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Here and There on the Turf An International Chase. "Pat" Deegans Suggestion. Dawn of a New Season. Prospects for 1925. P. J. Deegan has come forward with a proposition on behalf of steeplechasing that was suggested to him by the coming over of Papyrus and Epinard to this country. Mr. Deegan has asked if it would not be practical to hang up a prize of 5,000 for an International steeplechase. He would have such a race staged at Belmont Park and would invite France, England, Ireland and Germany each to send over two horses to try for the big prize. Much has been done from time to time to further the interests of steeplechasing in this country and it has been an uphill fight for the sportsmen who devote their energy and dollars to that end of racing. This plan of course would be a tremendously big thing for tho cross-country sport, but it is doubtful if it is feasible at this time. From time to time American horses have tried for the Liverpool Grand National and there have been many aspirants for that high honor. American horses have tried for the prize and American sportsmen have ridden in this greatest of all steplechases. Stephen San-ford won the 1923 running with Sergeant Murphy, but that was an American victory with an Irish hcrse. These many failures of some of our best horses in that big race would make it appear that our cross-country horses do not measure up to those abroad. Of course that is no reason why they should not be invited to come over here and race, but it would seem that we have to progress a bit further before offering a big prize for steeplechasing such as has been suggested by Mr. Deegan. It has been suggested from time to time that it would be well if more of the associations had steeplechasing as a part of their programs, but until that is done, and the racing becomes more important it would seam premature to invite the best foreign horses over here to race against ours. "Pat" Deegan can be excussd for espousing the cause of the steeplechasers and with good reason. It was this same Pat Deegan that saddled Manifesto for his two victories in the Liverpool Grand National and he has had much to do with the preparation of others of the winners of that great race. It was some years ago that Deegan forsook his native Ireland for this country and ever since he has been on this side and he is a fixture now he has been striving to help along the cross-country sport. A born horsemen, he has the Irish love for the cross-country racing and he neves misses an opportunity to be on hand when there is a race through the field. And Deegan has come to the belief that this country has many a brilliant steeplechase prospect among the horses that race on the flat. Like many other sportsmen he deplores the , fact that too often the American thoroughbred is not put to jumping until his days of usefulness . on the flat are gone. That means that there was something lacking in the horse. He , has held all along that if horses of the same s quality were put to chasing in this country, as are used for the sport in England, Ireland i and France, the American jumper would have no peer. With the recent importations of Julius ; Fleischmann and the other sportsmen who i devote horses to the cross-country sport, it is ; , . , s i ; i ; possible that in time Mr. Deegan may have his dream realized and this country will bs the scene of some big international steeplechase that will have something like the glory of the famous old Liverpool Grand National Handicap. Jefferson Park meeting is rapidly coming to a clcs2, but it only means a change of scene for the racing folk in New Orleans. With no lapse the sport moves over to the old Fair Grounds track and the preparation that has been made thera assures that it will be a most notable season of sport ever conducted at the famous old racing ground. The racing at Jefferson Park has been excellent from its opening Thanksgiving Day and it served as a delightful season to lead up to the big things that are to conic. For the most part the sport has been formful and the stewards have seen to it by their conduct of the sport that there has been nothing of reproach in the racing. With the opening of the new season there will come to racing a new crop of two-year-; olds and there is always much interest in that age division. Year after year there are better juveniles sent to the racing early -and, while years ago the winter racing of two-year-olds offered no line on the crop, it has be;n changed. The winter racing grounds have given a new importance to the racing of the baby thoroughbreds and it is possibla to obtain something of a line before the big summer tracks open their gates, This year there have been more and appar- ently better yearlings making ready for the two-year-old races at New Orleans and, with the many opportunities they are afforded, it is more than likely that another Master Charlie will be uncovered. And while the two-year-olds appear all of the others become one year older. The two-year-olds of today are of Derby age and the three-year-olds are graduated to the handicap division. It is a big day for the thoroughbred this New Years Day. It is the birthday for all of them and looking back over the season so rapidly coming to a close there is much to be thankful for in the prospect for 1925. With Sarazen, Ladkin, Altawood, Wise Counsellor, Mad Play, Chilhowee, Black Gold, Ordinance, Aga Khan and the many other sterling three-year-olds passing on to the handicap division there should be no lack of the best material1 for the handicaps. Then fcr the new three-year-olds there are such glorious prospects as Master Charlie, Stimulus, American Flag, Sunny Man, By His-sclf, Lee O. Cotner, Sweep Park, Kentucky Cardinal, Swinging, Maud Muller, Star Lore, Candy Kid, Single Foot, Young Martin and many others, so that altogether 1925 holds out great promise for brilliant racing in all of ths divisions. January 1 b a big day for the turf.
