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Here and There on the Turf Altawoods Quality. Pimlicos Snowstorm. The Bowie Opening. Master Charlies Splint. When such a coll as Altawood comes along there is general regret that more opportunities are not offered for the stayers in this country. Such racs try the thoroughbred as he should Tje tried and those are the races that tell of the superiority of the breed. The son of Master Robert -and Crestwood Girl has, right through the season, impressed by Jib wonderful stamina and his luck in racing lias been anything but good. He came into 3iis own when he was winner "of the Latonia Cup and followed it up by winning both the 3nile and a half of the Bowie Handicap and the two miles and a quarter of the Pimlico Cup. In both of these Pimlico races Altawood was again unlucky, though winner, and on each occasion it was My Own that offered an interference that would have brought defeat to a lesser horsj than Mr. Wideners thrce-year-cld. In the Bowie, just as Parke was making his run with Altawood, he ran him up on the heels of My Own and it cost him several lengths to correct that mistake. Then Saturday, in the Cup, as Parke made his move on the outside going around the turn of the front stretch, My Own bore out badly and took the "Widener colt wide. But these were not the only bad luck happenings that have come to Altawood. In the running of the Third International Special, in which Sarazen ran his mile and a quarter in 2:006, Altawood would surely have been second had it not been for a mishap in the stretch. He had b:en a distant trailer, as usual, and while he was making up ground in the stretch he collided with Mad Play and instead of being second he was fourth. He suffered interference and had bad racing luck in the Kentucky Derby and there were other races in which he earned the title of the original hard luck runner. But he wound up his season brilliantly by his two victories at Pimlico and the way he came out of thai campaign makes it appear that he will be still the best stayer in the country for the racing of 1925. Altawood with others of the Joseph E. Widener string, will be wintered at Douglas Park, Louisville, by G. H. Keene. When the heavy snowstorm came Saturday there was a fear that the racing at Bowie was in for another serious weather handicap. The Southern Maryland Association has been singularly unfortunate in the matter of weather conditions for their sport and the snow was just some more Bowie weather. But Sunday held out more hope. The day was bright and it did not take long to dry up the sandy course at the Prince George track. The opening day attendance was a big one and it will take more than any brand of bad weather to prevent the meeting being a success. Situated as it is, almost midway between Washington and Baltimore, the Bowie course is tremendously popular with the patrons from both cities. Time was when the transportation facilities were anything but comfortable and convenient, but with the growing popularity of these meetings there has been improvement in these facilities until there is infinitely more comfort in the trip. The opening program was an evidence that Joseph McLennan will continue his policy of having distance races dominate the card and that is one reason for the popularity of the , racing. Of the seven races that were decided four were over distances of more than a mile and the book is built along such lines right through the season. Never before have there been horses of such class engaged for the Bowie sport and, with the liberal stake and purse offerings, the racing has taken on an altogether new importance. There is just a bit of similarity between Master Charlie, by many considered the American champion juvenile, and Diomedes, the unbeaten English juvenile. Each was a cheap yearling and each has shown brilliant form. Diomedes was purchased as a yearling for ,000, but after his form had been established he was sold for 7,500. Master Charlie was purchased by William Daniel under whose silks he still races. And it is likely that had it not been for the splint trouble suffered by Master Charlie, like Diomedes, he might have been unbeaten. Thus trouble prevented his meeting all his engagements and it was also excuse enough for his defeat by Sun Flag in the mile of the Pimlico Weight-for-Age Serial. There is nothing truly serious about this splint and it is probable that it is a trouble that will be entirely cured by a rest through the winter, but it was a real handicap all through this season. It is still a bit early to discuss the probable contenders for the Kentucky Derby for next year, but just now there does not seem to be a more potential eligible than Mr. Daniels good colt. Ho has extreme speed and has shown an ability to raca as far as any other two-year-old. The weather that was experienced Saturday both at Pimlico and the Lexington track told of the tremendous grip racing has on the public. At Pimlico there was a heavy snowstorm that continued practically all afternoon, while at Lexington the weather was wintry. Each track was in bad condition by reason of thij unseasonable weather, but at each the attendance was tremendously large. Thoroughbred racing has never been a fair weather sport. Its devotees are not timid hothouse plants that cannot brave almost any sort of weather, but when the love for the sport will bring out such gatherings as those at Lexington and Pimlico Saturday, in spita of the conditions, there is no need to fear that it will not continue. And the racing vas excellent in spite of these conditions, which also bears out the sturdy qualities of both the horses and the riders. Naturally bright skies and a good track are to be desired at all times, but it does no harm to have occasional days like last Saturday to teach the lesson of the importance of the turf among the American amusements. Although the race season at Miami does not open until January 15, the movement of horses to the Florida track has commenced. The first of the shipments left the Jamaica track on Long Island Saturday and those who are making the long journey will have an excellent chance to rest in the southern clime before being raced. As was promised, the track was ready for the reception of horses on November 15 and with these on the way there will follow many others in the near future. And while the Miami lot are moving along many others have already gone to Oriental Park in Cuba for that meeting. This racing will begin November 29 and it is sport that attracts many of the owners who campaigned over the Ohio circuit during the summer, as well as those from further West and others from Baltimore. Jefferson Park is rapidly filling up withi horses and the meeting is to open Thanksgiving Day. On that same date the sport at Tijuana begins and, in that connection, horsemen are reminded that the Tijuana Stakes are to close December 1. From the reservations that have been made at the different winter tracks it is assured that there will be a greater number and better horses than have furnished the winter racing in other years. AH of this means much for the thoroughbred market and the production growing year after year, the racing opportunity is almost keeping pace with that production. Calling the horses to the post for the first n:co at 1:15 oclock fjr the Bowie meeting h a good move. The post time at Pimlico was moved up at the latter part of the meeting and it was found on at least one occasion that with a 1:30 oclock start it was something of a trick to complete a seven race program before sundown. Beginning the races at this time and with the improved facilities for reaching the track and returning home, will add greatly to the popularity of the sport. In connection with the transportation facilities it might be mentioned that the Hay-man special will be in operation, as in other ssasons. This is a special train in addition lo the regular race trains, that will leave Baltimore at 11:5.0 oclock daily, except on Satur- days and Thanksgiving Day when the leaving time will be 11 oclock. On those days the post time will be moved up to 1 oclock, hence the change in the special schedule. This train leaves the course immediately after the running of the last race and it is a popular service with the Baltimore patrons of the track.
