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Here and There on the Turf The Paumonok Weights. United Hunts Sport. Antiquity of Lexington. Nautical and His Chance. It was to be expected that the Rancocas Stables Zev would be top weight in the Pau monok Handicap. It is the big event for the opening of the regular New York racing season at Jamaica Tuesday and the son of The Finn and Miss Kearney has been required to take up 130 pounds for the three quarters journey. This is a greater weight than has ever been carried to victory in the races, but Zer, by his deeds last year, seems to have earned the high honor. Flags, in 1919, and On Watch, in 1921, each won under 126 pounds, and Tryster was the winner in 1922 under a burden of 125 pound*. These are the high weights that have been successfully carried in the Paumonok. It was in the Paumonok last year that Zev began his sensational triumphal march to the top and HUdretb has decided to give him the same start this year. Now a four year old, the fleet footed brown colt will have to confine most of ihis activities to the handicaps and to begin under 130 pounds means that he will always have to shoulder a big burden, but at that he was not as harshly treated as was Epinmrd in the first of the English handicaps. The Paumonok is only a three-quarters sprint, while the Lincolnshire in England is a race at a mile, for which the French champion was assigned ten pounds more than Zev when his weight was fixed at 140 pounds. That is i something of a line on the English estimate of Epinard and Mr. Vosburghs estimate of Zev. Sarazen is placet! at the top of the three-year-olds in the Paumonok. and with a burden of 115 pounds he is asked to give St. Jame-three pounds. Happy Thoughts is in under 10S pounds and at that weight concedes a pound in actual weight to Bracadala and two each to the three year olds, Time Exposure and Peter King. Of course it nro*t always be remembered the Paumonok is only a short dash and the weights would certainly show many changes over a mile or a longer distance. When Zev was the winner last year he shouldered 109 pounds and that was considered a considerable weight for a three year old. Zev beat a fast baud and it does not seem that the unb?aten Sarazen has been asked to take up more weight than he has earned. The manner in which Max Hindi has been training Sarazen at Belmont Park suggests that he Ls tit and ready for his engagement in the Paumonok Tuesday, and it is likely that he will be the public choice for the race. I Figuring from the scale Mr. Vosburgh estimates | Zev as one pound better than the thre?-year old gelding ever the three quarters and i-hould both go to the post it ought to result in a rare battle. In the history of the Paumonok, since its first decision in 1906 only one horse, Red River, was tiwee winner. He scored in 1907 I j and in 1908. I I But the faithful will not have to wait until Tuesday to see the New York racinj. On i I | I j I I Saturday at beautiful Belmont Park, the United] Hunts will stage its racing and the program is one that cannot fad to bring about rare entertainment. Six races are promised and four of them are on the flat. The races through the field are the International Subscription Steeple- chase at two miles and a second cross country race for four-year-olds and over, over a course of a like distance. A marked change from the old programs! of the United Hunts where fast racing was only a side line to the steeplechasing. Entries have already been received, more than pleasing to Mr. Bowman and his associates and it is the promise that the fields will be larger than has been the usual rule at the Hunt Club race meetings. Mr. Bowman let it be known that what was wanted was starters, not complimentary entries, and with favorable weather and track conditions, he will have the starters. And while New York is all set for the opening of its big season Lexington is ready to begin the Kentucky season. The Lexington meeting will open Saturday. Already the old course is well filled up with horses fit and ready for the opening program. While on the question of the Lexington open-j ing it might be said that the Kentucky Association conducted racing at Lexington way back in 1827 and it was one of the most venerable racing grounds in the country. The Civil War was all that brought about an interruption in the sport and Lexington was the real home of the thoroughbred horse. Ixmisville was the scene of racing in the "thirties," but it was antedated by Lexington. And it also must be remembered that there was a lapse in the Louisville racing until it was brought back in 1874. J. S. Oosdrns Nautical is one of the improved three year-olds and it is entirely pos sible that he will be right up in the first flight. "Uncle Billy" Garth had the son of Sea King and Bambi well advanced in his preparation before he was shipped from the farm and he has been going along exceedingly well since that time. It is the Preakness Stakes that will be the first big stake engagement for this good colt and only an accident can keep him away from the post. He did not show anything sensational last year, but has developed and improved to such an extent through the winter that it is not at all extravagant to predict that he may keep the beet of them exceedingly busy all through the racing year. Nautical is lib -j erally engaged and will not be lacking in op -portunity should he race to expectations.
