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I I j . I I I . j ; j , . r j r 1 , ,. r s j I r u : SARATOGA BATTLE GROUND Horses of East and West Assembling at the Spa for Annual August Meeting. SARATOGA SPRINGS, X. Y., July IS. With the opening of the local racing season only two weeks away t liis town is awakening from its customary quiet. Every day brings arrivals from all parts of the country in the shape of men and horses. Business stops while the natives and early visitors admire the sleek, sinewy thoroughbreds swathed to knees and hocks in cotton bandages as they are led through the streets by stable boys, who think that caring for a good racehorse is the topmost limit of human endeavor. Many of these racers are from Kentucky and Canada, from which proving grounds some of the keenest competition for the horses of the East has come since the days vt Longfellow and Harper and Forbes and Bill Bruce. This was the period when racing here was in its infancy and the sport began iit 11 oclock in the forenoon. It was the time of Whcatly. Morrissey, Reed, and Spencer, the , first-named a student of racing conditions and a framer of programs that made liim a notable figure , in the world of sport. j As is usual, the westeners are sending a number , of high-class horses here to contest supremacy with the best of the East. The rivalries of former . years, when. California made it a three-cornered duel, , will be rekindled, and much good should come out , of it all for the horse of bluod. The breeder who is beaten this year will strengthen his forces in , the hope of turning the tables later n. BEST OF EAST AND WEST TO MEET. While there is always the keenest sort of interest , in the contests between the older horses over a long , distance of ground at Saratoga, the public wants to see the crack two-year-olds in action. The West will send several crack youngsters to compete with the best of the East in the ?30,000 Hopeful and other prizes. Conspicuous among these will be the sensational fillies Fair Phantom, by Lijfht Brigade, and Miss Joy. by Peter Quince, which Mont fort Jones boughtfroni their breeder. Johnson X. .Cain- j den. Uiifortunntely what appears to be one of the best fillies in the East. My Reverie, is not well , engaged here. She was not nominated for the , Hopeful, Grand Union, or United States Hotel Stakes. The Flash on the opening day, or the Schuylerville later in he meeting, may bring these fine fillies together, otherwise the duty of upholding the honors of the East will devolve upon the colts, of which the most conspicuous are Little Chief. Mustard Seed, Oljnipus, Rroomster, Oceanic. Sweep Ky, Kunstar, Morvich, Pillory, Draft. Kai-Sang and Column. There are many fine juveniles which have not yet shown their quality, however, and the best of the year may appear at any time in the rich Saratoga .--takes. Grey Lag would appear competent to hold his own with the western ctacks, even with the penalties which he will ha-e to assume for his many victories. Westerners a short time ago thought that Black Servant would take the measure of Grey Lag in the Travers, Miller or some of the other stakes here. Lately, however, the Rancccas representative lu-s shown form which would warrant Unbelief that by the en.l of September he will b able to carry equal weights with any horse - in training and win over any distance from a mile to four miles. EDWARD BRADLEYS FORMIDABLE STRING. The stable which Edward Bradley will send to Saratoga to represent the West is the strongest that he has ever had. The Alabama, with its value of 0,000, will introduce the dainty English filly Kit of White to the East, but Xancy Lee is con-i sidered her equal, and witli Prudery, Kanksia. Care- fill and other good ones to help out, this stake ought to be worth witnessing. The good filly Flambette. winner of the Latonia Oaks, and the conqueror of Kit of White at a disadvantage of five pounds, is an absentee. In the handicap division there is u wealth of material and the racing in which its members will take part should equal that of any in the history of the course. A few of the good ones in the Stira- toga and Merchants and Citizens handicaps are Grey Lag, Mad Hatter. Exterminator, Cirrus, Billy Kelly, Boniface. John P. Crier, Upset, Audacious, Donnacona, Yellow Hand, Black Servant. Xancy Lee, Eternal, Tryster, Star Voter, The Porter, Thun- derclap, Lanius, Prudery. Dr. Clark. John Paul Jones, Best Pal, La Kablee, Rouleau, Gnome, Gladiator and Klazes. Much the same quality is to be noticed among the nominations for the Saratoga Cup. at a mile and three-quarters. This test ought to bring out Grey Lag, Exterminator and every other stayer on the" course. It is regarded by many as the most important race of the meeting and the management is entitled to the thanks of the breeders of the country for keeping it on the list.
