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Here and There on the Turf No Riding Idol at Bowie Pacemaking at a Discount Sandy McNaughton s Miss-fire Yellow Hand May Race Again Ways of a Good Starter It is usually the case that at this season of the year some rider looms up among his fellows until he attracts a following without regard to the merits of the horses he rides. These jockey idols have come and gone year after year, but the late fall and early spring is when the sensation generally appears. Thus far the Bowie meeting has not shown any outstanding rider among the apprentices, while the older boys have not shown sufficient brilliance in the saddle to make any of them i a prime favorite with the crowd. The jockeys, as a whole, are no worse and no better than the usual run of November riders, but it is just a little bit unusual that a marked favorite with the grandstand occupants has not come to the front. The Bowie crowd is one that is quick to respond to a successful rider and it is a loyal crowd when that rider has been chosen. It is possible that before many days there will be shouts for some one of the little fellows and the first time any one of them makes good he will be excused for many a mistake. Just now there is a need of more finished riders. Plenty of material is at hand for the development of riders during the winter and there is still a chance that next year will open with a better crop. There were three of the races at Bowie Tuesday that demonstrated forcibly the futility of making pace through the going. That was in the first race, the Terminal Purse and the Tip Top Handicap. In the opening race the pacemakers all faded away in the stretch, while in the Terminal Purse Osprey tired badly in the last eighth when he seemed to be the winner. Osprey had been galloping along in front as though running well within himself, but pacemaking through the sandy soil took its toll in the last eighth. When Osprey tired he tired all over, and that is the way they do at Bowie when too much is made of them through the early running. In the Tip Top Handicap, that was won by On Watch, Crocus was sent along in the lead by Penman at a suicidal pace and Gentility chased after her. While On Watch was saved and with a rush through the streteh disposed of the pair of them. This pace was calculated to bring disaster on a faster track than Bowie when the fillies rushed to the half mile in 46. It is small wonder that they both tired near the end. Another peculiarity of the track is that the rail position . in the stretch is the least desirable. The going is deeper along the rail and many horses are beaten there, most of the winners finishing in the middle of the track. A good joke is being told on Sandy Mc-Naughton. Matt Brady, trainer of Reparation, asked McNaughton for the services of Weiner to ride Reparation in the fifth race at Bowie Tuesday. McNaughton could see no possible chance for the Davis jumper to beat such horses as All Over and the others that were entered and would not give his consent to have his jockey ride. Then Brady had to depend on the inexperienced McLane and Reparation was the big surprise among the winners of the da. It is good news indeed that Yellow Hand may be back in training again next year. He was forced into retirement when a wonderful handicap prospect and if Prince James is also brought to the races, as he doubtless will be, it will give Goldsborough a pair of handicap horses that should make his string a truly dangerous one in 1923. Geldings are proverbial for their durability and Yellow Hand is just the sort that should go on to more years of usefulness if really sound again. Starter Miller has had many a big field of bad actors to contend with this year and has been further handicapped with a number of bad riders. He is one starter who does not believe in the use of whips at the barrier. It may be that once in a while a whip might help somewhat, but frequently the misuse of a whip does more harm than good. For that reason Miller would rather do without them altogether. He loses little time at the barrier and has good control of the riders, though from time to time he has to hand out punishment to keep them in line. In the second race Tuesday he found it necessary to fine C. H. Miller, Scobie, Smallwood and Parke 5 each for misbehavior at the post. Another feature in the Miller starting is in the barrier that is used. He uses a tape that is easily broken and it is high enough to be plainly seen by the horses. He argues that all in the world that is needed in the way of a barrier is a device for lining up of the horses and that it should be frail enough so that it will not in any manner impede a horse that breaks through. For that reason it is impossible for a runner to become hung in the webbing, as has happened with some of the other gates.
