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- - — r- Here and There on the Turf Prominent Stables Poor Showing. Kentucky Derby Wagering Preferences. Jockey Coltilettis New Opportunity. A prominent feature of the Bowie meeting, a regrettable feature, has been the unexpected ill success of the Audley Farm Stable, otherwise the Montfort Jones Stable. In advance much was rightfully expected by the public from its horses, with little realized. On the form of last years racing Rockminister might reasonably be considered about the best four-year old in the United States. His racing has b?en dismally ineffective. And so of the others which have started at Bowie, except in the case of Fair Phantom. Her races in the Inaugural Handicap and Prince George Handicap were excellent. It has been tacitly and correctly accepted that trainer Spence brought these horses to Bowie to fit them for future contests on more important tracks. He is a trainer of demonstrated skill and it is practically impossible that he did not know his horses were unfit to race to their true form. Th" fair inference is that he raced them at Bowie as a part of their training, instead of in the confident expectation of winning races. Truly this is a case of bad turf morality. That the Kentucky Derby is, in public estimation, what is called an open race is exemplified in the fact that some sixty of its 145 entries have already been backed to win sub stantially. No doubt others unbacked as yet will come in for support in the course of the month to elapse before the big race comes to its day of decision. Generally speaking it is observable that the heaviest backing has been awarded those which distinguished themselves in their racing when two year-olds. Thus Enchantment. Zev, Sallys Alley. Dunlin, Cherry Pie, Donges. Martingale. Messenger and Goshawk were all credited with remarkable per formances last year and all have been steadily backed except Goshawk. Why he has been neglected does not appear. He was one of the ? best and in the Hopeful Stakes ran Dunlin to three quarters of a length, with 130 pounds on 1 his back to 115 on Dunlin. However, the lay ers are taking no liberties with this excellent colt. Quit recently Zev has been so heavily supported that he is now practically the favor ite in the future books. His credentials are ? not to be denied. But the possibilities of this s years Derby are beyond present computation 1 and it is entirely within the range of its s chances that the winner may be as unexpected as were Donerail. Exterminator and Paul Jones. • It was expected that after Frank Colllletti i had been restored to good standing by the New f Orleans stewards, who suspended him more I than a year ago. that he would be granted a i license in New York. It has been the custom i to recognize rulings and to be reinstated by f the officials that inflict the punishment has I ever been just about all that has been neces ? 1 ? s 1 s • i f I a i i f I sary. Coltiletti was kept on the ground for a considerable time, but he merited the punish | i ment and he must have be?n truly repentant. or have presented new evidence, to be restored to good standing. However, under the watch | ful eye of James Rowe it is hardly possible that Coltiletti will lay himself liable to punish- J I ment again. He must have learned to be more careful in the choice of his associates and all that remain? for him to do now is to so con- duct himself as to convince that no mistake was made :.n restoring him to the turf and hi* occupation. The Northern racing season is now on its way. Bowie has done its whole duty in bring- ing back the thoroughbreds to the East. While I the meeting at times was handicapped seriously for want of good horses fit to run. Joseph Mc Lennan so framed his racing cards that good j contests were furnished. Then on various oc j casions he brought the good ones together, so | that there were some of the programs that would have been a credit to mid-ssason racing. The peculiar going at the Bowie track will not attract other than fit horses. It is per J I fectly safe and a good track, but at the same | i | J I time it is one that will take a deal out of a horse that is not tightly k?yed up. For that reason the trainers with horses, of high stake aspirations do not care to race over it fre-I quently. One or two races, far enough apart. provided they are not hard races, do good in putting the finishing touches on training, but it is easily possible to knock out a horse that is not fit to stand such a trial. The stake races that were offered at Bowie were so satisfyingly successful that it is a sure thing they will continue to be a part of the future spring programs.
