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Here and There on the Turf A Big Turf Week. American Eacing Features. Epinards Coming Visit. The week of May 11, that is this week, is a bit remarkable on the turf for the reason that three of the oldest great stake races will have been decided with the running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. These are the Preakness Stakes, run at Pimlico Monday, while on Saturday, in addition to the Derby, Canada has its oldest stake race in the renewal of the Kings Plate at the Woodbine Park course in Toronto, This Kings Plate, formerly known as the Queens Plate, is the oldest turf fixture on this continent and it was first run in 186Q. It was known as the Queens Plat* until the death of Queen Victoria and has since been known as the Kings Plate, The fact that it is restricted to Canadian owned and bred horses does not give it the racing importance of either the Preakness Stakes or the Kentucky Derby, but no stake on this side has a greater sporting importance. The Preakness Stakes is the successor of the Dinner Party Stakes and it derives its name from the Dinner Party winner, Preakness, that raced for M H. Sanford. It was first run as the Preakness Stakes in 1873 and this antedates the Kentucky Derby by two years. The big Churchill Downs race wa3 first run in 1875, when it was won by Aristides, and it has been renewed annually since that time. The fact that it has had no interruption gives it a proud place among all the big races, for the PreaknesB Stakes underwent many changes and there were lapses in its history. The Belmont Stakes, which is to be run at Belmont Park on June 7, is older than either the Preakness Stakes or the Kentucky Derby, for it was first run in 1867, when it was won by Ruthless, but there was a lapse in its history when there was no racing over the tracks of the Jockey Club in 1911 and 1912 by reason of adverse legislation. These famous old stakes will always mean much to racing. They are races that demand all that is best in the horse and they have a sporting value that induces the breeding of the best. Tew races have a like incentive and few races bave brought as many of the best type of sportsmen to racing. Men bave strived earnestly for a lifetime to win one or other of these great races and fortunes have been spent in the endeavor. They are races that have been responsible for the importation of the best blood that could be obtained in foreign markets. They are races that have induced the establishment of elaborate breeding establishments and they are races that have done marvels in the industry of those who breed the best for the market. It is natural that the sportsman of means has an added thrill when one of his own breeding is the winner. That is what counts for more than anything else, but the prospective breeder who can produce a promising candidate for the Preaknes6 Stakes, Kentucky Derby or the Belmont Stakes can demand almost any price for the foal-In these days of fabulous added money it is well that the big values should be put on the old stake races. Each has now grown to i a financial importance in keeping with its i sporting importance and it becomes well worth ones while to breed or purchase a possible i winner. There have been several other important fixtures come to life during the period [ that these great races have endured and they have their importance, but there is a glamor about the old ones that can never be ap proached by the more modern races until they i attain a more venerable age. While the spring holds out these rare turf treats the big thing for the fall racing will be the coming of Pierre Wertheimers Epinard to this country for his races at Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Latonia. The coming of Papy- ; rus and his race against Zev at Belmont Park I made the 1923 campaign long to be remem- ■ bered, but Epinards visit is of still greater j importance. The French champion is to race! three-quarters at Belmont Park, a mile at j | Aqueduct and a mile and a quarter at Latonia. Ever since it was assured that Epinard would come there has been much speculation as to just where suitable opponents could be found for his entertainment. Zev, of course, was first considered, but Zev was beaten in the Excelsior Handicap and, while he was in no manner disgraced, his stock would have been more highly considered if he had carried his 133 pounds to a victory. Then there was Cha-colet, Hal Price Headleys good mare that i was the winner of the Dixie Handicap at Pimlico. She was looked upon as a possibility in the mile and a quarter at Latonia, but Cha- j eolet was beaten in the Clark Handicap at I Churchill Downs Saturday. In Memoriam for the time being is out of training by reason of an accident, but he has j plenty of time to come back in form to meet I Epinard. St. James loomed big as a three-year-old I opponent for the distinguished French visitor, j but it may be he will never race again. | Sarazen, on his brilliant racing of last year, seemed one of the logical choices for the , three-quarters race at Belmont Park, but he I has failed so far this year. Thus it is that the list of natural contenders against the visitor has been narrowed, but there is plenty of time before Eugene Leigh arrives with his charge for developments that will offer Epinard worthy battle.
