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Here and There on the Turf Havre de Grace Outlook. Program Book Issued. Steeplechase Prospects. Ohio Situation. It will not be until the races move over ♦» Havre de Grace that a better line will be available on the new prop of two-year olds. There have been some speedy ones uncovered at the Southern Maryland Bowie meeting already, but it is admitted the best are being reserved for the later meetings. Havre de Grace will mark the first appearance of many that have been fitted in Maryland and at Benning, while it will also bring to the turf not a few of those that have spent the cold weather months in private quarters at one or another of the farms, or at one of the Long Island training grounds. There was some disappointment when S. C. Hildreth did not send a division of the Ran-cocas Stable to the Bowie meeting, as had been promised, but the colors will be shown at Havre de Grace. Several nominations have been made of the Sinclair juveniles for the Harford Association meeting and stable reservations have been made. Reports from the New Jersey farm suggest that the stable will again be a particularly strong one. It is well equipped with top notch three year olds and the new crop is, to say the least, decid?dly attractive. At Havre de Grace the Cosden Stable will make its first serious effort and already a big string is making ready at that track. Joseph McLennan has issued the program book for the first seven days of the meeting and it is one that is of great interest. It affords ample opportunity for the horses of each age division and there are three steeplechases to be decided during that time. The jumpers that are already on the grounds make certain there will be no lack of material from which to furnish the fields. Never has there been more interest in steeple chasing than this spring. It means the com jng of a number of carefully selected foreign jumpers and should they race to expectations they will cut a truly important figure in the cross country sport. This coming of the foreigners will offer the greatest interest in the early part of the season and many are of the opinion that the importations will keep the native jumpers exceedingly busy all through the racing season. From time to time the owners of steeplechase stables have complained of limited opportunities that have been accorded ste?ple chasers and frequently they have not shown a proper interest themselves when there were op,x rtunities. It would be well at this time if both the associations and the owners who will race horses through the field would work in closer harmony for the good of the sport. There are horses enough and to spare and should the owners show a becoming interest in what is offered, the associations will undoubtedly put on the races that are so popular with the racing crowds. It would lie possible to have some additional stplechas:* features added to the New York circuit, but that can only come by it being r-hown that the races through the field are an essential p.irt of racing entertainment. Mere ly as a spectacle, the cress country rates are of great value and the spectacle, after all, should be more important than anything else. What is wanted is more interest in the racing itself and the steeplechasing is racing that is well calculated to create that interest when it is properly conducted. The program book for the opening meeting at Jamaica gives the faithful something more to talk about until April 29. So much has already been said of the meetings prospects that little remains to be said, but the book is right up to the best traditions of the Metropolitan Jockey Club. As usual it is the Paumonok Handicap that is the big feature of the opening day. It was in the Paumonok that Zev began his brilliant career last year and its roster of winners, since its first running, in 1906, contains the names of numerous remarkable sprinters. While there have come disturbing rumors from Ohio this spring, it has been assured that there will be no interruption of the racing in that state. Joseph L. Murphy has received a letter from H. D. Shepard of the Capital City Association which conducts racing at Beuiah Park, Columbus, saying that there will be no interference with the sport. There are already 300 horses on the grounds for the meeting that is to open April 19. There will be some shipments from Bowie to the Ohio tracks and it is expected that the racing will be better than ever before. Everyone that comes back from Miami is a "booster" for the new racing ground. The latest is "Bob" Clifford. He has just returned from the Florida resort and gives glowing reports of the work that has already been accomplished in making ready for racing there.
