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: ; I ; , | : : BELMONrS STEEPLECHASES ♦ Five Cross-Country Stakes Recently Closed Attract Good List. ♦ Healthy Increase Over Last Tear Shown by Returns for Jumping Fixtures of 1924 Meeting. • NEW YOPvK, N. Y.. April 2— The five steeplechase fixtures of the Westchester Racing Association, which closed on March 24, received a bountiful entry with a generous i increase in each event over last years j I figures. The total of 327 for the five races as j j against 2S2 last year warrants the belief that the cross-country sport at Belmont Iark the coming year will be as good as that of i I any previous year that can be recalled. I The presence of so many new names among j the nominators is an indication of the widespread I interest that is being taken in crosscountry sport. Most of those who joined in the syndicate to purchase foreign jumpers last year have been generous in their entries i for the Westchester features and the presence of these imported horses will give an international flavor to the sport that will make for the popularity of steeplechasing in j this country- I Among the new owners whose colors will , he seen in the 0,000 Brook Handicap Steeplechase, the 0,000 Charles L. Appleton i Memorial Cup Steeplechase and other races at the Newmarket of America are Mrs. W. K. Yanderbilt, J. Temple Gwathmey. Audley Farm, H. B. Strassburger. W. J. Salmon, A. j C. Bostwick. Somerset Stable. Walter M. Jeffords. John IfcB. Bowman. W. It. Coe. Frederick Johnson. Salubna Stable. William A. Read, Bayard Warren. Leona Farm. Mid-dleneck Farm. Robert L. Gerry and Mrs. Herbert L. Pratt. Mr. Gwathmey was ence a power in the steeplechase world, but has raced nothing in the last couple of seasons. Audley Farm, under which B. B. and Mont-fort Jones race on the flat, while the Salu-bria Stable is the nom de course of Rear Admiral Cary T. Grayson. William A. Read is the clever young British horseman who races in partnership with Major Frank A. AYhite. Mr. Read is the largest nominator with a list of thirty-seven good horses engaged. The Greentree Stable comes second witli thirty, followed by J. EL Widener with twenty -six ; It. B. Strassburger, twenty- CoutinueU ou second page. BELMONTC STEEPLECHASES Continned from first pare. three ; W. J. Salmon, twenty-two ; J. S. Cosden. twenty; Queen City Stable, eighteen; Middleneck Farm, eighteen ; Somerset Stable, eleven; L Waterbury, ten: Glen Riddle Stable, nine, and Oak Ridge Stable, eight. There is said to be many tine jumpers among the importations, especially those lK/tight by the well-known rider and trainer, R. H. Crawford for the Qaaaa ity Stable, the half-dozen secured by McCreery, for the Middleneck Stable, and tiiose brought over by Messrs. Read. Strassburger and Bostwick. That they will have their work cut out for them to lower the colors of such old favorites a.- Duettiste. Sweepment. Sea Tale. l an IV., Bullseye. Damask. Ix-tterman. Houdini and Brigadier General, whose qualities have been tested on many a hard fought field is the contention of the experts. Bar Hold, the erstwhile companion of Papyrus, is another foreigner of which much is expected by the Somerset Stable this year la the rac» s through the field. Conspicuous among the newcomers bred in this country that should do well this year are Cherry Pie. Broomster. Mark Twain, lurity, Autumn Bells and Ilea, all of which have pretty good records on the flat. Cherry Pie is the holder of the track record for ;i mile at Belmont Park, having been* timed in 1 :u5t5 on September 3rd of last year. Broomster is a winner of class, while the others named have good performances to their credit, especially Ilea, which wan thought one of the most promising three-year-olds of the seast n of 1!«22. when he was only beaten a short head b Pillory for the Preakness Stakes. He went wrong and was put to jumping. Being of the right t pe he should succeed over the jumps. Ab he is by Sea King, lie is bred right, as the get of that horse, like those by Iluon, take to the cross-country game naturally. All but the Brook Handicap Steeplechase, will be run during the spring session. The Charles I.. Applcto:i M -mo:ial Cup and the Brook both received a very high-class entry, but the autumn classic, as was to be expected, tops the spring event slightly. This is largt ly due to the fact that a number of horses will not be thoroughly acclimatized and trainers will not want to hurry them in their engagements. Sufficient good material, however, is available in both races to make them corking conttsts. worthy ol the sporting spirit which brought them into being. The comparative table of the stakes and the entries follows: Stake. 1923. 1*24. Charles L. Appleton Memorial Cup. 58 61 Grand National 3J i :i International Steeplechase 60 71 Mcadowbrook Seeplechasc r ,1 57 The Bruok Handicap Steeple -base. 72 k5 Totals 2*2 327
