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Here and There on the Turf Defeat of Epinard. Weight the Leveller. Belmonts Opening. Claiming Race Vigilance. It was naturally a bit of a surprise in this country when the news came of the defeat of Pierre Wertheimero Epinard by Jefferson Davis Cohns Sir Gallahad ILL at St. Cloud. So much has b?en written of Epinard and he ac complished so much last year that many of the Americans doubted if we could find adequate defenders of the American turf when he was brought to this country for his fall engagements at Belmont Park, Aqueduct and La tonia. Then there were not a few Americans who had seen Epinard in some of his races last year and to a man they proclaimed him as a truly remarkable champion. One excellent judge said recently that after what he had seen Epinard do he was convinced that when he was through winning his three races on this side of the Atlantic tha only question would be whether or not he was a better colt than Man o War and that is the best that can be said of any thoroughbred. But reports of the match with Sir Gallahad III. that have reached this country thus far intimate that Epinard ran a wonderful race, considering the weight he conceded Mr. Cohns colt, and it is also suggested that Frank ONei! in his long years of riding on the French turf has outgeneraled many another jockey and it might also be said on behalf of Haynes that it was only recently he recovered from an illness that kept him out of the saddle for a considerable time. All of this will come out when more detailed accounts of the St. Cloud match are received in this country, but it will not do to pass up Epinard at this time or suggest that he is not every inch a champion. Weight is a great leveler and it can bring the best horse down, while Sir Gallahad HI. himself has just about demonstrated that he has all that is desired in a champion. The St. Cloud race should in no manner affect the interest in the coming of Epinard to America, but it demonstrated that he can be beaten and it will hearten some of the American trainers to have a try against him in one of the three contract engagements. On Thursday the gates of beautiful Belmont Park will be thrown open for the spring meeting of the Westchester Racing Association and it is always a big day on the New York racing calendar. The big event is the mile dash of the Metropolitan Handicap and it has ever been one of the most important of early stakes. It is a race that is particularly rich in tradition and in its long roster of winners can be found the names of many a turf champion. Its running at Belmont Park in 1905 will never be forgotten, for it was then that Race King, a four year old under the feather of 97 pounds, ran James R. Keenes great three year old Pysonby, carrying 107 pounds, to a dead heat. A year and ten pounds was what Sysonby attempted to give a seasoned horse and the son of Mellon and Optime was making his first appearance of the year. It proved too much for the Keene champion, though he was capable of taking up much more of a handicap when he had become seasoned. Mad Hatter, the temperamental old son of Fair Play and Madcap, is the only horse to have won the Metropolitan twice and the old fellow promises to be one of the field again this year. In both 1921 and 1922 Mad Hatter won, carrying 127 pounds in his first victory and 129 in his second. This year he has been handicapped with 127 pounds and has already shown that he is this year a dangerous horse under any burden. Grey Lag, another from the Rancocas Stable, has the distinction of carrying the greatest weight to victory when, under 133 pounds, he was first home last year. Thus the Rancocas Stable has won the Metropolitan three times in a row and Earl Sande has had the winning mount on each occasion. Hildreth will make a hard try to make it four in a row and has a powerful string with which to go after the money and honor. Grey Lag is at the top with 135 pounds, but the grand old son of Star Shoot and Miss Minnie has retired to the stud and his racing days are over. Then comes Zev, the greatest money winner in American history, and his burden is 130 pounds, just three pounds more than Mad Hatter is asked to shoulder. George D. Wideners St. James tops the three-year-olds with 117 as his assignment, but he has been sent to Mr. Wideners farm and that gives John Wards Wise Counsellor the post of honor among the three-year-olds with 115 pounds. Sarazen is next under 114, but he is another that will not start, and then the handicap drops down to Mad Play, another Rancocas eligible, with 111 pounds. In the light of his recent performance it is doubtful if Wise Counsellor will be sent to the post and it would not be surprising if Rancocas horses topped the handicap in each age division at post time. Recent action of the stewards at Churchill Downs in claiming races is to be commended. Though the selling plater races have been pretty thoroughly purged of evil practices by the rules that have been adopted, there have been some abuses and these are being carefully guarded against by the stewards. Owners who are guilty of entering horses merely for the purpose of making a claim and, when this is definitely determined, will find no bine of endeavor for the horse, he will be barred from starting. Then charges of intimidation are carefully looked into, as was evidenced recently when a trainer was fined 50 for making a false charge. Altogether the stewards at Churchill Downs are showing a wide awake vigilance that makes for the best racing.
