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Here and There on the Turf Eligibles for Derby. Big Field Assured. The Get of Troutbeck. Training Season Near. In Sundays edition of Daily Racing Form there was published a list of the three-year- j i olds from which the field for the Kentucky j Derby cf this year will be chosen. The entries are not to close until February 15, but it is known that the list will be a particularly heavy one this year and the indications are that the field will be of record size on the day of the race. Last year there were twenty-one went to the post when the Rancocas Stables Zev was re- i turned the winner. This was a record number of starters, but there have been other years when the Kentucky Derby brought out a large company, and it has always attracted the best. Prior to the 1923 race the largest field in a dozen years was in 1920, when Paul Jones, under the silks of Ral Parr, the Maryland sportsman, was winner. On that occasion seventeen sported silks. Harry Payne Whitneys Regret, the only filly to ever win the famous old race, was opposed by fifteen others when she was winner in 1915, and there was a big field for the 1917 renewal when Billings and Johnsons Omar Khayyam was first of a field of fifteen. In 1921, when Edward Bradleys Behave Yourself and Black Servant were first and second, the field comprised an even dozen. It was a field of the same size when J. K. L. Ross gave that performance with his Sir Barton first "and Billy Kelly second. Benjamin Blocks Morvich, when he was winner in 1922, was one of ten that started. John Sanford bought George Smith for the Kentucky Derby and he won from eight starters in 1916. In 1918 Willis Sharpe Kilmers Exterminator was opposed by seven others, and when T. P. Hayes Donerail furnished one of the big surprises of the classic by his victory in 1913 it was a field of eight. H. C. Applegates Old Rosebud, the 1914 winner, and Worth, which won for H. C. Hallenbeck in 1912, were each in fields of seven. Thus it will be seen that for the past twelve runnings the smallest field has been one of seven. The fact that the Kentucky Derby admits the geldings and its great value, both monetary and sporting, gives it a strong appeal, and it will always be one of the greatest of the American classics. This winter,, particularly in Louisville, there never was more interest in the big race, and with the announcement of the entries there is sure to be much more interest. The published list contains the names of all the best two-year-olds that raced last year and, while many of them have already been entered, 80 per cent of the others have been promised by their trainers. Already there have been future wagers made on this great race and before long the winter books will be out with their quotations. Edward F. Whitneys swift-running two-year-cld filly Parmachenec Belle, by her Havana showing, should prove an excellent advertisement for the Edward. Cebrian stable sale, to be held at Lexington on January 22. This filly is a daughter of the imported stallion Troutbeck and Lucky Jackson. She won in runaway style her last time out and has been heralded as one of the smartest juveniles that hr.s been shown at the Cuban track this winter. But there are some Troutbeck three-yoar-clds that have great promise this season. Two cf these are Horgan, the son of Troutbeck and Apparition, and Starbeck, a son of Troutbeck and Istar and accordingly a half brother to Miss Star, the filly that raced so brilliantly for the Riviera Stable. Starbeck was only started once last year, when he was beaten a nose. He cost ,500 at the Saratoga sales of 1922 and his three-year-cld prospects were so bright last fall that Lowe refused an offer of 5,000 for him. This fellow probably will be one of the Kentucky Derby field, and if he races up to John Lowes estimate of his quality he had better be seriously considered. It will not be long now before the trainers begin to busy themselves for the new season of racing. Thare is plenty of shed work to be done when it is impossible to bring the horses into the open, and already some of the riders have been ordered to report to their contract stables. Fred Taral promises to make an early start with the horses of the Riviera Stable, and he has informed Clarence Turner and Harold Thomas, his two riders, to be on hand March 1. Down at Benning there is a big colony, and it is likely that the horses at the old District of Columbia grounds will be ready for the silks before those at the Long Island training grounds. Many of the Benning lot arc intended for an early start in Maryland, and the season opens there at the Bowie track on April 1. Then at the same old training groundthen: are a number of the steeplechasers that are being fitted. They too will undoubtedly start off with the Maryland season, though no stec-plechasing is had at Bowie.
