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Here and There on the Turf First Derby Casualty. Steeplechase Prospects. Single Foots Half-Brother. Value of Seasoning. News of the going amiss of Stimulus is the first bad news that has come from the training camp of any of the eligibles for the greater three year old stake races. This great three-year old has been definitely declared from both the Prrakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby and his deflection will cause some revisions in the estimates of the students of spring possibilities. It is probabl? that with a colt of lesser value the present indispesition of Stimulus would not b? considered of any great moment, but the colt has too many big engagements before him this year for Odom to take a chani e with him. It is something of a sacrifice to give up a chance in these two great 0,000 race.-, but to rest the colt at this time will afford an opport unity to bring him back for big stake races that are to follow. In the meantime there comes the great news of the entire recovery of Master Charlie and his brilliant training for the Preakness Stake;. It is likely that the son of Lord Archer will make his first appearance in the Chesapeake Stakes at Havre de Grace, and the manner in which he has been going along makes him a formidable eligible to that 0,000 race. The first steeplechase of the year gave the followers of that department of racing cause for congratulation. With fourteen accepting the first chance for a purse, it was evidence that there would be no lack of material for the spectacular branch of racing. While there were two accidents — when Lollipop fell and broke his neck, with Budduggie falling over him the horses as a whole jumped cleanly and showed a remarkable fitness for so early in the year. It is natural to expect that they will improve, and, when the platers show so well, it is natural to expect greater things of the horses of better class. Through the Havre de Grace meeting the junipers are afforded several worth while opportunities, and at Pimlico they will have sti.l greater chances. With such a beginning I it is natural to expect a good year for jumpers. Canter, winner of the maiden race for two-year olds at Havre de Grace Thursday, is a t swift running son of Wildair and Virginia L. and accordingly a half brother to Single Foot, that raced so brilliantly for J. E. Griffith last [ year. This colt, when he won, raced his half I mile in Al:„ which was just a fraction slower than the track record for the distance and those back of him were of a ni"asure of speed that should soon carry them out of the maiden class. The two year olds shown at the Havre d? , Grace meeting have impressed greatly and it promises well for the Aberdeen Stakes, which is the big two year old race of tha meeting. For this race the best have been nominated and it is a race in which Kscarra, a swift running imported colt in the stable of William Daniel, will be started. Kscarra proed his worth at New Orleans and Blakely has prom i 1 that he will be a starter in the Aberdeen Stakes. The running of the Edge wood Purse at Havre de Grace on Thursday proved the ad vantage of a seasoning by actual racing. Top Sergeant, the winner, and Thimble, the one to take second place, both were showing the way to Nose Dive and Martingale, whdc it is safe to promise thai both Martingale and Noss Dive will beat these two the next time the four meet. It was only lack of condition t hat enabled the Bowie performers to triumph. Top Sergeant is a good horse right now, and Thimble ran the best race she has run this year, but it was plain that Martingale was far away from his real racing form, while Nose Dive is sure to improve over his showing. Th° race will undoubtedly do both of thes2 horses a worid of gjod and a different result may be confidently expected the next time they are ■hed to race. When tin Man land Jockey Club put on :at Dixie Handicap, with its value of ." ,000 in add d money, it was commendable generosity. It is a value that naturally attracted the best horses of the handicap division. Then the early allotment of the weig.ts was aLso commend able, but it is working just a bit of a hardship on the racing at Havre de Grace. It is a bit hard to bring the best horses together in the stakes of the Harford Association, when they are eligible to the big race at Pimlico. The trainers are adverse to risk the picking up of a penalty in the Dixie. The good ones are on the ground at Havre de Grace, and they are ready to run, but this question of being penalized over the present handicap weights in the big race to be decided on May 1 will doubtless keep some of the best horses in the stable. This is not written in criticism of what the Maryland Jockey Club does, but it is ju.»t .• aleinent of fact that militates against ih best r..-uli- in the stakes for the three year old and over at the present meeting.
