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. Here and There on the Turf Future International Races. Interest in the Queen City. Appointment of John Nixon. Ward Back in Kentucky. It is an excellent suggestion that has been made by M. J. Winn that the International races to come shall have a greater importance than those of Papyrus and Epinard for the racing of 1925. Col. Winn would have the added money for each race 0,000 added and would make the distances for three racss a mile, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half. There is no good reason for any race at a shorter distance than the mile and the races are of sufficient importance to warrant 0,000 added. That is little enough for races of this importance and it is not excessive, even for New York, where there is no revenue from the pari-mutuel machines. It would be well if such races would attract many of the best horses from abroad rather than one, as his been the case both this year and last year. It is also important, as set forth by Col. Winn, that these races be fixed at a time when they will in no manner" interfere with the regular stake races of the season. Not that the International races should be other than regular stakes, but they must be given a place in the racing calendar where they will fit in properly and at the same time in no fashion displace any of the famous old features of our turf. If these offerings would induce the sending over of the best horses from abroad, rather than only the horse that is considered th3 best, then they would be ideal International contests. It would be pleasing for a French band k of racers and an English band to come along 1 to represent their turf, just as the Olympic K games attract teams of athletes from the various countries. There should be more than one horse from each country, just as more Kthan one defender appears against the chal-Vlengers. It is to be hoped that the suggestion of Col. HWinn will bear fruit " and the International races, so auspiciously begun by Ben Irishs PtP-apyrus in 1923 and Pierre WertheimeVs HP Epinard this year, will only be the beginning V of an annual series of great contests. V Saturday one of the most important of the two-year-old offerings of the year will be decided at the Latonia course in the running of the.Quesn City Handicap. This is a mile dash for two-year-olds, to which the Ken-lucky Jockey Club adds 0,000. Should as many as ten go to the post, and that is a modest estimate of the probable field, the race will be worth almost 0,000, a sum befitting the turf importance of the fixture. The Queen City Handicap was first run in 1917, and in its seven decisions it has gom to fillies on four different occasions. This was when Jane Frances won its first decision, Delico the second, Startle in 1921 and Oui Oui in 1922. The other winners have been On Watch in 1919, Behave Yourself in 1920 and Wise Counsellor last 3ear. For the race of this year it is a filly that lias the post of honor at the top of the handicap when Sweep Park is asked to take up 127 pounds. With the exception of her defeat in the Futurity at Belmont Park, this swift-running miss has done all that has been asked like a real champion, and she has earned her proud place in the handicap. It is another Kentuckian that is second in the handicap, when Captain Hal is required to should-der 126 pounds, and still another from Kentucky, Pas Seul, is next, and the honor con- tinues in Kentucky; and then comes New York with Blue Ridge, Young Martin and Stimulus, the colt that ran such a smashing race in the Futurity at Belmont Park. The only other in the Handicap that is under a weight as high as 120 pounds is Brown Sugar, of the Edward R. Bradley entry. In the 283 nominations for this great race almost every two-year-old with pretentions to such class, with the exception of Nicholas and those of the Glen Riddle Farm, are found in the big list. From these there is sure to be a representative field and the renewal of the race should surely bz a notabb one. The Maryland Racing Commission is to be congratulated on adding John P. Nixon to its staff of officials. Mr. Nixon has been appointed inspector-at-large, and he is particularly fitted for that office. He has a thorough knowledge of racing and is a man that lends dignity to his office. In a long association with the turf, Mr. Nixon has earned the respect and confidence of the horsemen and cannot fail to be a valuable addition to the governing powers of the sport in Maryland. John S. Ward has returned to Latonia with his strong stabb that has been campaigned over the New York tracks this year. It was the usual custom of Mr. Ward to confine most of his racing endeavors to Kentucky and that state has never been willing to look upon his strong organization as an eastern stable, though this year he has be:n racing over the eastern tracks. The horses all shipped well and they were welcomed back as though it was a homecoming. This will mean that Steve ODonnell will be added to the Latonia riding colony. This young rider made a decided impression while riding over the New York tracks and will be a valuable addition to the Kentucky jockey list.
