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Here and There on the Turf Exterminators Greatness. Old Geldings Popularity. . Long Winter Meetings. Short Grass Sale. Although the lameness developed by Exterminator Friday is reported to be trifling, there is reason to fear that Willis Sharpe Kilmers eld champion is almost through with racing. Through his years of campaigning his sound underpinning was his best asset. When he finally went wrong last spring it was not expected that he would ever face the barrier again. A long rest and careful preparation made it possible for Henry McDaniel to send him to the post at Tijuana recently to a victory over a band of inferior horses. Although he won easily enough, there was nothing about his performance in that race to indicate that he is even close to the form that made him the long-distance champion of the United States for so many years. There is not a racegoer in the country who would not rejoice heartily if Exterminator could regain his wonderful form of a few years ago. The old Kilmer gelding has become an institution on the American turf and his every move possesses a claim to attention all its own. But Exterminator without his old-time speed and soundness might perhaps better be allowed to spend his declining days restfully cropping the green grass that covers the fields at Sun Briar Court. He has earned his laurels and right to life easy. A horse like Exterminator is a wonderful influence on racing. Since he is a gelding his exploits on the race course are th3 only means he has of keeping his memory green, but the old fellows remarkable record is likely to be remembered fully as long as Man o Wars. Man o War raced for two years and was retired to the stud. The exploits of his progeny may or may not keep his name alive. Exterminator began racing in 1915 and he was campaigned with only an occasional rest until last spring. During that time h3 won every long-distance feature of note that has been offered on an American course. The Kilmer gelding did not begin his career in the days of enormous values and his money winnings, though close to Man o Wars, are not nearly as great as they would have been had he been foaled seven or eight years later; but his name is enrolled on the roster of winners of all the great tests of stamina and quality on the American turf. Exterminator is a great horse in a sense that no other modern American thoroughbred can be. In the days of his glory he combined all of the attributes that make for thoroughbred greatness. With speed and stamina, he combined the heart of a lion and a fine hon-. esty of purpose that was almost human. He . was never a beautiful picture, his lanky frame was obviously built for service and not for the show ring, but no horse that ever raced attained a greater nor more justified popularity. The announcement of the Jefferson Park Fair Association that the abandonment of plans for a meeting at Mobile would not result in an extension of the last. New Orleans meeting of the winter season was decidedly wise. By the time March 17 rolls around New Oileans will have had plenty of racing for one winter and a longer meeting could have served no useful purpose. Ths tendency to extend the winter meetings beyond their reasonable length is not good for the sport. It has always been a question whether the length of these off-season meetings is not responsible for many of the evils, real and alleged, which accompany racing. The postponement of the Tanforan meeting indicates that the Tijuana management has decided to continue racing at the border course well into April. By that time most of the stables which possess horses of good class will have returned to Kentucky, Marjland, i New York or Canada and the sport will be confined to the stables that remain in the far West through the summer. Just the same, it would be much better for racing in general and for winter racing in particular if the off-season courses would close their gates before the regular racing year begins. The results of the Short Grass dispersal sale must have been a great disappointment to Emil Herz. There were a number of really high-class mares in the auction and the prices which they brought were not commensurate with their value. There were many factors no doubt in the j comparative failure of the auction. The post- I ponement, though fully justified by circuni- J stances, undoubtedly was a strong influence against success. The original date set for the I auction was February 22, a national holiday. It may be assumed that a great many people who did not find it possible to attend the sab when it was actually held would have been able to be present if the postponement had not been necessary. Mr. Herz action in withdrawing the farm itself from the auction when bids were not satisfactory leaves an excellent thoroughbred nursery still on the market. It is probable that there will be a number of good offers for the place before many days are past. Thsre is a strong demand for good land for breeding farms at present. A number of wealthy men have entered the thoroughbred breeding industry during recent months and many of them have not as yet acquired farms of their own. A number of these men, who at present have their stock in the care of some other breeder, will undoubtedly take the .earliest opportunity to acquire land of their own. The Short Grass Farm, which gained such glory in the old days under the name of Kingston Farm, is among the most desirable of the Blue Grass breeding places.
