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Twenty Years Ago Today Chief Turf Events of Jan II 1903 Sunday no racing It is reported that about four carloads of racers will leave New Orleans for Los Angeles this week Next to Chicago St Louis is the most important racing point in the West and a favorite field of operations for many owners Last year St Louis tracks produced a harvest of nearly half a million dollars to winning owners and will do better this year Next Thursday January 15 at midnight entries will close for the stake offered by the New Louisville Jockey Club They are in the main fixtures to be run at the May meet ¬ ing of 1903 but the Kentucky Derby of 1904 Kentucky Oaks of 1904 and the Nursery Stakes of 1901 are also in the list Since Aristides won the first Kentucky Derby in 1875 the Louisville meeting has always ranked in the forefront and its importance is not in the least diminished in the estimation of turf ¬ men As a matter of fact it has been en ¬ hanced since the control of the club has passed into new and capable hands and there is good reason to predict that the meeting of 1903 will excel its predecessors in all fea ¬ tures The stakes now offered are all on the added money system and should be gen ¬ erously patronized by western turfmen turfmenJohn John E Madden the Lexington turfman has begun active plans at Louisville with his horses which are quartered at Churchill Downs for this years campaign He says that he will give them his full attention from now until they are shipped East the latter part of April I have fortyfive head at the Downs said Mr Madden and if they turn out as well as my string did last year and the year before I will be satisfied Louisville is the place to train horses at least I have always found it so The climate just suits the thoroughbred It is neither too hot nor too cold The water and the air are better for the twoyearolds than any other place It is their native heath Time has proven my conclusions Every year the best race horses are trained in Louisville and bred in Kentucky Look at the twoyearolds last year Savable the winner of the Futurity was trained at Churchill Downs Irish Lad Mexican Skilful Acefull Early Merry Reel and many others received their preparatory work here It is unquestionably one of the handiest places to get to and the best race course in the West if not in the whole country It is the safest track for the youngster and I will never change my training quarters as long as I am in the business of racing I will not let up on my horses from now on for elect rain or cold weather I am prepared to get them ready early I did it last year and the weather was bad for five or six weeks and I will proceed in the same way this year
