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Here and There on the Turf That Bad Hum Ride. Epinard and His Training. Police Fund Race. Big Events to Come. D. Hum came in for no end of criticism for his riding of Gifford A. Cochrans Spic and Span at Saratoga Monday. Mr. Cochran himself was so disgusted with the bad horsemanship of his jockey that he ordered him taken off the two-year-old Dangerous in the last race, to have Hastings substituted. There is no denying that Spic and Span ran much below the mud form he had displayed and his performance was inferior. But he was off badly. Hum came away from the post flogging his mount unmercifully and it is just possible that it was his idea of making up for the sluggish start, but Hum has been riding too long not to know that was an excellent way to ruin the chances of his mount. If all of this was done with a deliberate idea of "stopping" Spic and Span, Hum is lucky if he escapes with only the censure of his employer. Hum has never shown particularly as a rider and it may be that it was just stupidity and incompetence on his part that induced him to make such an exhibition. Hum must admit of utter incompetence and stupidity or he must accept the graver charge of a willful fraud. He may take his choice. All through the Saratoga training of Epinard Eugene Leigh has frcm time to time galloped the French champion over a different ground. He has been shown over the main track, has taken exercise at the Oklahoma training track and he has shown his spesd over the private training grounds of E. F. Simms, that adjoins the course of the Saratoga Association. The handsome chestnut has taken kindly to every change of scene and it is safe to assume that he will not find Belmont Park strange. As a matter of fact it was at Belmont Park that he had his first gallops in this country and it is the general opinion of those who have looked the invader over carefully that he is ready for the post at any time now. From the time that Epcnard was unloaded in this country there has been no talk of any possible complications in the way of his becoming acclimatized. One reason for this is that Epinard was more or less hard from his training in France. The horse that is hard and fit has less chance to suffer from a change of climatic conditions than the one that is soft and out of condition. That is the reason for Epinard showing the robust health that has been his ever since he was swung to the dock after his ccean voyage. There has been no interruption in the training program and, while many were disappointed Saturday when Epinard was not permitted to "step" for the edification of the crowd, there was good reason for his only being shown at .a walk. Leigh could not be expected to in any manner change his training schedub for the colt with his first big engagement at hand. It would have been something outside of the schedule to even canter the colt an eighth and accordingly it was not done. , Each year there is a thoroughbred contribution to the police fund games and it would be well if the horsemen would make that part of the entertainment this year a part of the program to be remembered. The charity is a worthy one, for the fund is to take car3 of the widows and orphans of police killed or disabled in the discharge of duty. The games this year will be held on September 6 at the Jamaica race track and the race that has been fashioned for three-year-olds and over, at a mile and seventy yards distance. It is under special weights and the entries are to close with Lieutenant Martin A. Noonan at 240 Centre street, New York City. There are various reasons why the Norsemen with suitable horses should mako entries in this race, which is for an appropriate trophy. In the first placs the charity is a most commendable one and in the second place the horsemen have always enjoyed and must still enjoy the reputation of being generous in all worthy charities. Another big reason is that these games will attract an immense throng, they always do, and it will give many a chance to see a real horse race. It will be doing a real thing for the further popularity of the turf and it is up to the horsemen to see to it that the race is a thorough and satisfying success. With the close of the Saratoga meeting and of the Chicago racing at Hawthorne almost at hand, interest turns to the fall racing season. There are many questions still to be decided in the racing that is nearly at hand, and it holds out better promise than ever fore. The three races in which Epinard is to appear mean much. Then he is also engaged in two of the Laurel stakes, while he will surely be seen elsewhere, should he prove himself in his contract engagements. The two-year-old supremacy is not yet settled. The Hopeful Stakes on Saturday may go a long way in settling that question, but the fact that Nicholas is ineligible is to be regretted. Mrs. Vanderbilts swift-running colt will always be considered best, by many of the good judges, until he is beaten by Sunny Man, American Hag or some other two-year-old that is more fortunate in having liberal racing engagements up to the end of the big meetings. " ,
