Here and There on the Turf, Daily Racing Form, 1924-09-11

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Here and There on the Turf Much Futurity Interest. The Kentucky Chance. Change of Scene Imperative. What Latonia Will Offer. N With the Futurity almost at hand the conviction is forced that the field will be the largest in the long and honorable history of this most coveted of two-ycar-cid races. That -was inevitable when the monster field went to the post in the Hopeful Stakes, won by William Daniels Master Charlie. On that occasion there were twenty-five starters, but, as a matter of fact, not more than half a doz2n of them had a fair racing chance. That was inevitable with so many horses racing to a turn and leaving the post in close alignment. Almost all of these are eligible to the Futurity, and hardly a one of them but is entitled to another try. If they were good enough to have a try at the Hopeful Stakes, they are surely good enough to try for the futurity. In the race of Saturday there will not be the same handicap of racing around a turn, and it will be possible for every starter in the field, even larger than that of the Saratoga feature, to have an equal -winning chancy. The West will make a strong bid for honors in the running of this race, and three of its candidates are the filly Sweep Park and the colts Kentucky Cardinal and Pas Seul. Kentucky Cardinal and Pas Seul were both Taced at Saratoga and showed form sufficient to qualify them for the Futurity, while Sweep Park was shipped from Kentucky especially for the Futurity. All three have been in training in a satisfactory manner and must be seriously considered in any discusison of the possible outcome of the race of Saturday. Should the going be muddy Saturday it will add greatly to the chances of Pas Seul, for Senator Camdens colt has frequently shown high speed in muddy going. Sweep Park has never tasted defeat and she has had a long rest and a careful preparation for the Futurity. Her last race was a victory in the Cincinnati Trophy at Latonia on June 28, when under 124 pounds she beat the best two-year-olds that could be mustered against her. She raced that three-quarters in 1:11. Her previous start was a victory in the Clipsetla Stakes, for fillies, run at Latonia on June 7, and her other two- victories were at Churchill Downs in May. There is no telling just how good a filly this swift running daughter of. Sweep and Floral Park will prove to be, but she promises to be thoroughly herself for the race Saturday. And there are others that will try for the Futurity out of Kentucky, though at this time it would seem that Kentucky Cardinal, Pas Seul and Sweep Park are the most promising of those that will represent their home state. Seldom has there been such a day of racing programmed as that to be offered by the Westchester Racing Association at Belmont Park Saturday, the closing day of the thirteen days meeting. The Futurity is only one of the big events. There will also be decided the Jockey Club Gold Cup, over the two-mile distance, and the best steeplechasers in training are all engaged in the Brook Cup, a two and a half miles cross-country race, to which 0,000 is added. Any one of these three big races would make it a holiday card and it is surely a feast of remarkable contests for one afternoon of racing. No decision has yet been reached, or at least no announcement has been made of a decision being reached on the question of the next scene for the International Special. Beyond the declaration of an official of the Queens County Jockey Club that the race would be decided at Aqueduct, as originally intended, the matter is up in the air. It is known that after this announcement was made pressure was brought to bear on the club to move this big mile race over to Belmont Park, and there was a hope that this would be accomplished. The matter is one of great importance, and it is time that a decision was reached. The opinion is well nigh unanimous that the race should be staged at Belmont Park. It is only at Belmont Park that it would be possible to comfortably take care of the immense throng that will be out to view the race, and the comfort of the public demands the change. Apart from the business wisdom of selecting a course where the crowd would have a chance to witness the race in comfort, it would be ; tremendously unpopular if the race was run at Aqueduct, and, as a result, many were turned away at the gates for lack of accommodation. That has, perhaps, never happened at a race course, but it is almost sure to happen at Aqueduct should the Queens County Jockey Club insist on running the race over its track. Then there are many who would not brave the discomforts of such a day at the eld racing ground who would be early on hand at Belmont Park. It is admitted that Aqueduct is an ideal ground over which to have this mile dash, but that is all it has to recommend it for the. race. Belmont Park course is one of the best in the country, though many prefer Aqueduct, and, in addition, Belmont Park is beautifully equipped to take care of any crowd. With the opening of the Kentucky fall racing season at Latonia Saturday it will mean the return to racing of some of the stars of the spring racing in that state. Chilhowee, winner of the Latonia Derby and conqueror of Black Gold in that race, is one that will return to the sport. Black Gold himself, winner of the Kentucky Derby, will also be back under colors, and In Memoriam, the best three-year-old in Kentucky last year, has been working in a way to promise his early return to form. All of this means much for the Kentucky racing and it also means much for the third International Special of a mile and a quarter, to be run at Latonia on October 11. It will mean that Pierre Wertheimers great four-year-old Epinard will find many sturdy defenders opposing him in that, the best of his three scheduled races in this country. Of course, the East will have a strong representation in that race, but Kentucky will possibly have a better representation at post time. Some of the best of the Kentucky candidates have had the advantage of a long rest and will be brought to the post fresh and good. Undoubtedly they will be shown under colors before the enga-eaicnt fals due and that will be a big advantage over the Frenchman, for Leigh is prohibited from starting Epinard in any other i aces until he has fulfilled his three contract engagements. Racing at Timonium and the present meeting at Marlboro have served as a curtain raiser for the larger circuit, which will begin at Havre de Grace, the racing ground of the Harford Association, on September 24. That meeting is to continue until October 4 and during its term there are several important stak2 races that are down for decision. This meeting will be followed by the Laurel meeting from October 7 until Novembsr 1 and during that term there will be chances for the Marylanders to see Epinard in action. He has two engagements at that course and as they fall due after he has completed his three contract races there is no reason for his not being sent to the post. Should the French colt be the winner of the mile and a quarter Special at Latonia on October 11 an idea may be had of the importance of his engagement in the mile and a quarter of the Washington Handicap at Laurel. This race has an added money value of 5,000, just the amount hung up for the three-quarters at Belmont Park and the mile of the Queens County Jockey Club, and Leigh will make every effort to have his champion at the post. Laurel, as usual, will be followed by the twelve days meeting at Pimlico, to open November 3, and, as usual, Bowie will wind up the Maryland racing, for the year with twelve days, to continue from November 17 to November 29. -


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800