koamer as great a horse for his inches as ever wore racing plates the followers of the Koss camp want another race with the weight conditions equalised before they will admit the superiority of Mr Millers cham ¬ pion Both are eligible for the Delaware Handicap on Tuesday next but the distance of that event is Continued oa sucoad page WONDERFUL SPA SEASON ASSURED a mile loo short for Cudgel and the Clminplain on Saturday August 10 at a mile and an eighth will probably be the next occasion when the equine warriors will battle for supremacy j Iti is no secret that Itoamcr surprised cveii bis as ¬ tute trainer Jack Goldslxirongh on Thursday In conversation with n friend early In the day he had said Roamer will run well this afternooii but he is getting Id and I think that mile and a quarter will tell as he is not partial to that distance He has worked splendidly for me and is as fit as I can make him I used to be criticised for the way in which I put the work under his belt but be wont train on slow work as some horses will You have to send him along in real curliest and make him stretch out before he is any account accountTo To show you what one has to do lot me tell you of bow I got him ready for the mile and an eighth in 140 lie ran at Laurel I sent him a mile in 140 oh Tuesday a mile and an eighth in liiO = f on Thursday and on Saturday he raced in 149 Roamer has worked more miles below 140 and more miles and an eighth In 152 or bettor than any horse that ever lived He is no account when you dont flatten him out and I dont think that many of us shall ever see his like again againDuring During the recent Aqueduct meeting it was planned at one time to have Roamor go against tho mile record of Salvator l3ii which was made over the straight course at Monmoiitli Park with only 110 pounds in the saddle It is thought by j experts that Roamer in his present condition oiild equal or surpass this performance nt Aqueduct which lias but one long turn or even over this course which may be faster than any in America after it is raced ever for a lime limeIt It is worthy of comment in passing to note that iKitli Roamer and Billy Kelly the star performers jut jtlils meeting are geldings and thlil there Is a growing tendriicy to make unscxcd thoroughbreds ineligible for the important stakes after this year
