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Here and There on the Turf On Turf Unity. -Need of Conference. Home-Bred Races. Entries and Scratches. It is during the winter months that any changes in the rules of racing or in the conduct of the sport should be thoroughly discussed, and it is the general plan that during the off season these questions come in for consideration. In New York, Maryland and Kentucky there is a general similarity in the rules that govern the sport and the differences are only minor ones and have to dp principally with the individual tracks. What would undoubtedly do a great good for the American turf would be a conference between the governors of the sport in these thrc8 great racing sections. The stewards of the Jockey Club could readily invite the members of both the Kentucky and Maryland Racing Commissions to such a conference, and it its entirely possible that it would bring about a better understanding among all concerned. At this time, when there is so much talk of bringing about a closer and a more friendly relationship between the American turf and that of the foreign countries, it would seem that there should be a closer relationship between the different governing bodies of our own country. Not so long ago racing itself was threatened by the unfortunate difference between the Maryland Racing Commission and the Jockey Club. Fortunately before the break becam; i one that did any real and lasting harm there i was a burying of the hatchet, both sides making ; concessions, and all went well. There has bc;n , no quarrel since that time and, while the turf : is governed adequately by both bodies, there i never has been anything that could be looked upon as a love feast. Kentucky has gone along in the even tenor of its way and governed its.sport wisely. There ; has been no difference with either the governing body of Maryland or that of New York, , but there has been a lack of community interest that is to be deplored. There is no evidence - of these three centers being at odds with one another, but it must be admitted that the : relationship is not what it should be. No one particular racing center should be blamed for this lack of unity. It exists, and there has i never been a time when any real effort was ; made to bring all three together for the good I of all. Racing is bigger than any of the governing ; bodies, but it must be adequately governed to be bigger. The only way to keep it bigger is 3 to keep in mind that it has no horizon and, , while efforts are being made to more closely : bind together America with the foreign turf, , it would be well to be bound together more : closely at home. Racing of horses is the same the world I over. All rules are made with the same end 1 in view and fundamentaly all rules are the : same, just the same as the rules are the same : for any sport. It is not intended to criticize i i ; , : i ; , - : i ; I ; 3 , : , : I 1 : : the rules of any section, but there are Qther matters of common interest that should engage the attention of all those whose high office it is to enforce these rules. All petty jealousies must be buried in such a big sport. There must be no odious comparisons between the Kentucky Derby, the Prcakness and the Belmont, or the Lawrence Realization or any other of the big classics of the three big racing sections. Each must be the biggest in its section and all should work together to make each the biggest. There can be no reason for conflict of dates for the running of these great races. Concessions and sacrifices must be made for the good of all and only closer relationship of New York, Kentucky and Maryland can bring about such a millcnium. There never has been a better time for the big three of the American turf to come together and talk it over for the good of all. "One for all, and all for one," is the spirit that must prevail. In these days of vast thoroughbred produc- ion there is little occasion for special efforts to induce breeding, but there are races that have done a great good in introducing the thoroughbred horse into sections where there had been scant production. Canada built up its thoroughbred industry to a degree of exccl-t lence by its races for native-bred horses, and a great good is being done in Cuba by races of the same character. In Maryland there have been several races that were restricted to that state, Virginia, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania, and it accomplished a great good to the breeding interests. There is no reason for such races in either New York or Kentucky, for each state is well supplied with the breeding industry. But as a matter of fact Virginia is also will supplied, and the Maryland races have done the greatest good for Maryland and Pennsylvania. The races have a sporting appeal that counts for much, and it is the sporting appeal that is the best of a.l in racing. . There has been some opposition to the new rule of the Business Mens Racing Association at New Orleans in setting the scratch time iback to noon. Just why there should be op- position is hard to discover.. There must.be a scratch hour, but it would seem that noon is early enough to make known these withdrawals. That is long enough before post time, and the only valid excuse that can be offered for earlier scratching would be to facilitate the publishing of the scratches on the programs of that day, and even noon should be early enough for this publication. The hour for the closing of the entries is one of more importance than the hour for scratches. Almost everywhere, except New York, the entries are closed at 10 oclock in the forenoon of the day before the races. In New York the closing hour is 2 oclock. This is rather an antiquated rule and one that, as a matter of fact, robs the associations of much publicity of real value. An earlier closing of the entries would insure their publication in earlier evening editions of the newspapers and next to the chart itself there is no more valuable publicity for any race course than the entries. There is no reason why the New York entries should not be closed at 10 oclock in the forenoon as on other race courses, and Ihe association that will make such a track rule will find it tremendously popular. Horsemen would quickly fall into that new order, and it would work a real good in New York.
