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AMERICAN TURF PROGRESS Illustrated in Growth and Popular ¬ ity of Racing at Saratoga Far Cry from the Modest Begin ¬ ning to Present Day Sport at the Spa SARATOGA SPRINGS N Y July 20 Tin progress of the American turf is well illustrated in the growth and popularity of racing at this point More than a half century ago when horse racing was lirst spoken of as an added attraction to the natural advantages of this resort many per ¬ sons believed that there would not be sullicient interest in the sport to make it a paying venture ventureA A great many visitors of that period however were from the South where racing had long been a popublr pastime and they welcomed the oppor ¬ tunity to pay homage to the thoroughbred in his new home while testing the healthful qualities of the waters There are jnany alive today who recall those early meetings when racing began at 1130 in the morning morningThose Those were the days of auction pools sold the night before the running of the various races of the highhatted tighttrousered dandies in var ¬ nished l oots who bet their money with an abandon that was characteristic of the times and when every breeder north and south of Mason and Dixons line had supreme confidence in his own strain of race horses and game cocks cocksThe The days of John Morrissey exprize fighter State Senator and a figure to be reckoned with on gr off the race course came a little later Mor ¬ rissey was a champion in the prize ring when men fought with bare knuckles and his manly characteristics earned for him a warm place in tlie affections of the people who showed their re ¬ gard by electing him over Fox for the senate He became owner of the race track in partnership with Albert Spencer and Charles Reed scarcely less picturesque figures than himself and took an active part in its management One of his self imposed duties was to see that nobody stood on chairs during the running of a race and liis com ¬ mands issued in his peculiarly deep throated voice calling upon the impulsive and the thoughtless to remain seated were respected respectedMORRISSEYS MORRISSEYS AUTOCRATIC WAYS WAYSIt It was Morrisseys contention that grand stands were built for the public to see races from and that the occupant of every chair would have a view of the course if the rules of decorum were ob ¬ served He was an autocrat and when anybody swerved even the slightest from the line of true sportsmanship they had an audience with the solid determined New Yorker whose language left no cause for misunderstanding Morriseys sway was in that period before the Pinkertons took charge of the policing of the various race courses mak ¬ ing them unsafe for persons of devious ways and the exbattler who knew the underworld and en ¬ joyed its respect because of the manner in which he had improved his own condition could always be found at the gates when the crowd was entering the course A warning glance from the deepset eyes or a negative shake of the massive head with its broken nose the result of a sledgehammer blow from John C Heenan and crooks turned right about face and departed departedIt It is a far cry from the days of John Morriscy mid the Saratoga course of his time to the present day management and the superb course of the Association for the Improvement of the Breed of Horses Out of the old conditions came a strong organization composed of men who took a keen interest in the breeding and racing of thorough ¬ breds and their influence has been a power for clean si ort ortNo No finer spot on the American continent than this could have been selected for a testing ground for the horses of blood and no more healthful and con ¬ genial surroundings for his admirers could be im ¬ agined The healthgiving qualities of the pines the salubrity of the wafers and the perfect cli ¬ mate render it ideal for the sport which now occu ¬ pies the entire month of August and attracts many thousands from every part of the United States nnil Canada Pledged to retain only a moderate re ¬ turn un their investment year after year has found the management installing improvements of a sub ¬ stantial character until today it is a model of its kiud kiudSEVERAL SEVERAL HUNDRED HORSES ON HAND HANDIn In no previous year has racing given greater promise of quality Already several hundred of the best horses of the East and West are on the grounds some of them recuperating from the arduous sprinc and early summer campaign there is no place like the Si a for jaded horses while others are having the finishing touches put on their preparation for the rich prizes which will be run for during the mouth of August Among the priceless horses now quartered here are Man o War and Inehcupo They may be seen daily at exercise or walking under the spreading branches of the magnificent nines and elms which are a feature of the course There are many other famous horses here besides this pair of colts and most of them will hi seen in action during tli meeting As Air Riddle has refused ti iiut a price on Man o War and Inchcape sold recently for tin reported price of 150000 the total for tin fine aggregation of thoroughbreds here would run into figures that are staggering staggeringPresident President Richard T Wilson has been here for a week seeing to it that not the smallest detail has bPen overlooked in the plans for the accommodation of the largest crowds his asMiciatiin has ever been asked to house He has been in constant touch with Superintendent William Clare whose work has been complete and satisfying The dirt track and steeplechase course have bad care from th time tho frost was out of the ground last spring and it is expected that there will bi few com ¬ plaints from the owners of cither flatracers or timbertoppers this season The clubhouse grand ¬ stand anil stablos the roads trees flowers lawns and shrubs each in turn has had expert atten ¬ tion Nature has tlone much for Saratoga and w inr IVIT the oyf f furns urns it linds something to ndu ire but of all the beautiis of this charming town i one is nioiv npprtinted than the course of the Sara oga Association f r the Improvement of the Bnei of Horses It S y park in the broadest sense aid a credit to t ii organization retinonsible for its du velopuieut i
