view raw text
Here and There cn the Turf Epinard s Good Work. My Play Making Ready. Influence of Prince of Wales. Stables for Kentucky. Epinard did more to revive interest in the international races by his work at Belmont Park Monday than any happening since the running of his first engagement, in which he was beaten by Frederick Burtons Wise Counsellor. The French colt has been refusing to extend himself cheerfully in his morning exercises and there was a bit of fear that Eugene Leigh would be unable to bring him to the post at himself for his Aqueduct engagement on September 27. That fear was dispelled by the manner in which he galloped three-quarters before the racing crowd at Belmont Park. Epinard ran the distance well within himself in 1 :12y5 and he could readily have shaded that time considerably. Everett Haynes had him under restraint all the way and he was ready to put in a fast eighth or a fast quarter at any stage of the gallop. It would have been more satisfying to the crowd if Leigh had permitted the colt to finish out a mils, but the move was enough to warrant that Epinard has not staled off in the least, as had been feared. Epinard, a colt of wonderfully even disposition, does not refuse to work in the galloping hours through any meanness of temper. He has just become cunning and the work of Monday was so satisfying that it is probable Leigh will try the same method at Aqueduct, if it becomes necessary, to have his charge right at himself for the race a week from Saturday. While Epinard is making ready the other candidates are all going along in a satisfactory manner. There will be a new Richmond in the field for the mile when My Play will be shown against the invader. The swift-running brother to Man o War is probably at the top of his form just now and his easy victory in the two miles of the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park Saturday told of his fitness. With all the stamina that was displayed in that race My Play has retained the speed that makes him a worthy brother of the wonder horse and he may be looked upon as a sure starter against the Frenchman. It was at Edward F. Simms private training grounds in Saratoga that My Play was made ready and he has been shipped back there to complete his training for the International mile. The big fellow -needs no more training, but he must be kept on edge for the race. Like his illustrious big brother My Play will fill up rapidly and it is something of a task to keep him on edge. The Gold Cup was a gallop that will do no end of good in keeping the son of Fair Play and Mahubah at himself for days to come. Probably he will only be subjected to light exercise enough to keep in condition, with an occasional speed gallop. The presence of the Prince of Wales in- this country and his intense interest in racing is a big thing for the American turf. Every time the heir to the British throne has found it possible to escape from his other multitudinous social duties, he was found at Belmont Park. He was there because racing is his favorite sport, and he was there, not to fulfill any social duty, but to satisfy his own desires. For the running of the Brook Cup Monday it was fine to see that he was able to walk over into tho infield, like any other individual, and watch the running of the race without being mobbed by a curious throng. He was just a red-blooded sportsman among a gathering of many others of the same strain. He evidently appreciated the fact that he was permitted to wander about the infield with Joseph E. Widener and his own personal friends without it being necessary to break a way for him through the crowd. It is a habit of the English royalty to support the turf and to attend the big events, and the racing in that country is on a correspondingly more solid and lasting basis in that country than on this side of the Atlantic. It is a part of the social duty of royalty, and a most enjoyable part, to attend several of the race meetings, and it is natural that the stamp of royal approval means much for the sport. The Prince of Wales in his short visit to this country has given Americans generally, and turfmen in particular, an altogether new idea of the English sportsmen, and it will make for a better understanding between the two countries that will reach further than only sport. With the Kentucky , racing season under full headway now, at the beautiful Latonia course, some of the stables that are campaigning over the New York courses are planning a shipment to that section. It is frequent that some of tho big Kentucky racing establishments that race at Saratoga Springs keep their horses in the East until the close of the meeting of the Westchester Racing Association at Belmont Park. They have candidates for the Futurity or the Lawrence Realization, or both, and that is reason enough for not shipping back to Kentucky at the close of the Saratoga meeting. This year there is an additional inducement to delay the return to Kentucky in the second International Special, to be run at Aqueduct a week from Saturday. That will engage some stables that will ship immediately after its decision. Some of the best of the Latonia offerings are set for dates late in this month and early in October and there is ample chance to remain for the meeting with Epinard and still meet the Kentucky engagements. One powerful racing establishment that will be seen at Latonia in the big prizes is that of William Woodward, who races under the name of the Belair Stud. His Lawrence Realization winner, Aga Khan, and the recent development, Flames, are both intended for the long-distance stakes in the Latonia book and it is probabb that James Fitzsimmons will also take along Priscilla Ruley with the others that are to bear the colors.- The John S. Ward and E. R, Bradley horses still in the East will be shipped and from time to time there will be others who will send horses along as engagements fall due.
