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3 V FROM MODEST BEGINNING IN 1863 RACING AT TEE SUMMER CAPITAL OF NEW YORK HAS GROWN IN POPULARITY AND A TTA I NED A WORLDWIDE REPUTATION ITS GREAT ARRAY OF VALUABLE STAKE .RACES On to Saratoga. All roads lead to Americas most famous and picturesque race course where the annual meeting begins Tuesday and continues for the entire month of August. The "Ascot of America," as Saratoga is often caled, has an eventful history, its rise and progress being almost identical with the rise and progress of racing in this country. Saratoga was the first locality in the North to undertake racing after the Civil War. In fact, the sport had been inaugurated there before the war had ended. The credit that has been given to that fashionable summer resort as the cradle of modern racing in the East is fully merited. Previous to the inauguration of the sport there the immediate outlook for the future was poor indeed, for there seemed slight prospect of returning to the unstable conditions existing before the war. Saratoga being the summer capital of New York, and having for years drawn to it the patronage of wealthy and fashionable folks from all parts of the country, the opportunity thus offered to establish racing among the pines as an additional amusement seemed to be almost providential. There was an old track in Saratoga, 290 yards short of a mile, and with that as a foundation the new enterprise that was destined to play such an important part in the affairs of the American turf was inaugurated in 1863. The general response of turfmen al over the country was indeed gratifying, although at the outset the stables that gathered there were few when compared to the present day and the horses were not numerous. The first meeting was undertaken entirely upon the responsibility of John Morrissey and Charles Wheatly, the eminent turfman, was engaged to act as secretary and manager. Immediately after the close of that meeting several gentlemen of means formed an association for the purpose of establishing racing in Saratoga upon a substantial and permanent foundation. The modest three-day meetings of 1803 and 1804 grew rapidly until in 1870, the racing season had expanded so as to include two meetings every summer. Not long afterward it developed further and the demand became so great that the season was further extended. The most eminent turfmen and owners of national reputation patronized Saratoga annually, as is the case now, and the most famous horses of American turf history fought for the rich prizes offered in the Flash, Travers, Alabama, Kenner, and other stake features, some of which are still run for. In the course of time changes in the ownership and management of the course came about and early in the eighties Saratoga fell away somewhat from its former high estate and the period of decadence lasted for some considerable length of time. However, under the latter day and especially the present management the Spa has not only been restored to all its glory, but its fame has been greatly enhanced, so that today it is known the world over as Americas most noted recreation and racing center. One cf the potent factors in the rise and progress of Saratoga racing has been and is at the present the alluring array of stake races of great values. Of these the Hopeful, for 2-ycar-olds, is one of the richest of American stakes and this year will be worth more to the winner than in any previous year. The Travers, dating back to 1SG4, is another stake of great value, as are the Saratoga Special, Grand Union Hotel, United States Hotel and Alabama Stakes. Altogether there are thirty-five closed fixtures to be run at Saratoga during the month of August and with increased overnight pursss it is certain that the record distribution of S38G.990 of last year will be surpassed. Here is the wonderful array of Saratogas splendid stake races, which have attracted the stars of the thoroughbreds to the spa to contest for them : Stake. Age. Distance. Value. Hopeful Stakes 2-year-olds 3-4 mile Guaranteed 0,000 Travers Stakes 3-year-clds 1 1-4 miles Guaranteed. 12,500 Saratoga Special 2-year-olds ...3-4 mile Estimated.. 10,000 Grand Union Hotel Stakes 2-year-olds 3-4 mile Guaranteed. 10,000 United States Hotel Stakes 2-year-clds 3-4 mile Guaranteed. 10,000 Alabama Stakes 3-year-clds 1 1-4 miles Guaranteed. 10,000 Consolation Slakes 2-year-olds 5 1-2 furlongs. .Guaranteed. 7,500 Consolation Stakes 2-year-olds 3-4 mile Guaranteed. 7,500 Spinaway Stakes 2-year-olds 5 1-2 furlongs. .Guaranteed. 7,500 Saratoga Cup 3-year-olds and over.l 3-4 miles Added 5,000 Albany Handicap 2-ycar-clds 3-4 mile Guaranteed. 5,000 Saratoga Steeplechase Handicap 4-year-clds and over.Ab 2 1-2 miles.. Added 5,000 Huron Handicap 3-year-olds 1 3-16 miles Guaranteed. 5,000 Adirondack Handicap 2-year-olds 3-4 mile Guaranteed. 5,000 Sanford Stakes 3-ycar-clds 3-4 mile Guaranteed. 5,000 Flash Stakes 2-year-olds 5 1-2 furlongs. .Guaranteed. 5,000 Saratoga Handicap 3-year-olds and over.l 1-4 mile3 Added 5,000 Merchants and Citizens Handicap. . .3-year-olds and over.l 3-16 miles Added 4,000 Grab Bag Handicap 2-year-olds 3-4 mile Guaranteed. 4,000 Schuylerville Stakes 2-year-clds 5 1-2 furlongs. .Guaranteed. 4,000 Miller Stakes 3-year-olds 1 3-16 miles Added 3,500 Expectation Handicap 3-year-clds 1 mile Guaranteed. 3,000 Saranac Handicap 3-year-olds 1 mile Added 3,000 Delaware Handicap 3;year-olds and over.l mile Added. 2,500 Champlain Handicap 3-year-olds and over.l 1-8 miles Added. 2,500 Shillelah Steeplechase 3-year-olds and over. 3-4 mile Added 2,000 North American Steeplechase Hcap. 3-year-olds and over. About 2 miles.. Added 2,000 Beverwyck Steeplechase Handicap .. 3-year-olds and over. About 2 miles.. Added 2,000 Seneca Stakes 3-year-clds 3-4 mile Added 1,500 Saratoga Sales Stakes Sr-year-clds 5 1-2 furlongs. .Added 1,500 Troy Stakes 2-year-olds 5 1-2 furlongs. .Added 1,500 Mohawk Stakes 3-year-clds 1 mile Added. 1,500 Catskill Stakes 3-ycar-olds and over. 7-8 mile Added. 1,500 Kentucky Stakes 2-year-clds 5 1-2 furlongs. .Added. 1,500 Amsterdam Stakes 3 -year-olds and over.l mile Added...... 1,500
