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Here and There on the Turf Another International. Selecting American Horse. Zev-In Memoriam Match. Racing at Marlboro. The international match, in which Harry F. Sinclairs Zev defeated Ben Irishs Epsom Derby winner Papyrus at Belmont Park October 20, is bearing fruit. When the match was first arranged it was with the hope that the challenge cup would be a perpetual affair and a trophy that would do much to more closely bind the two countries together in matters of the turf. Now France has a proposition that will make the international races even more interesting, and even if the proposed three- cornered sweepstakes to take in America, Eng- and France in a big special does not materialize its suggestion is a good thing for racing. France has a real champion in Pierre Wcr-theimcrs Epinard, and he has already been chosen to meet the best that can be sent from both England and this country. Zev naturally would have been the American choice after his defeat of Papyrus, and the challenge would probably have gon3 direct to Mr. Sinclair had it not been that Carl Wiedemanns In Memoriam beat the son of The Finn so easily in the Latonia Championship. Now it is up to the Jockey Club to find the colt. Should Zev turn the tables on In Memoriam Saturday it is probable that he will be again looked upon as the champion and the challenge will be accepted on his behalf. It is not much of a trip to send a colt across the English Channel to race in France, and it is done many a time each year. For that reason it is natural to expect that the challenge will be accepted for Papyrus or some other four-year-old of 1924. About the only other one that could be selected would the filly Tranquil, which-beat Papyrus in the St. Leger. But altogether it is a good thing to see this rivalry on the turf and good should cont3 from the new and healthy interest that is aroused. May 3 has been selected for the date of the running of this international special anil, while that is considered a particularly early date in this country for such a test, the arranging of it at this time would make possible a long and careful conditioning for the running of the race. Should a selection be made of the American representative this fall it would eecm tha part of wisdom to send him to France without delay in order that he might be fitted for the big event on a French training ground It would afford a chance for his becoming acclimated as well as a chance for his becoming ; thoroughly familiar with the ground over which he is to race. With the English selection it is different, for many an English horse has been prepared at home, sent across the Channel a few days before his engagement falls due and then , brought the prize back home. Such a race as has been suggested for Long-champs next May gives the American colt a t bit of a handicap, but it is not as much of a t handicap as was accepted by Ben Imh when i he sent Papyrus to this country, and it is 7 i 1 2 2 3 4 s 5 G i 7 , 2 3 I 5 : . ; , t t i safe to predict that the American sportsman i who has his colt selected will accept all the rules of the race cheerfully. Papyrus came over on short notice. This proposed race is far enough away to make every preparation possible before its running. With the French special against Epinard in View the meeting of Harry F. Sinclairs Zev and Carl Wiedemanns In Memoriam at Churchill Downs Saturday assumes an altogether new importance. The race was originally arranged as a return match for the Latonia Championship Stakes. As such it has the importance of defining the three-year-old championship. But now that there is a doubt of just what colt will be selected to take up the challenge of Epinard it means much more. The French colt established himself as the champion of his country, but over here, while Zev is generally considered the champion, his defeat by In Memoriam established some doubt. Hildreth will strive earnestly to wipe out that doubt Saturday, and Wiedemann will be just as eager to verify the result and have In Memoriam crowned the king of the 1923 three-year-olds. It is safe to promise that no matter what the result of. the race Saturday whichever colt is selected to represent this country at Long-champs next May will accept the honor. Never in the history of Marlboro has there been a like importance to its half-mile track racing. Many of the stables that have campaigned at Pimlico and contemplate finishing the season at Bowie will put in the intervening time at the delightful little racing ground, and the class of horses are infinitely better than ever before. Bowie has been constantly growing in importance and it is this importance of the racing at Bowie that has worked great good for Marlboro. It was unfortunate that the closing day of the Pimlico meeting of the Maryland Jockey Club should be marred by miserable weather and a track condition that was a serious handicap to many of the horses. But it enabled Frank E. Browns Hephaistos to be the winner of the two miles and a quarter Pimlico Cup. Hephaistos has always been a wonderfully good mud runner, and it was the condition of the track that brought about the withdrawal i of Homestretch, winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup, as well as Admiral Cary T. Graysons My Own, two three-year-olds that were considered as having a royal chance for victory. Then there was another absentee in Fred Musantes My Dear, winner of the Bowie. This good mare would really have been benefited by the muddy going, but she broke i down hopelessly shortly after her victory in the Bowie Handicap and had to be thrown out of training. In this race for the Pimlico Cup there was a deal of credit coming to John Callahan, who rode Hephaistos. This veteran jockey is in rare form just now and his judgment of pace in the long, trying two and a quarter miles journey played an important part in the success of Hephaistos.
