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EASTERN WEATHER BOON TO HORSES Thoroughbreds on Long Island Tracks in Grand Bodily Condition Result of Mild Winter. XEW YORK, X. Y.. January 17. If the present weather continues in this section there can be few complaints from trainers regarding the fitness of their horses for the opening of the spring season. Last year at tills time there was a snow carpet of several inches; moreover, it had been a sort of permanent covering for more than a month. So far there has been but one cold afternoon and Instead of the bleak winds that usually preside over the Belmont Park plains there has been little else but sunshine. Xaturally horses have fattened u: somewhat owing to lack of strenuous exercise, but never were they healthier in appearance and the majority are perking up and pricking their ears to be "out and at em" as it were. Unless there is a decided change in the atmospheric conditions, trainers will have a long season of spring preparation. The same conditions exist throughout Maryland, Virginia and in the neighborhood of AVashington, consequently the horses in those districts are loaded down witli health. Hardly a reiwrt of colds or other wintery ailment is heard from any of the training tracks. Heretofore the winners of the early spring purses have usually come from the winter tracks. Such should not be the case this year unless the climate jumps from one extreme to the other during February and March. It is not probable that trainers will begin severe work witli their horses for some time, notwithstanding the present climatic conditions, as they are adverse to beginning their labors too early lor fear of a setback. Rut one tiling is positive every horse will be in forward condition for the spring training. Their outward condition indicates such, even now their coats being what can be termed lively and, while thev show a healthy amount of flesh, it is not of the flabby nature, but fairly solid. To sum up the present conditicn of tilings, horses are nearly a month forward to what they usually are at this time of the year. John J. McGraw. notwithstanding his acquisition of a tart of the Xew York baseball club, has a bit of a grouch on. "I have made it a point," said the manager of the "Joints," "to take a trip to Cuba for the past three or four years and I am grouchy because I think my affairs here will not permit my absence this winter and I know I shall miss the outing. The only sad part of a trip to Cuba is walking up the gang plank to come away. I have been in mnny countries and climes, but to me Cuba is the most delightful in every respect, just a casa of sunshine and surf, moonlight and wafting breeze and amusements to please ihe most exacting. Anyone who has experienced a winter trip to Cuba is entitled to a grouch if it cannot be repeated. Its pretty nice to have a bunch of paying baseliall stock in ones fist, but I would forfeit a few Shares for a montli in Cuba, especially .when the races are on tap."
