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INTERNATIONAL CONTESTS Westchester Associations Latest Plan to Promote Such Races. Sending Entries Blants to English and French Breeders for Belmont Stakes and Lawrence Realization. NEW YORK, N. T., Nov. 1. With the running of the last race at Empire City on Thursday last, the 1924 season on the Jockey Club circuit came to a most successful close. It was a noteworthy year in many respects and undoubtedly marked an era of progress for the turf in the United States. While there was much that was worth while connected with the sport, the International races were the magnet that served to attract thousands of horse lovers whose interest in the turf has been luke warm. The defeat of Epinard in all three races of tho series may have a tendency to render foreign owners loathe to send their horses to the United States. If the gallant Frenchman who sailed away on the Berengaria had won of tho contests it would have been easier to find successors for Papyrus and Epinard. Conditions militated against Papyrus, who had no real chance to show his quality. Epinard will go down in history as an unlucky horse. He had the speed and courage of a champion yet failed to reach the goaL He didnt even have a "break" in the weather. A Wonderful horse In deep going, none of the races were run under the conditions that wrought havoc with Papyrus. While Mr. Wertheimer expressed satisfaction with the conditions of the series as arranged for this year on the eve of sailing, many believe there should bo an elimination series and that a visiting champion should meet only the best horses in each division. This was what was planned in 1923, though, the failure of Zev to take part in the race in which My Own defeated Untidy gave rise to a situation that had to be handled with diplomacy. By throwing these International Races open to the world, thereby placing no limit to the number of foreign entries, there is a chance remote perhaps, but still a chance that more than one invader may decide to try for the . prizes. In which case, the plan followed this year would of necessity prevail. A step looking to the education of foreign owners is being taken by tho estchester management in connection with the Belmont and La.wrcnce Realization btakes, two of its most attractive fixtures for three-year-olds. Nominations for these races for 1927 are for now weanlings. They will close on Nov. -0, and racing secretary V. E. Schaumburg has forwarded blanks to Messrs. Weatherby Tattersalls. Ltd., the various Bloodstock Agencies in England, the Societe dEncour-agement du Pur Sang, and to Major Dudley Gilroy at Paris, asking that the attention of breeders be called to them. Foreign owners will thus be familiar with the conditions or the events and a new departure in the promotion of international racing may bo brought about by the enterprise of Major LeImont and his associates. a?e,fact ttat the Belmont Stakes, which is to be run at a mile and a half in 19-5 and subsequent years, is modeled after the J"1 Berby ana will have an added value of 5,000 for the 1927 running, maid ng its estimated value 580,000, should be a powerful incentive for breeders and sportsmen across the water to get in line for a campaign in this country. The Belmont Stakes of 1927 will be the richest event for three-year-olds in the world, surpassing the Grand Prix do Paris Epsom Derby and other fixtures raced for abroad. What is true concerning the Belmont Stakes applies with equal force to the Lawrence Realization, which has an estimated value of 5,000. It is over the mile and five-eighths route and is to the autumn meeting at Belmont Park what the Belmont Stakes is to the spring meeting. Foreign breeders would find it to their advantage to nominate their weanlings in these classics, whose aggregate value will be upwards of 25 000 Those nominated should bring a higher doll m the open market and especially command the attention of the leading American turfmen, as well as those abroad, with an interest in international racing.
