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Here and There on the Turf Offences of L. M. Fator. Stewards Should Act. Fitness of Epinard. "Sunny Jims" Successes. It is high time that the stewards of the Jockey Club take some cognizance of the lawless doings of young L. M. Fator, the lad who rides as M. Fator for Harry F. Sinclairs Rancocas Stable. This young man has run afoul of the police on various occasions and thus far he has been able to hold his riding license. His latest offense has brought the forfeiture of his automobile license and a fine of 0, and the charge was driving an automobile while intoxicated. He has come clear of the serious charges, but they do not sesm to have taught him his lesson and he continues to bring racing into ill favor by the way he deports himself whila away from the race course. Fator faced this charge referred to in a Jamaica court Thursday morning and the same afternoon he rode Eaglet in the fourth race at Aqueduct. Before the running of the race it was agreed by good judges that Eaglet should win, but Fator succeeded in having him finish last. That was brought about largely by a bad ride, in which he permitted his mount to swerve into the deep going. The wonder of it all is that Fator was in any condition to ride at all. The stewards of the Jockey Club cannot dodge the responsibility for Fator and his doings on the plea-that he has offended outside of their jurisdiction. It is up tand the stewards to see to it that racing is kept above reproach and they have jurisdiction over the actions of anyone -who enjoys a license from them, whether it be on a race track or anywhere else. Each time a boy like Fator escapes richly deserved punishment, it makes him that much bolder, and it also tends to have other youngsters emulate him, for there never was a rascal that did not appeal to many an immature lad. M. Fator is not a good rider and by his deeds he is a menace to the good name of the turf. He has done enough not only to have his license revoked, but to be barred from every race track. Just how the stewards can fail to take some action is hard to understand. It is doubly unfortunate that publicity must he given a matter of this sort, but the harm is done when the story is told of the police court proceedings. Fator is described as a rider of importance and it is the most natural thing in the world, for those who know little of the turf, to form an altogether erroneous idea of the general personnel of jockeys, and of the sport itself. It is not fair to the clean living jockeys that Fator is permitted to enjoy a license, and it is not fair to any honest horseman to have this youngster bringing the greatest of all sports into disrepute. His prominence, only in the contract he enjoys, makes his offenses doubly a menace and it is too bad indeed that the turf should be burdened with such a load. Epinard has just about dispelled all fear that he might not be ready for the mile of the second International Special at Aqueduct on September 27. The French colt, by his public work Thursday, gave an illuminating idea of his present condition and it was enough to warrant the prediction that, no matter what the track condition, he will be a hard horse to beat and a worthy representative of the French turf. It is hard to believe, after seeing the handsome chestnut in action, that any of his work- outs were not satisfactory to Eugene Leigh. But Epinard seems to like a gallery and in both his afternoon gallops he has shown to much better advantage than when worked in the morning. And it is well that he should be worked in the afternoon. His appearance on the track is an added attraction that is greatly appreciated by the racing crowd and it is the best sort of publicity work for the big race. When Epinard galloped his mile in 1:40 Thursday, with a last eighth in :12, it was enough to keep some of the trainers with eligibles worrying and there need be no fear of the fitness of Mr. Wertheimers champion. When Jim Fitzsimmons severed his connection with the Quincy Stable and its owner sold most of his horses last year that skillful trainer said one afternoon at Pimlico that he had not made up his mind jwt what he would do the following year. It did not take him long to make up his mind when William Woodward, sportsman and breeder, made an offer, "Sunny Jim" took over the horses of the Belair Stud and his success has been well nigh phenomenal with the popular colors. Fitzsimmons has had something to work on with the horses that, for the most part, were bred by his employer, and it is doubtful if any other trainer could have obtained like results. In the first place, the horses are soundly bred and, what is of equal importance, they have be3n skillfully trained and kept on edge when wanted. The latest stake success, when Beatrice won the Oakdaie Handicap was a thoroughly popular one and there was an excuse for her being an added starter, even though there might come a criticism of her having been added rather than named through the entry box in the regular way. At the time of making the nominations through the entry box Wednesday, the track conditions could not be foretold with any degree of accuracy and when Fitzsimmons found going that favored the daughter of Jim Gaffney and Medora IL, it was but natural that he should add her name to the field. Beatrice is a half-sister to that good campaigner Little Chief and was bred by Mr. Woodward at his Maryland farm. She ha3 been a consistently good filly and should bring further fame to the stable next year. Jim Fitzsimmons has come to. new and a deserved importance among trainers, and his i-faspciation with the Belair Stud has meant much for both he and- his sportsman employer.
