view raw text
Here and There on the Turf Return of Spot Cash. Exterminator Is Through. Senator Norris Beady. United Hunts Racing. When Spot Cash came out to win the Phila delphia Handicap at Havre de Grace Saturday he at once earned his way well up in the handicap division. Last year he was more or lees of a handicap star in Canada and it is likely that he will be raced over that circuit again this year. It was more than the mere fact that Spot Cash won that made his Philadelphia Handi cap victory a notable one. It was the difficulties he overcame in the running of the race and the game fashion in which he triumphed over such a seasoned and sterling performer as Hint Stone. Tte McMillan four-year old was by leng odds the best handicap horse at New Orleans and began his eastern campaign brilliantly when he won the Harford Handicap the opening day of the Havre de Grace meeting. He was just as fit as he could be made for the Philadelphia Handicap and ran one of the best races of his career, but he was outgamed right at the end by Spot Cash. On the first turn of that mile and a six teenth Spot Cash was a particularly abused horse. He ran out tlightly on the turn and old Exterminator, racing outside of him, leaned over against him until the little colt virtually carried the big gelding to the backstretch. In the racing down the backstretch Spot Cash did not seem to have the ghost of a chance, for he was last of the field. Then when he made his rush he was forced to go to the outside to find racing room. He made up his ground with great gameness and then in the last eighth had enough left to fight it out and beat Hint Stone. It has been seldom that Flint Stone has been beaten in a stretch battle, but it was accomplished by the Bos t wick colt and. considering the race from every angle, his was • truly impressive victory. The running of the Philadelphia Handicap taught another lesson and it was that honest old Exterminator is about through as far as the top class is concerned. The old racer, had he be?n the Exterminator of old. would have been at least fighting it out in the Philadelphia Handicap, but just at the time when it was exjiected that he would come on with his irresistible winning rush he collapsed and failed to take any share in the purse. It will not do to have this rare eld turf idol lose any of the fame that has come to him with his long years of brilliant endeavor by continuing to campaign him when it is clear that he is a mere shadow of himself. The old horse looks better than he has apprared in many a season. He is the same courageous horse he was when he battbd it out with the best that could be jutted against him. He has all the spirit of conquest of old. but he is worn out. No amount of training skill can bring back the youth that is gene and if ever there was a thoroughbred that had earned an honorable jicnsion it is the son of McGee and Fair Em prfgs. Exterminator must not be anything but a turf idol. He should not be raced facing certain defeat and should not have his marvel- ous record tarnished by any letting down in the clans of horses that he is called upon to meet. He should go first class or not at all. He could go on in a lower division for this year and possibly anothei. but it would be a crying shame if such was asked of him. Mr. Kilmer might retire this great gelding while he is still the turf idol. He will always I remain the idol in retirement and there will not be the chagrin of seeing this great horse disgraced when he should not be raced. Senator Norris created a decidedly favorable impression on the occasion of his first start of the year at Havre de Grace. It was a three-quarters dash and he was beaten by the four-year old Lord Granite, but he was giving a year and four pounds to the winner and Lord Granite, by his racing at Bowie, had been seasoned. What impressed in the Senator Norris race was the manner in which he finished out that three quarters sprint. He was racing gamely at the end after having been outrun and it was just such a race as to suggest ability to race over the mile and an eighth distance of the Preakness Stakes, the first big goal that Bed well has in view. While on this race it is well to offer an excuse for H. P. Whitneys Swingalong. This colt was the victim of a severe handicap in the running of the race when he was kept next to the inner rail throughout. On the backstretch it was Shuffle Along that had him pinned against the rail and through the homestretch he continued to race along a route that was deep and holding. The race must not be counted against Swing-along, for he ran a fine race, though he was only able to be third at the end. It is probable that the running of the Chesapeake Stakes a week from Wednesday will af ford a better line on the Preakness Stakes eligibles than has been had up to this time. This is a mile and a sixteenth for th? three-year olds and in the eligible list there are found i the names of many of the candidates for the 0,000 race of the Maryland Jockey Club, to be decided at Pimlico on May 12. Only a few more days remain before the thoroughbreds will be seen in action again in New York. Belmont Park will throw open its gates on Saturday for the meeting of the United Hunts Association and it is assured that the sport will be attractive. Many of the best stables have promised starters in the various races that will be offered and all that is required is bright weather to make certain th? most successful meeting ever recorded by the association. The United Hunts Association year after year has had to make up a deficit. but it has steadfastly gone on with its meetings and with a true sporting spirit has ever striven to make each meeting better than the one before. Now there seems to be a promise that this fine sportsmanship may in a measure be re- warded, for it is confidently expected that the coming meeting will at least pay its way.
