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EASTERN RACING SCHEDULE Little Change If Any Over that of Last Year. Bowie to Open Maryland Season as Usual Metropolitan Sport to Follow Pimlico. NEW YOItK, X. Y., February TO. While there luis been considerable talk and much predicting that the New York racing season is likely to be extended this year the proposition appears to hare died out. and when the dates are published it is more than probable the schedule will be about the same as it was last year, with slight alterations. Such is the feeling anions the several racing associations. Maryland tracks have made similar demands to those of last year, beginning at Howie April 1; moving from there to Havre de Grace and then to limlico, the latter course closing on May 17. Whether the I.ong Island tracks will open early enough to conflict with any part of limlico is a question which will be decided by the stewards, of the Jockey Club at its coming meeting. At most it would not be more than a few days, if any. Even should here le a conflict it would not materially interfere with either track iu point ff attendance, horses or jockeys. Last fall the confliction at Laurel did not break into the New York attendance, and while a few New Yorkers may hnye attended the Laurel racing had the two tracks not been running in opposition, the shortage w.-is hardly noticeable. The Inited Hunts has applied for two clear days for lis spring racing May 17 and 21. If the New York -scltlule, should., uothcslutpd. to cQnuWfice until May 19. which is "not at. all. Improbable," then the Inited Hunts could at "least have one clear day; but it is doubtful if Jamaica would care to split up its first meeting for one day after having started operations. Hence the probabilities are that the Inited Hunts may have to run its. second days racing in conflict with Jamaica. Some raelng folk seem" to think it would be advisable for the rutted Hunts to hold its two days meeting prior lo the opening of the season on the larger tracks, no matter when that be, the Wednesday and Saturday prior to the grand owning being suggested rather than have even one conflicting day. Two days at Belmont Terminal would act as a sort of cocktail for what is to follow", and especially enjoyable after the long winter term of story-swapping and other indoor amusements. There would be plenty of horses at command, owing to the closeness of the approaching regular season, and there is little question the gate receipts would be decidedly increased without opposition; in fact, the meeting might be made to pay its expenses, which it has little chance of doing with a regular meeting going on just across the street as it were. it is probable the date question, so far as Maryland is concerned, will be brought up at the coming meeting of the Jockey Club stewards next week, and that the regular eastern schedule will be made public at the March meeting, which is the usual course of procedure. Private advices from Havana indicate there will lr few horses left In Cubit next summer. Horsemen arc practically a unit on this question. They know there will le a scarcity of racing material in the States this year, hence every horse with four legs will be shipped here, even many of those that belong to Cubans. Last year a whole flock remained at Oriental Park, owing to war conditions affecting the sport at some tracks in this country. This year the situation is different, the opportunities lielng much greater for dividend earning than In 1018. There will be racing in Canada for one thing, so it is said, and the. prospect look bright for considerable western sport, which will take away quite a number of horses from the eastern section. No better indication of what is in store for horsemen than the practically impossibility to purchase a horse of any value excepting for a fabulous price. Talk about the high price of food, feed and furbelows. It is not comparable with the figures asked for horses, harness and hay these days.
