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Here and There on the Turf Marlboro Favored by Luck. Veterans Saved by Such Courses. Marylands Balmy Weather. Sympathy with Hard Working Official. Kilmer Horses at Bowie. Promise of Havana Racing. Racing in the "bushes" has never been a sport that was on a scale to go far in advancing the turf. Racing at Marlboro is the bushes and it is over a half mile track. But it is glorified racing in the bushes, because this particular small meeting is enjoying open dates and it has attracted those who otherwise would be performing over other tracks. It is a short meeting that serves well to fill in the gap between the close of Pimlico last Saturday and the opening of Bowie next Saturday. The crowd that was out for the first day of the meeting took James F. OHara and his associates a bit off their feet and the little track was hardly up to taking comfortable care of the throng, but all went off handsomely and now Marlboro has more racing dignity and importance than ever before. It was the first visit to the half mile course for many of the turfmen, but it was a welcoming continuance of the sport for the five days before the Bowie meeting opens. And when properly conducted half mile track racing has its place in the general scheme of the turf. It is racing that affords occupation for many an old gelding that has outlived his usefulness on the larger tracks, though he is still well able to furnish entertainment in modest company. True, some of them never amounted to much on the big tracks, but then there were others on the program that are well remembered about New York and in Kentucky until they outlived select company usefulness. It is better that they should continue to race , over the half mile tracks than that they should I be put to trucking or worn out between the shafts of some hucksters wagon. They have lost the fire of youth, but they are still able , to furnish a real thrill in the modest company r , they now meet. Some of these old ones that still have racing usefulneis that were carded for the first day at Marlboro were True as . Steel, now in his eleventh year; Leoma and I Bogart, both thirteen years old; Ina Kay, now , a ten-year-old; Arthur Middleton, Refugee, Kingling II. and Raconteuse, each nine years old, as well as many others that are becoming venerable. They are all at Marlboro and they give a good show and, after all, a champion can do no better. It is well that there should be some such properly conducted small meetings to furnish employment to these old-timers. The decision of the Jefferson Park Association at New Orleans not to give a fair meeting , I , r , . I , before the opening of the regular meeting on Thanksgiving Day appears to be a wise move. A meeting from November 30 until December 30, as has been announced, is ample and such dates will enable the stables to remain that much longer in Maryland. Seldom has there been such a glorious fall for the sport. The weather has been balmy and almost summerlike. Topcoats were discarded by most of those who journeyed to Marlboro. If there is a continuance of such weather through the Bowie meeting there will be an altogether new record set for that track. The horses that are already quartered there and galloping along in preparation for the opening, are of a quality that would attract attention in midsummer and there is no lack in number. The track itself has been greatly improved since the spring meeting and, with the increased purses and the stake races that are down for decision, it will wind up the Maryland season and racing in the East on a much more dignified scale than ever before. There is general regret in New York because of the present ill health of A. McL. Earlocker, for many years a faithful and hard working racing secretary of both the Saratoga and the Westchester Racing Association. As a matter of fact his arduous duties had much to do with his present condition and he has been ordered to take a complete rest. The fact that Eugene Wayland has gone to Remlik Fall, Virginia, one of Mr. Kilmers estates, resulted in the circulation of a rumor that the stable was through with racing for the year. Such is not the case. Wayland will be back for the Bowie meeting and will have a string of the Kilmer horses there with him. Exterminator is still in training and he is one of the number that may be seen under silks during that meeting. Though the old fellow had worked well enough before the running of the Pimlico Cup to suggest fitness for the race, he was certainly not at his best when he was started. He will probably still have a chance to reach and pass Man o Wars total of money won during the Bowie meeting and that is the reason for shipping him to that point. There will be others of the Kilmer string on hand to keep him company and Wayland will be kept busy enough when he returns from his short vacation. Dr. Ashe, who is looking after the shipment of horses to Oriental Park, Cuba, for the long winter meeting there, has reported that he will have a considerable number leaving before the end of the Bowie meeting. His efforts thus far have resulted in many horses departing from Canada and will shortly make his final round-up of those that will make the trip from Maryland. Dr. Ashe is particularly enthusiastic over the Cuban promise for next winter and he is not given to enthusiasm without reason. He has said that the meeting will surely have a greater number of horses of better class than ever before. With the racing at Marlboro, and so close to Washington, the old Benning course of the Washington Jockey Club is the most con-, venient of the neighboring training grounds. With the limited stabling facilities at the half mile track it is necessary to stable many at the Washington training grounds and they are brought over in automobile vans to fill their engagements. Some of them came from Bowie, but most of those there will wait until that meeting opens and have the benefit of a rest from actual racing this week. It will be no place for a worn-out horse this year.
