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M0VET0 REVIVE CRESCENT CITY DERBY New Orleans Business Mens Racing Association Asked to Re-establish Popular Old Fixture. NEW ORLEANS, La., August 21. A movement is afoot in local racing circles to persuade the Business Mens Racing Association to add attraction to their coming winter racing season by reestablishing the famous Crescent City Derby. The suggestion has been made that the association, in order to draw the best class of horses and horsemen here, offer a 0,000 stake to be run the last day of . their season or Carnival day. If plans materalize, local racing followers will once more have the pleasure of seeing a "Derby day" come and go. A 0,000 Derby for three-year-olds at a mile and au eighth would be sure to attract many highly-rated Kentucky Derby candidates here, as it has been proved winter racing does not take the edge off horses. Omar Khayyam was wintered here the year he won tlie Derby. He wasnt raced, but worked into racing condition three or four times and entered, only to have weather conditions prompt his withdrawal. Omar Khayyams winter in New Orleans seemed to do him a lot of good, as he was the three-year-old sensation of the year. The Business Mens Racing Association realizes it must make a big move immediatefy to keep the Havana racing interests from booking, all the best stables.- The Cuba-American Jockey Club has hung up two 0,000 stakes at -Havana and has announced a general increase in purses. The local racing people believe they can go Havana a little better, if necessary. DERBY AT JEFFERSON PARK. The Jefferson Parish Racing Association already Mias" announced -a Derby ttf "be run "St. Patricks" day March 17 which is to be the last day of the meeting. This Derby probably will not be more than a mile and an eighth, as it is deemed unwise to ask three-year-olds to run farther so early in the year. Jefferson has not stipulated just what amount of added .money would be offered for the Jefferson Parish Derby, but it is believed it will offer ,000 or ,500. The drawing power of these two Derbys, coupled with the many other stakes to be offered -at both tracks, should" assure good horses being here. Aside from the influence it will have in bringing the best stables and considerable tourist travel here, a revival of tlie historic Crescent City Derby would be sure to awaken old-time and pleasant memories among local lovers of the thoroughbred. Many of them remember every Crescent City winner from the time Tommy Burns rode Presbyterian to victory in 189S up to Meelicks triumph over Chapultepec and Angelus in 1908. In those days-7-during the last two years of its running the Derby "was worth ,825 to the winner. But back in 189S it was worth only ,900 to the winner. ALWAYS A BIG ATTRACTION. "Derby day" always proved a big attraction here. Persons who never attended "the races otherwise would turn out for the running of the Derby, and it formed the topic of discussion weeks before and after its running. Among the Crescent City Derby winners during the last ten years of racing here in the old days were King Barleycorn, Prince of Veronia, Henry Clay Rye. Lord Quex, Witfull, Ostrich, Right Royal, Guiding Star, Montgomery and Meelick. The Business Mens Racing Association has refrained from bringing back the Derby under the belief the crack horses would be brought here and prepared only for the running Of the one race. But these days horsemen find it advisable to race their charges into condition and thus be assured the racers are ready for big stakes. And, anyhow, the manner in which J. K. L. Ross shipped Sir Barton back and forth over the continent to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness didnt affect the Kentucky ""or Maryland Racing Associations, whose only desire was in having the best racers go to the post no matter how late they came or how soon they left.
