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FAST TRACK NOW PROBABLE Warm Sun and Much Work Improves Fair Grounds Course. Jockey Robinson on Road to Recovery Big Crowd to View Army Officers Race. NEW ORLEANS, La., January 12. Indications iwint to a fast track for the opening of the weeks miring at the Fair Grounds tomorrow, as the course., dried out fast today under a warm sun. In addition to this a large force of workmen labored all day on it with drags and harrows. It is probable that the "path" racing will be eliminated entirely, as special attention was paid to fixing up the track along the inner rail where the going has been so bad for the past week. If the brand of weather which lias prevailed for he past few days is continued, the Business Mens Lacing Association expects to set new marks all around for a winter race meeting.. Thus far it has had to combat unusually cold and rainy weather, hut despite these drawbacks the meeting has come ill to tlie standard of previous years in every respect. The racegoers here have entirely forgotten tlie incident of the burning of the grandstand, as the new structure is serving its purpose well. To date favorites have had pretty rough sleding. due chiefly to the bad track. It has been a case of "get tlie path" or be. beaten, and upon many occasions the best horse was defeated because it could not get in the good going right from the start. At that the oralizers have not laid up anything, as most of the winners have been well backed. A large number -of people turned out this morning 16 watch the- horses in their work, and It -wasr.noon -before the tract was clear. It was the first cliance that owners of horses which favor good or fast going have had to give their charges real work-outs in some time, and the owners and traitiers were quick to take advantage of it. . Jockey Frank Robinson, who has been confined to his bird with influenza for several days past, is well on the road to recovery. Today his attending physician permitted him to taCe a short walk in the air and sunshine. It will probably be some time 1efore he resumes riding, however. Judge E. C. Smith, who has been ill for a few days, is also reported improved, and he will in all probability resume his place in the stand this week. Racing secretary Joe McLennan has arranged another weeks program, which will give long route horses the preference, as twenty-five of the forty-two races carded for the next seven days will lie at one mile or farther. As per custom one race each day will be given over to tlie two-year-olds. LADIES DAY TOMORROW. For the first time this season there will be a ladies day, this occasion being next Tuesday. Secretary McLennan will arrange a program for that day in keeping with the occasion. Arrangements for the race for army officers to be held at the Fair Grounds next Saturday are going forward and the Business Mens Racing Association is getting ready to entertain a banner crowd, including tlie society of New Orleans and neighboring cities. Joseph A. Murphy, manager of the racing department, received the following letter from Captain Allen, in charge of the remount station at- Alexandria. La.: . "The date set for tlie race is satisfactory to my officers. We will leave Alexandria Friday night, returning Sunday night. The officers who will ride are: Capt. Norwood B. Giles, Lieut. G. Simpson Buckley. Lieut. Elmer C. Reither, Lieut. John F. Dodson and Lieut. John C. Grout. We are all hoping that the race will be a big success." The list from Camp Shelby is expected today. Saturday, while exercising a two-year-old belonging to A. Neal, jockey Denyse was thrown and sustained a broken arm. He was removed to a lo.cal hospital. Paddock judge John Carey, who has been on the ailing list for several days, was able to resume his duties yesterday afternoon. The Jefferson Park stewards have given George E. Chancellor permission to sell his horses at public auction and the sale will be-held next Wednesday. The horses to be sold are Green Grass, Emden, Margaret N. and Hug Me. Chancellor was placed under the ban at Jefferson Park for fraudulent practices in connection with the running of his horses. H. C. Ashby, well-known race track photographer, departed for Richmond, Va., on receipt of advice that his mother has been run over and killed by an automobile iu that city. Secretary McLennan Saturday Issued the list of entries for the Haig Ilighweight Handicap, to be run next Saturday. Among the more prominent eligibles are: Fern Hundley, Icarus, Top o th Morning, Courtship, Korbly, Bradleys Choice. Pickwick and A. N. Akin. The race closed with twenty-one entries. A
