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Here and There on the Turf Tea Caddys Success. Two Steps Foal. Hawthorne Plans. The "Scratch" Nuisance. It is interesting to know that William Sheas Tea Caddy is making good so adequately in the stud. This richly bred stallion has only enjoyed limited opportunities but already this year it is intimated that two of his progeny in Kentucy may develop into champions. One of thess is a highly tried filly by Tea Caddy High Stake? and the other is a two-year old in the stable of John Ward. The work of the youngsters has been sensational and should they race to private promise, the fame of Tea Caddy will be established. When Montfort Jones paid 1,000 for Two Step at the Lord Manton sale he acquired a remarkable matron for the American breeding industry. The mare now has at her side, a fine filly foal by The Crusader at the Audley Farm and E. H. Garrison has pronounced her a truly remarkable one, even at this tender age. It is a big price to pay for a brood mare, but well within reason should Two Step measure up to expectations. The good that such blood may do for the American strains can hardly be overestimated and it is cheering to know that the mare has foaled safely. The Audley Farm is sure to bring an increased importance to old Virginia as a thoroughbred state. It has always been the home of the thoroughbred horse and has sent many a champion to the races, but seldom has there been a breeding establishment there of the importance of the Audley Farm of Montfort and B. B. Jones. While the management of the coming Hawthorne meeting is not yet ready for a formal announcement of its plans and dates, it is known that it will adopt policies for the convenience and protection of the public and horsemen alike, which might well be copied by other racing associations. The greatest trouble horsemen have now is to obtain and keep competent help. The Hawthorne management believes it can aid the horsemen by making living conditions for the men better. In its contract with the Richelieu Catering Company, which will have all privileges, it has stipulated that clean, high class food shall be provided the help at ten dollars a week. These men will be fed at the stand in a separate dining hall, screened and clean and the food will be cooked by the track chefs. The sanitary conditions around the stables and sleeping quartr-rs also will be made first class. Another innovation at the Hawthorn* meeting will be an extension of the rule that governs selling races, that no two horses in th» same interest can start in overnight handicaps and condition races. The rule will have the saving clause that an owner may enter two horses, one of which must start if the field falls below eight, but only one may start under any conditions. The scratch time also will be extended in such races to forty five minutes before the race. This will enable owners to enter both mud and dry track horses and start the one beet fitted by conditions. It will stop all talk of "herding" of horses in races and will also reduce to a minimum the practice of "qualifying" with one of an entry. The man agement believes that the time to qualify is in the morning and not for the edification of the public in the afternoon. The management also will compel satisfactory proof that two-year-olds have been properly schooled before an entry will b; accepted. There is no excuse for a horse not having i been schooled by July 1, and this will avoid ! the danger of a green colt wheeling and i forcing a well schooled horse out with him. With the entrance and declaration fees abol ished in overnight races the expenses of horse- men will be considerably reduced and th? rule compelling owners to start, when the field falls below eight, unless there is some good excuse for scratching a horse, should work no hardship. It too often happens in the East that a field j of high class horses is carded and a crowd of unusual size pays at the gate to see this field race, only to find it scratched to pieces or the race off entirely. It is presumed that horses are ready when they are entered. If : they are lame or sick, or if track conditions change sharply, the public will make allowance for scratches, but if horses are fit and well they should be made to run. If an all-star cast of Ethel Barrymore, Julia Marlowe, John Barrymore, Jane Cowl and others were programmed in a theater and the I public found after it had paid a fancy price at the box office that all but John Barrymore had been "scratched," there would be a riot.l Still, the same thing occurs almost daily on New York tracks. ■
