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GOTHAM TRAINERS FEAR LATE WINTER Cold Weather Coming Now Would Offset the Already Advanced Condition of Horces. NEW YORK. N. Y., February 8. Local trainers are a bit fearful that the tip of the ground hog, which showed his nose a few days ago and saw his shadow, will interfere with their spring training operations. "I hope his tip is as bad as most of those Max Hirsch sends to me from Havana." said George Odom. "Rut that old ground hog generally tells the truth," he continued, "and if lie is right this time we are in for a winter which might last until the middle of Mnrch. Should this prove a fact, then the horses aropnd here are not going to be ready until late. Rut if the little old wood-huek is fooling us, then we will all be primed ap for a lwginning at Havre de Grace sure, if not Howie. The horses around Gravesend and Rehnont Park are beginning to look like something, and we havqj reports every now and then of some possibilities In the younger class. One rubber told me recentl.v that he has seen horses that outlook those of other years at this time, but that may be dua to the exceedingly mild weather we have had. But we can never tell about two-year-olds until they have been galloped to the limit and then they deceive us at times. I wish I had a couple this year as good as Purchase and Lord lirhhton showed me last spring. Their like c.o not fall into one mans hands often." Horsemen generally are much in favor of the new organization of the Kentucky tracks, believing It will be greatly to their benefit. Those in close touch with the situation think the Churchill Downs track will eventually be taken over by the new regime, which will complete the circuit. Manager Matt Winn, who has had charge of the Louisville Jockey Club for the past seventeen years, says the option has not yet been taken up, but believe it will be. In the course of conversation the question of the "breaks" in mutuels was brought up. "I have possibly had as much experience in that line as any one," said Mr. Winn, "and all my records will show that at no time has the breaks shown a greater surplus than one per cent over the five per cent which is taken out for expenses. Some folk think the breaks at times reach nearly ten per cent. That Is a ridiculous assertion. I think all men who have had mutuel experience will bear me out in this statement."
