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Here and There on the Turf Opening of Belmont. Steeplechasing Prospects. McLennan for Hawthorne. Claiming Race Rule. With the opening of th? twenty days meeting of the Westchester Racing Association at Belmont Purk. there being another tremendously important term of racing. The beau tiful Nassau county course has undergone many imporant changes, until now it is by long odd* the greatest racing ground in this country, if not in the world. Joseph K. Widener and his associates have been prodigal in the work that has been accomplished and the new Belmont Park will be a revelation to the patrons when th" gates are thrown open this afternoon. The Metropolitan Jockey Club enjoyed a full measure of success with the meeting that has just come to a close and the racing that has been offered has been excellent, but. at Jamaica, there was a conflict that will not exist at Bel mont Park. For a goodly portion of the Jamaica meeting there was the racing of the Maryland Jockey Club at Pimlio in Baltimore, and it is a meeting that is a strong counter attraction. The value and importance of several of those Maryland Stake races kept many of the best horses in that state, while others were in Kentucky, preparing for the Kentucky Derby. With the Derby and the Preakness Stakes both gone, these horses — that is many of them are back at Belmont Park and they are fit and ready for what is to be offered. The opening of the new meeting also means much to the turfmen who devote their ener gies to steeplechasing. It is the first cf th? New York courses with crosscountry" racing as a part of the program and the manner in which steeplechases filled in Maryland, tells of the number of horses that are available for such racing. There were fifty two nominations to the International Steeplechase Handicap, which is the opening race of the cross country program and. during the meeting, the other stake races for the jumpers are the Charles L. Appleton Mem rial, th? Corinthian Steeple chase and the Meadowbrook Steeplechase, all of which are handicaps. Then there are vari ous overnight races in the program book so that, atorether, the jumpers will not lack for opportunity. But what is of infinitely more interest than the steeplechasing will be the big three year olcl stake races, where there will be an oppor tunity to verify or amend the line that was offered, when Coventry was the winner of the Ireakness Stakes, and his stablemate, ] Flying Kbony. triumphed in the running of the Kentucky Derby. These big races IM I the mile dash of the Withers Stakes, and the mile and three eighths of the rich Belmont Stakes. The Wither* is to be decided May 2S, while the Belmont Stakes will be run Saturday, June 13. the last day of the men* I ing. Then there is also the American Coach - i • ing Club Oaks, for fillies over a mile and three | eighths distance, and one of the most important of filly races. These are some of the things that are in store during the meeting which opens today. Then there will be the Metropolitan. Suburban and Toboggan handicaps, for hordes three year olds and over, and the array of staV races, for the two year olds is always a notable one and better this year than ever before. Racing at Belmont Park, both spring and fail is racing in its best dre s and on the eve of the meeting, the prospects could hardly be brighter fi-r a notable succession of excellent sport. ■ I The Chicago Business Mens Racing Associa t ] I I i • | I t tion is to be congratulated on having obtained the services of Joseph McLennan, for the com ing meeting at Hawthorne. Mr. McLennan will officiate as racing secretary, presiding placing judge and associate handicapper. N.i man in racing is better qualified for these duties. In his long association with the turf, Mr. McLennan Iils earned the admiration and res pect of the horsemen, while he has alway- en joyed the conf.dence of the racing public. A man who thoroughly knows the sport, us record has been one of forceful energy and steadfar-t integrity in all uf the previou- offic s he has filled so capably. The association of Joseph McLennan in h the Hawthorne racing means much for th? Chicago meeting this year. And novs some of the New York trainers would have the present claiming rule amende 1. si that to become eligible to make a claim, the claimant must have a sarter in the race This is the rule that obtains in Kentucky, and the complaint has been thai under the New York rule owners from other sections hav been coming to New York to replenish their stables. It may ba that the Kentucky rule would be more popular with the rank and file of trainers, but really there does not seem to be any good reason for a change. | if trainers generr.lly would enter their horses at a fair market value. What difference could it possibly make to an owner, whi made the claim provided he obtained he price at which he allied his horse? And th- re is another excellent reason for the existing 1 rule. There have been many cases of men , who are in the market for horses, but are un-abl- to make a purchase at a fair market price. The same horse, they endeavor to buy appear i day after day in claiming races, at a valuation much below what is asked for the same horse at the stable. There have been innumerable cates of a horse being prced to a prospective buyer, at a figure thousands of dollars over wha the same is entered to b? sold for in a claiming race. Inis man, after he makes an effort to buy at the stable, should have the right to avail himself of the claiming race when he sees the same horse entered at the price he is willing to pay. Kvcry horse ha« a value and it is the same value, no matter whether the purchaser has a stable of runners of his own, or is a sportsman ■ who is seeking to establish a stable. It is not a popular method to take horses | out of claiming races to build up a stable, but [ when it is next to impossible to buy at a reasonable price at the stable door there is | no good reason why horses should not be taken out of claiming races by anyone who has the meney to pay. There does not appear to be any real reason for the changing of the New York rule, except to please the trainers who do not like the present conditions of the rule. There als. seems to be better reasons to let the rule stand as at present for the good of racing generally. A
