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: : BACK TO THE METROPOLIS Patrons of Racing Eager for the Return of Thoroughbreds. Futurity aiid Lawrence Realization Features of Meeting Beginning Next Thursday. NEW YORK, N. ., August 2S. Metropolitan racing patrons are eagerly awaiting the return of the thoroughbreds from Saratoga, and every indication points to successful racing at Belmont Park, wirere the autumn meeting of the "Westchester Racing Association will be inaugurated on Thursday; next. The program for the twelve days sport is. studded with attractions, but the ..Futurity and Lawrence Realization for two aiid three-year-olds, respectively, inherited from the Coney Island Jockey Club, are the outstanding features, not only for their monetary value, but because of Hie historic interest attached to them. The Futurity occupies a position in the hearts of the turf world that no other race for juveniles can supplant, ho matter how aluuhlc, such prizes may become in the future. It was the first of the fireat produce races framed, and witli its bonuses to breeders and its weight allow.ar.ces for hon-.pfoducing dams, thus encouraging the mating of young mares, it was a; success from the "outset. The race held the attention of every lover of the thoroughbred cast, wast, north and south. Everybody with a mare in the Futurity held the produce in greater regard because of that fact, and at the -yearling sales there was magic in the announcement that an offeriiis: was eligible for the prize. Then, too, in the background there was always the chance of Avinning that bonus of 1,000 to the breeder of the victor and on the day the Futurity was run there was the greatest excitement in thoroughbred breeding centers all over the United States. The late Charles Beed, who was a philosopher first, and a soldier of fortune and breeder of thoroughbreds afterward, in discussing the Futurity once propounded the question: "Ever hear .of a suicide with a lottery ticket in liis pocket?" Reed breathed that optimism which has a place in the make-up of most of those engaged in the breeding of thoroughbreds, and appraised it in a characteristic sentence. He, himself, while his Fairview Stud existed, was a liberal nominator to the Futurity and Yorkvilte Belie, second in 1S91 to Ills Highness, was out of his famous mare Thora. There have been thousands in the same class as Charles Beed since 1SS0, Ivhen the first nomina-. tions for the Futurity were solicited. When Sam ; Bryant won the initial -race in 18S8 with bis white-legged, white-faced gelding Proctor Knott, ridden by the diminutive colored boy, "Pike" Barnes, aiid : carried away .to Kentucky what constituted for him a fortune in the shape of 0,900, it gave the event such a boom that two :years later, when August Belmonts Potomac and Masher ran first and second, the state was worth to the winner 07,G75, the highest in its history. PHENOMENAL STRUGGLES IN THE PAST. There have been many phenomenal struggles for this most coveted prize in the thirty years of its running, and out of it has come rivalries which were at times so keen that they bordered oh the acrimonious. The rivalries of today are more friendly than those of other times. That spirit, however, which makes for progress in the sport was never stronger than it is today and the Futurity of 1920 bids fair to be a sensational contest, keenly fought from start to finish. There is ho Man o War to rob the race of. its interest as in 1919, and from present indications the fiehl will he one of the largest in recent years, though not the equal of some of those in the early days when twenty or more contestants went to the post. It was Jioped that nothing would prevent the Futurity from establishing the two-year-old championship of the year. Unfortunately, however, several of the liest youngsters will not go to the post. Inehcape, a colt of the highest quality, and a rival of Tryster, Leonardo II., Prudery, Careful, Star Voter, Pluribus and others that have shown their quality, will not go to the post again this year, as lie struck one of his ankles during a slow work on Monday last and pulled up lame. Tryster, which was slow to come to hand, was declared, while the dams of Leonardo II. and Pluribus were, not nominated. All of this is to the advantage of the owners of other candidates and the matter of supremacy among the juveniles must be postponed until a later date, although if the crack fillies Prudery and Careful are both fit, the queen of the turf should be crowned. Unquestionably the best of the probable starters, taking public form to date, are: Prudery, Careful, The Bohemian, General .T. M. Gomez, Broom Spun, Star Voter, Dinimesdale, Touch Me Not and Brigadier General. Others which have either shown well in public or worked fast enough to warrant being sent to the post are: Kirklevington, Exodus, Eternity, Haiti, Our Flag, Dartmoor, Smoke Screen, St. Michael, Montalvo, Playfellow, Begistrar, Crocus, Ararat, Koscommon, Pagan Pan, Honey Girl, Advocate, Pahaska, Sporting Blood, Believe Idle I tour and United Verde. Of the dark horses. Playfellow is a brother to Man o War, Smoke Screen is a fine son of His Majesty, bred by Gifford A. Cochran in this state, and Montalvo Is the colt from the stable of J. II. Ros-seter of California which has been said to be the equal of Inehcape early in the season. All in all. the Futurity of 1920, which should be Worth 0,000 or more, is an open race. There is an abundance of good material in the dark division and the winner may come from an unexpected quarter. It is this glorious uncertainty which, is racings greatest attraction and makes optimists of all those engaged in it. . As far as the Realization is concerned it would seem that this prize belongs to Man o War if nothing happens to him in the meantime. Under tho conditions there are no penalties, and the big three-year-old will only have to pack his scale weight. It would be a brave man who wOuld contend that any other eligible had a chance to finish in front of the son of Fair Play. There are allowances for non-winners, but those witli a chance of sharing in any but the minor portions of the stake Jiave substantial amounts to their credit already and must meet Man o War on even terms. In this class are John P. Grier, Wildair, Dr. Clark and On Watch. Fair Gain and Rouleau, by Vulcain and Tracery, respectively, are tin; pick of those that may come to the race entitled to allowances. While both are bred to run all day it would be idle to entertain the idea that they have sufficient quality to make the champion extend himself. Man o War towers above his competitors like a colossus, and the Realization should lie one more stepping stone toward the clumiua-tion of Mr. Riddles hope to have the colt win more money than any other American thoroughbred. The Realization and the Nursery Handicap, the latter for two-year-olds, will be the outstanding features of the program for Saturday iiext. They will be viewed by a great throng, eager to renew its homage to the thoroughbred after an absence of a month in Saratoga, and while the East has- a particular claim on Man o War there will doubtless be in that vast crowd many from every part of the Union whose acclaim will lie as sincere as that of our own people, for all the world loves a great horse.
