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Here and There on the Turf Snob n. Sent Into Retirement. Persistence of Mr. Cosden. Playfellow May Eace Saturday. Responsibility of a Trainer. Snob TX has gone into retirement. This French son of Prestige and May Dora was one of the striking disappointments among the three-year-olds of the year. When, in his first start of the year, at Jamaica, May 18, he was such an easy winner of the Stuyvesant Handicap in a good field he loomed up as a possible champion of the year. It was that brilliant performance, over a muddy track, that induced J. S. Cosden to pay a big price for him. In fact, it was one of the notable thoroughbred transactions of the year. At the time it was generally agreed that although 5,000 had been paid for the colt he was a bargain. His first start under the Cosden silks was when he was a cantering winner of tho Withers Stakes, and by that victory he earned 7,050 of his purchase price. But that was his only victory for Mr. Cosden. He was beaten in the Belmont Stakes by Richard T. Wilsons Pillory, and his only other start was in the Carlton Stakes, in which he was beaten by both Whiskaway and Morvich. The colt had trained off and William Garth was unable to bring him back to racing condition. There is sentimental reason to hope that as a four-year-old Snob LT. will prove that Mr. Cosden made no mistake when he paid the big price, but it was a bitter disappointment to have such a prospect fail with .so many rich three-year-old engagements before him, Now Snob H. will have to make good in the handicap division and, as a general proposition, that is a rougher road than any other. But Mr. Cosden is a sportsman who does not become discouraged with such disappointments. He paid the top price at the Saratoga yearling sales of 1921, when he took the son of Sweep and Ballet Girl for 1,000.- This is the colt Cyclone, a colt that has never been brought to the post. Then this year Mr. Cosden again paid the top price at Saratoga, when ho took the Traprock Federal Girl yearling for 9,000. Such persistence in buying the best the market offers deserves a better reward. It is the present intention to send Playfellow to the post in the Edgemore Handicap Saturday. It will be the first appearance of the brother of Man o War this year and his performance will be of great interest. The suit that came out of his sale to Harry F. Sinclair by James F. Johnson for 00,000 kept the son of Fair Play and Mahubah out of training for a considerable time, but James Fitzfiimmons has had him back in the Quincy Stable long enough now to show just why he is a 00,000 colt. Playfellow is handicapped I at 110 pounds in the Edgemere, which is a mile and an eighth race. It was hoped that he would meet something from the Rancocas Stable in it, but it is doubtful if Hildreth will have a starter, though he has several eligibles. The mile and an eighth is an adequate test for Playfellow. While he is not rated particularly high by Mr. Vosburgh when his weight is fixed at 110 pounds, it should serve to show his classification. Kai-Sang, Bunting, Lucky Hour and Whiskaway are all three-year-olds and are required to give him actual weight, as well as a year. It is a wise provision of the rules of racing making the trainer responsible for the condition of his horse, particularly in relation to cases of "sponging." There have been altogether too many cases of this most inhuman treatment of horses and only the most rigid enforcement of the rules can stamp it out. When there is such an occurrence it is either an "inside job," by one of the stable hands, or it is evidence of to say the least a careless policing of the stable. It should not be possible for any outsider to enter the box of a horse, or at any time to be close enough to stuff his nose with a sponge. No more inhuman treatment of a horse can be imagined and, when the guilty ones are run down, the punishment should not stop with a ruling from the stewards of racing. Charges . should be pressed in the courts, and one conviction would have a salutary effect. "Night riding" was prevalent at one time, but "sponging" is done so much quicker and it is surer in its effects. Of course, there will be no end of trouble any time in running down these miscreants, but when the trainer himself is held responsible it will make for a closer watch on the stable hands and a better policing of the stables.
