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NEAR HALF-WAY MARK Next Friday Second Lap of Fair Grounds Meeting Begins. Attendance Thus Far Below Expectations Comus Handicap of Great Promise. NEW ORLEANS, La., Jan. 27. With the running of next Thursdays program, at the Fair Grounds the half way mark of the meeting will have been reached. After that day the meeting of fifty-five days duration will enter upon its second lap. Unfortunately the attendance so far has fallen away below expectations, due mainly to the extraordinarily inclement weather. The class of racing witnessed, however, has on the whole been of good quality, and this despite the fact that track conditions have been anything but suitable, for high grade racing. Weather and track conditions for the remaining period of the meeting are expected to be more favorable, and these conditions should serve, not only to bring out an increased patronge, but also an improvement in the sport. The daily offerings of the present week are attractive and will serve to bring out good lields of some of the best horses in local training. Saturday will witness the running of the next weekly handicap, the Comus, a dash of three-quarters for which twenty-one of the best sprinters at the course have been named. The list comprises Cloughjordan, Sweepstakes, Moonraker, Exodus, Rinkey, Dr. Clark, Privilege, Revenge, Red Arrow, Last One, Centimeter, Brilliant Cast, Bradleys Toney, Barracuda, Best TaJJklah., Jong, Lorena MarcellTaV Second ThoughtsDelante, Certain and Lord Granite. Weights are to be announced Thursday. The delightful weather of Sunday morning attracted a big crowd of sightseers to the Fair Grounds to witness the training gallops of the horses, a total of two hundred and sixty thoroughbreds were out on the track during work hours for more or less hard gallops. The track, although not at its best, was in fairly good condition and if it continues to improve it ought to be fast for Mondays racing. OFFERS FOR STEr ALOXG. Following the sale Saturday of the fast two-year-old Barney Google to a Memphis sportsman by William Perkins, the latter was in receipt Sunday morning of a number of offers for the double winner Step Along, which Perkins is training for F. Grabner, the Cincinnati owner. Perkins, however, turned down all such offers, as they did not reach tho figure at which he is holding the colt. Barney Google is still in the Perkins barn, as his new owner will not take possession of him until Tuesday, when he will be turned over to W. IT. Fizcr to train. Trainer A. G. Blakely, whose invasion of Tijuana last winter proved eminently successful, and who had planned another trip to the Pacific coast track this winter, is undecided about his plans of shipping there and will wait until his stake candidates round into better form. Blakely made extensive stake entries at the Lower California track, but owing to the backward condition of his candidates will probably restrict his shipments to that racing point. These will be confined to Sue Donovan, a potential candidate for the Tijuana Derby; Blanc Seing, winner of the Tijuana Derby last winter, and a couple of two-year-olds. Blanc Seing is an eligible to the rich Coffroth Handicap, together with Olynthus, and it is possible that both these horses will be sent West to fill their engagements in this stake, whicli will be run March CO. Sweepstakes, Gold Pendant, Oui Oui, Certain, Commander and Rupee have been added to starter Hamiltons schooling list. Walter E., a two-year-old colt by Tea Caddy Polly 11., in the stable of A. G. Blakely, was gelded Sunday morning.
