view raw text
Here and There on the Turf Belmont Parks Opening. Showing Black Gold. Chacolet Going East. Poor Weather at Downs. It is a big day in New York. The West Chester Racing Association •will throw open beautiful Belmont Park for its spring meeting and to many that means the real opening of the New York turf year. The Metropolitan Jockey Club, with its excellent meeting at Jamaica, always raises the curtain on a new racing season auspiciously and year after year better horses are made ready for the meeting there, but to many of the trainers it is principally looked upon as a dress rehearsal for the racing at Belmont Park. The Metropolitan Handicap, with its wealth of tradition, will always be a coveted race of the season and there is an honor in taking that prize that gives a horse fame. In its roster of winners may be found some of the greatest horses of their day and it is a mile dash that often points the way to the Suburban Handicap and the Brooklyn Handicap. When the Westchester Racing Association had its racing ground at Morris Park, in the Bronx, the opening of the meeting thsre was ever the occasion for a gathering of the elite of the turf and the beautiful lawns and stands of that famous old course presented many a picture of beautiful women that could not be found at any other race course. When the Westchester Association was crowded out of the Bronx and Morris Pari a move was made to the present big Nassau County course. That is the reason for an association known as the Westchester being so far removed from the county from which it took its name. Now Morris Park has been obliterated by the growth of the Bronx and where the thoroughbreds were cheered to victory by fair women and brave men may be found a densely populated district with streets cut through the grand old property and teeming with those who possibly never heard of Irish Lad, Gunfire, Arsenal, Banastar, Ethelbert. Voter, Counter Tenor ox any of the other Metropolitan winners. But Morris Park will always be a green memory of the turf and the Metropolitan Handicap ever one of its great races. John Ireland did a big stroke of business for Maple Heights when he obtained a promise that Black Gold would be sent to the Ohio track to start in the ,000 Derby there. The son of Black Toney and Useeit for the time being at least is the most notable thoroughbred of the American turf. His victory in the Kentucky Derby was a brilliantly earned one. And when it is considered way back on March 17 he was winner of the Louisiana Derby at Jefferson Park, it makes the per formance doubly remarkabl?. Harry Webb kept the colt in condition over a long period of time for this most coveted of Kentucky races and his race last Saturday was one to suggest that he will keep on a razor edge for some time to come. To have such a colt appear at Maple Heights gives that track an importance that ought to work for its good. It is well that the turf stars should be shown in as many different sections of the country as is possible. They do a great mission ary work in better presenting the sport to the public. They stand for what is best in racing and will always bring out many who might not otherwise ever have a real conception of the greatest of all sports. Mrs. Hoots and Harry Webb are to be commended for the determination to show the great colt at the Maple Heights meeting. John S. Ward is not the only Kentuckian who will try for the New York stakes this year. Hal Price Headley has decided that his good imported mare Chacolet will be a starter in the Suburban Handicap. No mis take was made when Chacolet was sent to Pimlico the first week in May to keep her engagement in the 5,000 Dixie Handicap of the Maryland Jockey Club at Pimlico. She carried off that race and back of her finished a band that left no doubt of her eligibility to go after the best of the longer distance races offered in any section or in any country. Undoubtedly the East will see Chacolet on various occasions during the year, for there are many of these considerable distance handi caps and cups that should be much to her liking. New York is quick to give homage to a good horse and should Mr. Headleys mare go through the campaign in the form that was hers in the Dixie Handicap she would surely become as prime a favorite as one that bore the colors of one or other of the New York turfmen. The turf has no horizon. It is a notable entry list that is named for the mile and a quarter of the Grainger Handicap, to be decided at Churchill Downs Sat urday, and it is devoutly hoped that weather and track conditions will bs as favorable for that race as it was for the decision of the Kentucky Derby last Saturday. Churchill Downs has been seriously handicapped all through the present meeting by almost unpre- cedented bad weather and the consequent bad track condition, but in the natural course of events there may be no more rain left in the bag and the sun will shine Saturday. At this time it appears that the Grainger Handicap will bs strictly a home affair. It is not expected that the New York eligibles will put in an appearance, though several of them are on the eligible list. Two in the field that should go exceedingly well, taking a line through the Derby, are Chilhowee and Alta-wood. Chilhowee is in under 107 pounds and Altawood has been handicapped at 104 pounds. Both of these se?m to have a great chance with the older horses. Many good judges pronounced Altawood the real hero of the Derby when he closed an immense gap to finish fourth and that same race would indicate that Chilhowee will have his hands full in conceding the son of Master Robert and Crestwood Girl four pounds;
