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STEEPLECHASE PROSPECTS «, Importations of Last Fall Promise Boom for Jumping This Year. * • Cross-Country Rates at IlaTrc de Grace a Good Index to Better Sport Yet to Come. • ■ Stceplechasing seems at last to have gained the prominence which it so justly deserves as a factor in American racing. The struggle for this recognition has heen a long one, with many discouragements, but those at the head of affairs have been as untiring as they have been earnest, and the hoped for success is now assured. This prediction is based on a careful survey of all conditions and it will be made-evident within the next few days. The stakes that have closed for the several meetings, the sponsors of which have been sincere in their help to build up, show an interest beyond all expectations. At several of the tracks where steeplechase stakes are offered the increase in the number of entries is really startling over the records of previous years. None has failed in this respect. At Havre de Grace. where at one time it was intended to give up this branch of racing, the overnight steeplechases have shown a flattering improvement, both in the number of starters and the merit of those competing. While the international steeplechase subscription which was arranged and carried through last autumn by a committee of which Joseph K. Davis was chairman played an important part in the movement, bringing to this country from Kngland, Ireland and France thirty-one made jumpers, individual importations have more than doubled this number. In the latter division are many tried performers rated high in their respective countries. The amount of money invested to bring over those that will be seen i in action at the local courses exceeds many times the investment for jumpers of foreign i breeding in the last five years. With this providing of material comes a most important demand for the completion i of the success and this means the-filling of a really serious gap, the dearth of capable riders. For several years practical turfmen have been seeking a way to remedy this condition 1 and the need of a remedy is now more urgent. Many plans have been suggested and considered. From J. B. Widener, one of the most interested arid thorough of this branch of racing, comes a suggestion that is certainly worth trying. It is that owners and 1 trainers bring from England some of the many capable exercising lads that are so , abundant over there. While they cannot be classed as finished 1 riders, they are finished horsemen, due to 1 the fact that they have been trained to i their work under the care of men that know the jumping branch in all its phases. They are taught from the start of their career to take care of their horse, to bring him to a jump as he should be brought and to remember that the races are long — not sprints. This means a lot, a value that seems to justify the experiment of bringing them over and giving them a chance to ride races. Mr. Widener has seen a lot of steeplechas-ing both in England and France and is most I capable of judging what means merit in the handling of a horse through the field. Trainers can make riders of American lads, but it takes time. To have the made material quickly appeals to the practical horseman. • . A . ,
