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POPULARITY OF THE HORSE Great Crowds Pay Tribute to Thoroughbred at Both Race Course and Show Rings XEW YORK N Y June 10 The popularity of the horse is being demonstrated in no uncertain fashion this spring not only at the race course but in the show rings throughout the country while the increasing number of persons seen in the saddle on the bridle paths is a subject of comment commentNew New Yorks own tribute lo the horse has been most generous in character The vast throng which saw the races at Belmont Park on Memorial Day contained men noted for their achievements in many and varied walks of life This newly remodeled home of the Westchestcr Racing Association with its spaciousness and splendid appeal of grandstand mid paddock is welcomed by those who love the thoroughbred and find their appreciation of ins many desirable qualities all the keener when the type is presented in such a sotting In the Me ¬ morial Day crowd and again when the Withers Stakes arid Suburban Handicap were run later in the week men who have not been seen at race neetings for many a year were conspicuous by their presence All were as eager as children in the enjoyment of a holiday and unstinted in their praise of the track and it1 appointments appointmentsWhile While New York is doing its part nobly Wash ¬ ington is giving evidence of renewed and intelligent interest in the thoroughbred and halfbred At the recent National Capital Horse Show held in Virginia across the Potomac from the capital there wen a few races each day for officers of tho army These were oil the flat and over jumps and the display of horsemanship was of a quality which reflected credit oh the service Xot the least interested spectator of these races was President Harding and judging by the enthu ¬ siasm he displayed during tin contest golf is not the only outdoor sport ot which he is fond Oliib the presidents home state has long been famous for the quality of its trotting horses while a way back in the period immediately after the Civil War many splendid thoroughbreds were owned ther Among them was General Duke by Lexington the winner in 1SOS of the Ielmpnt Stakes which race is today one of the great threeyearold races of the American turf and which will have its fiftythird l renewal at Belmont Park Saturday next Later the black mare Imp gave the Buckeye State prominence in the turf world worldPRESIDENT PRESIDENT HARDING AN ADMIRER ADMIRERIt It would not be surprising therefore to find the President seeking health and recreation in the sad die as his predecessor in the White House did before hi visit abroad Mr Wilson becoming quite a creditable horseman under the tutelage of Ad ¬ miral Grayson He will find plenty of material for mounts at Front Royal the governments re ¬ mount station in Virginia from which Democrat the gelding by Octagon was recruited for ex President Wilsons use usePresident President Grant was the last of the chief execu ¬ tives of the nation to attend the races publicly t He was fond of a trotter and drove a pair with great skill on the road but he admired the thor ¬ oughbred also and when life races were at Long Branch near his summer home in New Jersey he was a frequent attendant at the course wlitch was then located at Monmouth Park Many of the earlier presidents from Washington down were devoted to the turf Washington as a young man often served as an official at race meetings and Andrew Jackson rode to tho training grounds from the White House and supervised tjie preparation of his own horses for their races He was a skillful and bold rider and took part in many matched races before he was elected to the presidency presidencyThere There has always been a sentiment for the thor ¬ oughbred at Washington In the late eighties the Bcnning course was a favorite resort for the biggest men in the nation On one occasion three United States senators Hearst of California Wolcott of Colorado and Wetmore of Rhode Island served as stewards The clerk of the course reported that a1 gentleman from Virginia who was to take part in a race for amateurs was not in good condition to ride Senator Hearst said Thats all right let lihn ride no gentleman from Virginia ever got in a con = dition where IK couldnt ride a horse While there are many good races on tha p gram at Belmont Park for the next six days the Bel ¬ mont Stakes already referred to overshadows the other events In historical association and importance to the breeding industry It is at a mile and three eighths and no doubt a crowd rivaling that of Deco ¬ ration day will see it decided It will furnish rome idea of the staying qualities of our presentday threeyearolds and give a chance to compare them with the great ones of tho past that have been vic ¬ torious in the same race These include Man o War Sir Barton Johren Honrless Friar Rock Colin Peter Pan Africander Commando Henry of Navarre and Hanover HanoverIn In addition to tho Belmont Stakes the Keeno Memorial for twoyearolds will be on Saturdays card In it the best of the juveniles will be seen Other features of the week include the Bouquet Stakes for fillies on Tuesday and the International Steeplechase Handicap on Thursday
