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IMPRESSIONS OF TRAINER WELCH Thinks French Racing Will Not Be Fully Restored for Several Years to Come. NEW YORK. N. Y., March S. "I dont know whether I shall have to go back to France again or not." said Tom Welch, who has just returned from abroad after looking over the racing stock owned by J. . E. Widener. "It rests with Mr. Widener." he continued, "lie being the dictator, but so far as I am personally concerned, I like this country pretty well, especially as France is in a somewhat chaotic condition and highly expensive. It cost me just about four times as much to live as it did when I was there before. If you sit down to a decent meal without wine the waiter will trundle in a cheek for about . Butter is .2 a pound and you get about as much as you could put on the end of a toothpick. Eggs are so scarce restaurants keep em in tlie safe witli a gendarme on sentry. Everything in tlie eating line is in proportion, excepting in one. or two Instances. There are twice as many persons in Paris as it will comfortably accommodate, consequently rooms in, hotels are at a premium. Sucli is the true situation in Paris today, no matter what anyone says to the contrary, and similar conditions exist in Loudon. It will take two or three years before things settle down to normal, in my opinion. "As for racing,, little cap be expected before peace is declared and I- dont think, a race will be run before July, if-then. Before tlie war there were something like 4.500 horses in and out of training and now there is not one-third of tlie number. It will take more than five years to replenish the .stock. These figures indicate the condition in racing, affairs, so you can judge for yourself how long It will take fdr racing to come back to the standard of before the war. The unrest in both IauhIoii and Paris is noticeable. While there is plenty of money lit elrculilttoil Jlfst now, it is tlie savings of many of the soldiers and workers and this will become exhausted later on. After that, who can tell what will happen? I am glad to be back here, but, if Mr. Widener wants me to go to France" again, of course, I shall go. There Is one thing sure. It will be possible to buy a drink there after July 1, which is something to recommend it." STARTER CASSIDY IN GOOD HEALTH. Mars Cassidy has spent a rather quiet winter around New York witli the exception of a few-weeks in North Carolina, where he hunted. One of his sons. Wendell, was injured in the war and, judging from the feeling shown by Mars, the Injury Is somewhat serious. His second son, Marshall, was In the aviators department and wound up without a scratch. As he did last year, Cassidy will no doubt begin his labors at Pimllco and during the conflicting three days with Jamaica it is probable that Tribe will be bis substitute, the same as last year, Tribe occupying the starters stand at Jamaica If agreeable to those most concerned. Cassidy looks mighty well and, as he says, "I feel as good as I look. Why not, after chasing birds In North Carolina, carrying a gun all day. Such tramping would make a sick man getaway with n steak is big as a blacksmiths apron. We bagged a few birds, but not as many as I wanted to cover the promised gifts. I suppose Jim Casey will say that I couldnt hit em after I sum em, but I came near getting all within range. But I shall be glad to get down to work again, for tills lazy life docs not suit inc." Jefferson Livingston is well pleased with the eleven two-year-olds he has housed at Douglas Park. "They look pretty good to me," said he. "but we never can tell what they are going to do until they are asked to perform in compuuy. They are mostly domestic-bred, only two having foreign-bred dams, Alverda, by Fair Play Orlo, and Overbold, by Disguise Pictons Pride. The last one was named by Price McKinney, and if there is anything in breeding, that is the one I expect to help pay the feed bills. They will be raced In Kentucky during the early part of tlie racing season and probably until Saratoga opens. After Saratoga I have made no plans. It all depends upon the material I have lu the stable."
