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Here and There on the Turf Better Team Work Needed. Sarazen and Nicholas. Stakes at Laurel. New Orleans Prospects. Hacing at Saratoga has suffered from some severe weather handicaps that brought muddy going, but it hardly excused tha light entries received for the racing Wednesday or for ihe wholesale scratching that came in the ard for Tuesday. An entry list that promsies -twenty-two starters in the first race produced thirteen withdrawals. The second race, with twenty -named through the entry box, only Drought five starters. The third race saw five runners under colors after three had been scratched. The Huron Handicap was cut from eight to three, but later was built up by the adding of Wampee and Sun Flag. Of the nine in the fifth, four were withdrawn, and the twenty-one maidens at the end of the program only brought out eleven starters. Thus it is seen that with eighty-eight horses named for the six races there were fifty withdrawals. Even with the track conditions as an excuse, the Ecratching was out of all proportion, and it is evident that many of the scratches were made for other than the track condition reason-But the program for Wednesday was even more disappointing, when only forty-three Iibrses were named for the six races. This -was divided up by three of the offerings attracting ten nominations each; another attracted seven and the other two had only three each named through the entry box. This 5s not an adequate response from the horsemen and there does not ssem to be any legitimate reason for the light entry. Frequently the liorssmen offer the excuse that the conditions for the races are not attractive, but this charge can hardly stand up for a mile handicap, and that is one of the races with only three acceptances. Frequently at the tail end of a race meeting, and particularly Saratoga, where the close means shipping back to Long Island, there is trouble in filling an interesting program. Three-quarters dashes for cheap one3 fill unnaturally well, but the worth-while races, -where there is an invitation to start the good ones, are too often failures. Horsemen wait for spots and lack the sporting spirit that should prevail for the good of racing. This condition should not exist and there must be better team work between the horsemen and the secretarys office to bring the racing to where it rightfully belongs. The stake offerings of the Maryland State Fair Association, that conducts the October racing at Laurel, Maryland, have attracted nominations beyond expectations and the lists contain the names of practically every good horse in each age division. It is there that Max Hirsch will have an opportunity to give both Nicholas and Sarazen, the high-priced pair that race for Mrs. Vandcrbilts Fair Stable, their proper place. Nicholas, as has been told before, has not the engagements that his high class would warrant, while the fact that Sarazen is a gelding has kept him out of many races. . By his victory in the Huron Handicap, Sarazen proved himself something more than a mere sprinter, even- though the pace was such as to give him his . best chance. Nicholas has done about all that has been asked of him and both have been exceedingly well engaged for the offerings at the Laurel course. Max Hirsch has. arranged his nominations of tha two stars of the Fair Stable string so that each will have a chance to meet Epinard. The engagements that Eugene .Leigh made for the French colt are in the Laurel Stakes, a mib prize for all ages, under special weights, and the mile and a quarter of the 5,000 Washington Handicap, which is for three-year-olds and over. Nicholas is named for the Laurel Stakes, while Sarazen will be the color bearer in the Washington Handicap. Victories in these would amply atone for the lack of racing opportunity in some of the other fall fixtures and Hirsch will surely bend his every effort to send both horses to the post in the races named. Tho Laurel Stakes offers the only opportunity that is afforded two-year-olds to have a try against Epinard and the 102 nominations that were received show a goodly percentage of the best two-year-olds. Among those named are Sunny Man, Sunsard and American Flag, as well as Kentucky Cardinal, and most of the other aspirants for the championship that have been shown at Saratoga. - There was hope that other New York associations would followthe lead of Saratoga and close entries at 10 oclock in the forenoon, but the Westchester- Association has returned to the antiquated idea of not closing the entries until 2 oclock of the day preceding the race. The early closing of the entries has been, instantly popular at Saratoga, and while excuses are offered for the later closing at the Long Island tracks, there does not appear to be any good and sufficient reason for the late closing. The excuse that is offered is that many of the horses are trained at grounds other than the courses over which the races are to be run, and that trainers do not have an opportunity to attend to the training and be on hand at 10 oclock to make the entries. There is something in that, but it is usual that a vast majority of the horses that race at Belmont Park, at least, are trained at the big Nassau county course, and it would be easily possible to take entries over the telephone from other training grounds. The many advantages of early closing would make the experiment in New York worth while, and it is disappointing to go back to the old order of things; Racing never before has had the publicity that is enjoyed at this time. That is the publicity that means much for the advancement of the sport. The publication of entries is publicity that is of "the greatest value, and the early closing of entries makes this wider in its circulation. That in itself should make it worth while to change to 10 oclock for the closing. And that is only one of the advantages. It facilitates the work of preparing the program and in the event "of a race not filling it would offer a much better opportunity to fill a substituted dash. According to Wilson Williams, vice-president to the Business Mens Racing Association of New Orleans, the Fair Grounds will make a strong bid for winter patronage. Mr. Williams took in a day of racing at Saratoga while on an extended motor tour, and is particularly sanguine that the Fair Grounds will have its usual meeting next January. It is one meeting that will not be harassed in any fashion by legal entanglements and the association has gone forward with many improvements. One of the important changes in the grand stand has been looking to the comfort and convenience of the fair patrons of racing. The women will find much to interest them in the additions that have been made to the stand. But the biggest thing, possibly, is the reduction in the price of admission. For the coming meeting the admission will be for men and for women. This will include the war tax and it will be a welcome announcement. The .30 was a big handicap to success in a city like New Orleans, particularly with a long meeting. Mr. Williams expects to see better success with Miami in the field as a racing point. He argues, with good reason, that Miami will mean a greater number of thoroughbreds in training through the winter months than ever before. New Orleans, he feels sure, will have its full share of horses, capable of furnishing high-class racing and he has no apprehension about patronage.
