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RACING AT JEFFERSON Vast Improvement Noted in Comparison to Former Years. Expect Better Grade Horses to Get in Action Soon No Infraction of Rules Tolerated. NEW ORLEANS, La., Dec. 7. With practically the first quarter of the Jefferson Park meeting now over, basis for comparison with former years is available and old timers can also make more accurate forecast from it as to prospects of the future. The most pessimistic is forced to admit that there is a -vast improvement in all re-j I spects this year. The attendance is larger. j i Usually at this time the crowds would not begin drifting in this direction untl about1 the first of the year. Many who intended making a lengthy stay would absent them- i selves until after the holidays. . I Their advent here at this time has caused Jefferson Park to be benefited by more patronage. The racing itself has been on the wholesome order, even though the fields for the . most part that have engaged has comprised the poorer grade that has been concentrated , here. In this respect there has been little change from former years. Owners for some 1 reason are reluctant to start their stars early j ! in the year. It has been customary to rest ; them up after arrival nnd only on rare occasions have they begun activities until the opening of the Fair Grounds. It seems an unwise practice, for a good horse can win a goodly sum in purses at the Jefferson Park track without much effort on his part or imparing his form to probably earn enough to pay the expenses of his owners establishment for the winter. Another week will probably find an occasional star making his debut, for many are now undergoing th "tightening up" process at the Fair Grounds. RACING OFFICIALS ALERT. The racing at the Shrewsbury course at this meeting is marked by the activities of j the stewards. Formerly there was a somewhat tolerant attitude on their part where transgressions were of a minor nature, or where doubt existed as to the culpability of an owner or rider in the matter of racing rule infractions. Evidently the officials are determined to make it impressive that nothing of an unsavory nature will be permitted to go by and it acts as a notice to those who came probably with a view of playing loose and fast that the local tracks here are not fruitful fields for their endeavors, as a ruling at one of the race tracks is certain to be respected by the other one here. The severest punishment meted out so far was the revocation of jockey J. A. Mooneys license for "coasting" while astride Arabian, when he beat home Cloister by a matter of inches. The latter was about to pass into the lead when Mooney resorted to his foul tactics. The stewards were not convinced when Mergler made his complaint, but further investigation on the part of the officials furnished corroboration of Merglers claim. Had the stewards been convinced of Merglers contention at the time that he originally made his complaint, they would have disqualified Arabian. Incidentally, the horses sudden improvement brought about his debarment from further starting at the track. It probably means his inactivity for the remainder of the winter. ROBBINS REINSTATED. Jockey E. Robbins was another that earlier in the week met with just as drastic punishment as Mooney. Like the latter, Robbins had been deemed guilty of rough riding. His offense came on Hay ward, which had swerved into Foxmore, causing his fall and injuring L. A. McDermott Hay ward went on to an easy victory. He was promptly disqualified and the ruling against Robbins followed. Hayward, in his start Saturday, again was guilty of swerving over, but this time his offense was attended with no harm to anyone and he did not interfere with any of the contenders sufficiently to cut a figure in the result. It however, corroborated Robbins statement that the horse swerved on the occasion of his former start that caused the fall of Foxmore and McDermott and further investigations showed that the colt had shown in other starts to be addicted to the swerving habit. Under the circumstances, the stewards absolved Robbins from blame and restored him his license. They issued a ruling, however, denying Hayward the privilege of starting at the track in the future. The only criticism of the racing at Jefferson Park is the preponderance of sprinting races daily on the program. Racing patrons are not overly enthusiastic with these short dashes. They prefer racing at longer distances and this is reflected in the attendance on .days when longer races are carded. Continued on second pase. RACING AT JEFFERSON Continued from first page. With the advent here of horses from all parts of the country no true line has been founded on the starters, but at that the layers have been hard hit. A score have had their bankrolls depleted and some forced from tho ranks as a result of the successes of the favorites. The numbers that have been on daily has not come up to the mark of former years. The constant newcomers will assure a greater number of layers in line during the future. Peter Blong is the present "bell cow" in the ring. The Fair Grounds improvements are going towards completion in rapid order and when consummated it will be an entirely new plant that will greet the visitor. The community house, on which 3,000 is being spent, will bo ready in ten days before the scheduled period. It will be one of the finest of its kind. The stables at both tracks are completely filled and a canvass shows an excess of fourteen hundred horses now here, with several more stables still to come. Jockey Harvey, who is riding in good form, has taken on a largo following and if h continues in his present riding clip, will give Master Parke a stout battle for the jockey leadership during the winter.
