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Here and There on the Turf Added Starter Abuse. Another Miami Libel. Kentucky Derby Date. Swinging a Rare Filly. There was a happening at Bowie that will bring about an amendment in the writing of stake conditions in the future. The necessity for an amendment was apparent when James Boden added the Triple Springs Farms Judge Fuller to the Endurance Handicap after the entries had been closed Friday. Under the conditions of the race, of course, this was possible, but it caused some confusion for the post positions had been drawn. It is proposed that in the future there will be a condition written into these races compelling the naming of starters through the entry box, but that this will entail no additional expense, .... the starting fee only becoming due when the jockey passes the scahs. There always has been a desire to avoid added starters at every track, but at Bowie, and other tracks where there is an early drawing for post positions, the adding of a horse adds to the complication. It makes necessary drawing for the post positions over again and it is hardly fair to the others who have starters. One suggested solution was that any horse so added, after the opening of the entry box should be assigned to the outside position. This would not correct the abuse for the reason that there might be cases where the outside position was the favorable one and it would put a premium on adding a horse. In New York this question of added starters, is by no means as serious a one as at the courses where there is an early drawing for the post positions. In New York the post positions arc seldom assigned until after the time at which a horse might be added to stake and he has an equal chance with the others in the drawing for positions. The adding of horses is always to be regretted and it is well too, as far as it is possible, to guard against the practics. There would be no reason for the proposed Bowie amendment applying in New York, by reason of the difference in the time for the drawing for positions, but at Bowie, probably than any other course there is no excuse for adding a starter. Horses are entered with the intention of sending them to the post. Complimentary entries are rare indeed, and it is no hardship on the horsemen to require that they name their starters through the entry box. From time to time there have been unwarranted efforts to hamper the coming meeting of the Miami Jockey Club at the New Florida course. One after another these stories that sought to deter sportsmen from patronizing the new course have been denied and each one that has been run down has been found to have been manufactured out of the whole cloth. The latest effort to hurt the Miami meeting was made at the Bowie track Saturday when an unfounded rumor was circulated among the horsemen that there had been a raid of the dog races at Hileah and that several arrests had been made. It was patent that the story was put in circulation with a view of keeping horsemen from sending their horses to Florida. It was the last day of the Maryland meeting and it was the last chance to hurt the Florida venture. Possibly it did not harm, but it was a vicious attempt to do harm and may have had its effect on some of the sportsmen who had contemplated a trip to Florida. As a matter of fact the season for the dog races has not opened in Miami at this time. That is quick enough answer to the rumor and it also at onc3"shows the malice in the circulation of the story. Miami has had many who have sought to hurt the meeting and have only succeeded in proving beyond all argument that it promises to be of real importance. Its promised importance has induced these unwarranted attacks and, to use a homely expression, "each knock has been a boost." Colonel Matt Winn has chosen May 16 as the date for the running of the Kentucky Derby next year. This is the second Saturday of the Churchill Downs meeting and doubtless when the date for the running of the Preak-ness is made known there will be ample opportunity for the candidates to keep both of these rich spring engagements. For the running of these two big prizes there have been conflicts that were particularly unfortunate, but it is almost a sure thing there will be no more of such conflicts. There is such a similarity between these classics that a large percentage of the nominees for one is named in both and Sir Barton has to his credit a score in both. It is entirely possible that in Sumpter, one of Sand Mole and Isirose, Robert Odom has a potential three-year-old champion. His showing in the mile of the Endurance Handicap at Bowie Saturday gives him a real importance in considering the possibilities for 1925. Of course it is always dangerous to put too much store in the Bowie races of any horse when discussing his quality. It is just possible that Sumpter was favored by the Bowie going and it is a different track than any other, but he is surely a sturdy colt and capable of carrying his weight the distance that stamps him a stayer. While on the Endurance it is just as well to say a kind word for Swinging the daughter of that sterling sire Broomstick and Balancorie II. It must be remembered that, while this filly has been winner of seven straight races, it was the first time she had been asked to race over the mile distance. It was Swinging that cut out all the pace in the Endurance. She was the one that showed the way until the last few strides of that mile and she in turn put away both Laddie Buck and Primrose. She took all the run out of Single Foot, though his was a good race considering the weight he shouldered, and it was only because Sumpter was abb to find his way through on the inside that she was beaten. It vas naturally disappointing to the admirers of this great, filly tha. her remarkable string of victories should be broken in her last race of the year, but she demonstrated that she is much more than a mere sprinter and on this rac there is good reason to expect that she will be in the front division of the threc-year-tlds. The H. P. Whitney j stable headed the list of winning owners after Candy Kid was returned the winner in the Breeders Futurity at Lexington, and the winning of the Endurance Stake would have increased thai lead over Harry F. Sinclairs Rancocas Stable considerably, but it was not to be. But this same H. P. Whitney racing establishment, according to all present indications will come to the racos next year with two fillies, Mother Goose and Swinging, well equipped to keep the best of the colts busy. o
