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Here and There on the Turf Bowies Postponement. Handicap to Trainers. Bedwells Derby Candidates, the 1924 Juveniles. While it was natural there should be bitter disappointment at the necessity of having to declare the opening day of the Bowie meeting off twice, by reason of stress of weather, the Southern Maryland Association did the right thing. It would have been possible to race, but it was not policy to race. Hors?s have gone through worse weather and over going that was much worse than that at - Bowie Tuesday and Wednesday, but it was a weather condition that, aside from being decidedly uncomfortable, brought danger to the conduct of the racing. The snow was blinding and there was danger that accidents might come out of the sport. In the old days of Guttenberg it would not have been considered a bad day for racing. That is to say there was nothing to prevent the running off of a program. But Guttenberg was the chief reason for the stopping of racing in the state of New Jersey. James F. OHara antl his associates are to be congratulated on their decision to defer the opening of their meeting untii conditions were auspicious. The snowstorm was the second that has caused a postponement of racing at Bowie, but it served to demonstrate the tremendous popularity of the sport in Maryland. The crowd that was on hand to make the stormy journey to the track told of how eager patrons of racing are for the return who were bitterly disappointed at not having a chance to see the horses in action again, and they thought nothing of the weather when it mrant the return of racing. There is no other sport that has a like appeal and just as long as it has that appeal there should be no fear for the future of the American turf. This same storm, coming when it did, was another and rather a serious menace to the trainers who did not race their charges through the winter months. They had suffered some inconvenience by reason of recent bad weather just when they most desired tightening up of their horses. They have needed possibly just one more real good week to bring them to first class racing condition. Then along came the bad weather and the following track condition that made trials impossible. This same condition did not affect the winter campaigners in the same way, for they really needed the enforced rest. They had been raced into seasoned erudition, and to layoff fur a day or two might readily give them a rest that would be beneficial. Just what effect all of it will have will be fhown in the early days of the Bowie meeting. The conditions have by no means halted training operations and some of the horses have gone along at a surprisingly good pace considering the conditions. This is particularly true of H. G. Bedwells Senator Norris. lie is at Pimlico, and he worked I mil? in 1 :46 before the court* of the Maryland Jockey Club became entirely snowbound. It was a decidedly impressive move and right in line with what the good eon of Cudgel and Cypher Code has been showing in his preparation. Bet! well has not been hurrying his star, but he is at this time well advanced and it is a long time since Maryland had a candidate for the Prcakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby that has attracted a like amount of attention. Should he continue to train as he has already, he will beyond question be a truly important factor in the rich races to which he is eligible. He has all the ways of a long route traveler and at the same time is a colt of extreme speed. He has grown and improved since he went into retirement last fall and good judges are beginning to take him seriously in the two big 0,000 races for which he is b?ing pointed by Bedwell. The present plan is that Senator Norris will start in the Chesapeake Stakes at Havre de Grace, and it is unlikely that he will be s?en in public before that time. Th? Chesapeake Stakes come at a time when it affords a goo« line on Preakness Stakes candidates and should Senator Norris give a good account of himsell in that race it will further increase his im portance in any censideration of his chances in the greater races. When racing swings over to Havre de Grace, at the close of the present Bowie meeting, many of the horses that have trained on Long Island will make their first racing ap pearance of the year. By that time weather will have become more settled and at the same time the horses will be further advanced in their preparation. Woods Garth will have a division of the big J. S. Cosden stiing at Bowie, but the main division will not be seen at the races until the later meetings, and some of them ar? be in» reserved for what is to be offered at Pimlico. William Garth, head of the Garth clan, has come from Virgin! with thirty horses that he has quartered at Pimlico, and the chief in terest is in this branch of the stable. The genial "Uncle Billy" brought his horses in during the snowstorm of Tuesday, but they all shipped well and are a distinguished looking band. They showed a d:al of exercise before they left the farm and it is a sure thing they will bring new fame to the silk. While it will be some time before a good line can be had on the new two-year olds, it seems now that the 1924 crop will be a thoroughly good one. The winter racing did not produce any outstanding two year-old development, as is often the case, but the young thoroughbreds that have been preparing for racing at the various training grounds are rich in promise. As a general proposition the youngsters are of goodly size and have shown well in their training. Naturally a racing line will not be available for a considerable time, but as far as looks and general condition are concerned, there are many individuals that have all the looks of embryo champions. Garth has a truly good looking band that are to bear the silks of J. S. Cosden. and the Harry Payne Whitney two year olds that have been trained at Benning by Fred Hopkins have attracted a deal of attention. It will take actual racing to give a line and the best will not be uncovered for some time yet, but enough has been shown to warrant the prediction that th2 two year old races will not lack in interest, and before August it is a sure thing that some really good ones will be in action.
