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RAIN AT JEFFERSON PARK i But Not Enough to Hurt Tracks Unless More Falls. L Coming Two -Year-Olds Attracting Much Attention Fair Grounds Structures About Completed. NEW ORLEANS. La., December 21. A misty rain, which begun Saturday and continued throughout the night, had little effect on either Jefferson Park on the Fair C rounds, other than to settle the dust. The local weather man apiears to be setting restless, however, as Christmas approaches, tills apiarently being his favorite season of the year to furnish plenty of downiiour for these parts, anil the outlook is for more rain in the immediate future. Only a cold snap can prevent it, and then is some hop? for that. Both of the local tracks were well crowded with horses until along toward the noon hour, with the coming two-year-olds predominating at the Fair Grounds. The youngsters came in for plentiful favorable comment, because of their fine appearance mid the keen speed shown by some of them in their , work. Ae a rule they seem to bave had plenty of training and schooling. This augurs well for interesting races in the "baby" division at the coming meeting, which ujtcns on Xew Years day. Workmen toiled all fiay at the old track in an effort to get the new grandstand and other appointments completed in ample time for the opening. In tills it apiears they will easily be successful. The new judges stand, now in the course of erection, will be completed in a few days. The stand, which will house; all of the offices, is almost ready for ocejipancy jiowr The approach leading from the main entrance of the tract -to the grandstand is now under roof and the few details ill connection with winding up of the improvements will be cleared away in a short while. More good racing, with close finishes and the breaking of a numler of track records, featuring, wan the rule at .lefferfson Iark last week. Only the mile mark remains to be lowered at the Shrewsbury track, and if there is a fast track during the remaining nine days of the meeting it will in all probability go down. Bncing secretary J. 15. Campbell has arranged several of the feature races at this distance, and the better grade of horses will get a chance at it. Despite the fact that one day last week all seven favorites were beaten, the winning choices averaged three a day, bringing the total for the meeting to date to sixty-two out of 147 races. Three odds-on favorites went to the post last week and they all won. This makes eight odds-on choices to win at the meeting, while nine were defeated. Entries to the Christmas Handicap, ,500 added, will close on Tuesday and weights will be announced the following day. Nominations to the ,000 added New Years Handicap, to be run at the Fair Grounds on the opening day. will close on Christinas day. The Louisiana Derby, 5.000 added, to lie run at the spring meeting at Jefferson Park, will remain ojien for entries until January 5. . One hundred and fifty-six owners have shared in the division of the purse money at Jefferson Iark to dale, and twenty-one have taken down ,000 or more. The J. O. Talbott stable is "hogging" honors in both the owners and jockeys divisions, as this establishment has won more purse money than any other outfit here, while Frank Coltiletti. its contract jockev. has a big lead over the otlier riders. The Talbot horses have earned ,835X0 for their owner, the chief winners among them being Attn Hoy II. and Saints Itridge. Coltiletti rode eight winners last week, which brought his total to twenty-two for the meeting. This is just twice as muiiv as are to the credit of jockeys II. Lunsford and .1. liutwell who are tied for second place. Hut-well rode in good style last week, riding six winners. At the rate Coltiletti is going now, however, it is going to be a hard task for any otlier rider to beat him out of the gold split second stop watcli which the Jefferson Park management will present to the leading jockey. Jockey W. Warrington lias the best percentage for the meeting of any jockey, as lie has ridden onlv fourteen times and lias wou seven races. The increase in the purses, making their minimum value 1919.sh00. will go into effect Wednesday.
