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Here and There on the Turf Widener Turf Plans. Strong French String. Baby Racers in South. Dade Park After Dates. While there is every indication that Joseph E. Widener will be a bigger figure in American racing in 1925 than ever before, the home string is only a part of the turf importance of the Philadelphia sportsman. A particularly strong establishment is maintained in France, where Jerry Welsh is trainer and Frank Keogh the rider. It is remembered that Keogh rode Wise Counsellor in the first of the International Specials with Epinard. He had come from France just about the time that Eugene Leigh brought over Mr. Werthehners good colt. Both Keogh and Welsh are Americans and American methods obtain in Mr. Wideners French stable. For the 1925 season in France Welsh has twenty-nine horses in training for Mr. Widener at Villa Des Glycines, Chantilly. Of these Meknes is a four-j-ear-old son of Maboul II. and Maestria and twelve others are three-year-olds, while the remaining sixteen in tli2 establishment will represent the silks in the juvenile offerings. Much of the interest will naturally center in the two-year-olds. These are: Apcllodorc, br. c, by Sardanapale Quadrille. Bleu de France, ch. c, by Sans le Sou La EsTierc. Euphrates, ch. c, by Sardanapale Lisette IX. Etoile Pclaire, b. f, by Isard II. Etherine. Feu Follet, b. c, by Rabelais Fireplay. Gap, ch. c, by Nimbus Galloping Jenny. Gossoon, b. c, by Irish Lad Lady Nell. King Bruce, b. c, by Teddy Persistent. Le Mont dHere, gr. c, by Isard II. Mary Adeane. Le Muiron, br. f, by Durbar Santa Maria II. Marie Josephine, b. f, by Teddy Madame Boyale. Mycene, ch. f, by Sardanapale Prosopopee. Nelcius, b. c, by Clarissimus Ncttc. . Robe de Laine, b. f, by Jaeger Donna Anna II. Totan, ch. c, by Jingo Miss Bachelor. Xcnia, gr. f, by Sweeper Zanthene. The thrce-ycar-clds in the stable arc Carrousel, Hillah, Le Mont du Coq, Listen In, Mikatl, Mont de Cerisy, Moustapha, Pervcn-cheres, Rosa Rio, Tagus, Tournament and Troubadour III. With such a magnificent racing string to bear the silks abroad there seems to be less chance for him to weaken his American establishment by sending Altawood across the At lantic The son of Master Robert and Crest-wood Girl, which won both the Bowie and the Pimlico Cup Handicaps for Mr. Widener at Pimlico last November, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Ascot Geld Cup. It is possible, he will be sent over and his staying quality would seem to recommend him for such a race, but Mr. Widener is already so numerously and efficiently represented on the foreign turf that there would be good reason for his keeping these good horses for racing over the home tracks. G. H. Keene came to Mr. Widener with Altawood. He had trained the colt for C. Bruce Head, his former owner, and he has him in Kentucky now making ready for the 1925 campaign. Kecnc also has the others of the Widener string and the engagement of this accomplished conditioner and the purchase of Altawood is evidence that Mr. Widener intends making a bald bid for the big offerings of the year. The silks have e.ver been popular ones with the racing crowd and no matter where they are shown their progress will always be a source of interest. Reports from New Orleans are that upwards of 100 yearlings are training for the two-year-old racing that will be inaugurated at the Fair Grounds on New Years Day. The colony of young thoroughbreds is a bigger and better one than ever before for the New Orleans sport and, with a full knowledge of ths talent on hand, Joseph McLennan has seen to it that they will not lack for racing opportunity. In the first book of the meeting there arc several of the juvenib dashes and future books to be issued will be framed with still better opportunities. Already some of the watchers have given! glowing reports of th2 youngsters and whatj they have been accomplishing in their trials and it is promised that before the end of January there will be uncovered some real runners. Much of the time recently has been occupied in educating the young horses at the barrier. Many of them can run fast, but naturally the barrier education is of paramount importance, particularly when the two-year-old dashes are of three furlongs and the start plays an important part in the result. It b an excellent rule that forbids the use of both blinkers end spurs on the juveniles and with the careful schooling that is insisted upon there should be a better chance for fairly run races for these youngsters than ever before. Now there is another Kentucky track in the field asking for a division of ibz -racing time. This is Dade Park, in Henderson county. After the failure to make Dade Park when it was originally built, it was generally considered that it was off the turf map. Now it has passed into the hands of James Ellis of Owensboro, who has announced an intention of applying for recognition of the State Racing Commission. The proposition is to conduct a race meeting" next fall some time and the problem will be to find dates that will not conflict with the existing Kentucky tracks. This will be something of a problem with Latonia, Louisville and Lexington occupying the time from September 12 until November 21. Those dates have already been granted and to make room for another Kentucky track would mean fixing dates before September 12 for any track to conduct a meeting after November 21. But that is not the only problem. Mr. Ellis and his associates will have opposition in Ohio for almost any season they should choose for their racing dates. There is considerable conflict already in that section and the way tracks have been springing up it would seem that there would be meetings enough for simultaneous meetings almost right through the season. There arc horses enough and it would only be a question of the patronage. The racing association that can offer the best inducements will attract the bttfi horsc3 and the best horses will attract the best patronage. It will just narrow down to bidding for that patronage and the only way to bid successfully is to furnish a brand of sport just a little better than that of the other fellow. All of this should mean prosperity for horsemen for if tracks are bidding for horses, purees will of ncccxity bs ir.crca:c:l.
