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MUST HAVE ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMS Public Always Anxious to See the, -Famous Horses of the Year Pitted Against Each Other. "In order to secure large and enthusiastic public patronage the racing associations must provide attractive programs; that is, programs on which several of the most famous horses of the year are named to start, und the probabilities- seem to indicate a desperate, record-breaking contest," writes Charles K. Brossman. "It is discouraging to .any secretary to find that, after he had liberally en-, dowed ii race with added money, secured numerous desirable entries, advertised it extensively and. is assured of , a multitude to witness.. theiontt?: at rihe. JastmlButern"iireerTnis " iwiarIiaYeapparently -conspired together by withdrawing their entries and reducing what appeared to promise a great-spectacular event to a one-horse race, devoid of any Interest and two uninspiring to create any enthusiasm whatever. Of course, it often appears foolish to run nfter a horse that appears to be1 much the best by all the rules of prognostication, "when if by judicious scratching, eliminating a couple of the best horses, one can be selected that will most likely win at a fair price and all trainers in the combination -win a good bet; but the unexpected often happens, and in no business activity or commercial enterprise is this illustrated more vividly than in the great contests on the race track. It is this element of uncertainty that promotes enthusiasm, makes the business popular, creates and nourishes the .expectant, cheerful, optimistic spirit and hope for success when the outlook appears dark. "On different occasions at Chicago SInrion C. beat the great Kingston, Uncle Frank beat Blitzen, Boundless beat Domino and all of the best three-year-olds of the year for a 0,000 stake, wlien the task seemed almost hopeless, but all tlte persistent starters where there was manifestly no chance Slary Alice Lawrence at Latonia deserves the medal, and her owner will long be remembered as one man that was always willing to race his mare. If I remember correctly the old mare was eventually wished upon the then secretary, Colonel Ed Hopper-, for keeps, and afterward became the mother of a good race horse. "Western trainers as a rule are more inclined to run their horses frequently anil take a chance than are the trainers for the wealthy eastern owners. In the west the trainers salary often depends largely hjkui the contingent of his stable winning races, or he is frequently part owner of the horses, while jn the east a liberal salary and expenses are guaranteed, and naturally the eastern trainer seeks to keep his batting average as high as possible in the per cent of wins from the number of starts; therefore, after winning a desirable stake and swelling the owner all up as to the superiority of the animal, he lays up the horse while it is in the best possible condition for fear of having it defeated and be censured for error in judgment, waits until some race comes along wherein lie will have some little advantage by the conditions of the race or he is assured by other trainers that they do not intend to start, then lie goes on and wins another race and the public proclaims him a great trainer; whereas he has spent most of his time ducking whandt ought to have been legitimate engagements. TEST OF A FIRST-CLASS HORSE. "A good, sound horse, in good health and thoroughly fit, will stand much racing and thrive. There is where one can determine the difference between a first-class horse and a counterfeit. A horse that runs in all of his engagements against any company that can be produced from spring to fall, even if lie is defeated at times, is worthy of more consideration as a sire than is a horse "that wins an occasional race in different carefully selected soft spots, although its winning per cent may be higher. It is also a test of a trainers ability as well. True, it is the trainer of a good horse that lias troubles of his own, once the horse shows superlative form and the official handicapper becomes obsessed witli the idea that it is the best of its class. Then its days of usefulness begin to wane and it must necessarily be defeated many times if it continues to race, for enough weight will stop the best of them, and it was the last straw that broke the camels back. Then It is thnt the owners and trainers of these good horses that always carry top weights in the handicaps wisli for weight-for-age races. "These races are not favorably considered by many trainers until forced into them by the handicapper; but a good weight-for-age race for three-year-olds und over, over a long distance of ground, contested for by the best horses on the track, will always draw a crowd and serves to determine whicli is really the best horse of the year. After the great spring and early summer handicaps have been decided there is always a number of owners of excellent horses that feel that they have been harshly dealt with by the handicapper that-ought to welcome any stake of this character to be run in the latter part of the summer or early fall as a basis for comparison of future worth. There used to be the First Special, at one mile and a quarter, and the Second Special, at one mile and a half, at Gravesend, both weight-for-age races. In 1899 I won botli races with the black mare Imp, and again in 1900 L won the Second Special with the same horse, running the two one and a half mile races in different years within one nuarter of a second of each other 2:34 and 2:34Vt thus demonstrating the fact thnt she was at that time the best race horse in America, and thnt she could run from spring to fall and from one yenr to the next without losing her form or dissipating her vitality. Horsemen should endeavor to assist the secretary in filling and making good, attractive programs, for all are mutually interested in the welfare of the turf and its continued prosperity."
