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Here and There on the Turf Failure of Quatrain. Only a Winter Champ. Skull Caps in Kentucky. Bradleys Good Day. Frederick Johnsons Quatrain will hardly frighten any of the elfgib.es fcr the Bilmont to such an extent that they will nnt try conclusions against him next Saturday. The son of Omar Khayyam and Bonnie Mary is far away from Belmont condition, taking a line through his race Friday. It is true he was giving away considerable weight, but he surely should have shown to better advantage with the big prize so dose at hand. With the exception of his races in the New Orleans Handicap and the Louisiana D»rby. Quatrain has shown nothing that would entitle him to a place among the best three year olds and his case is one to emphasize the fallacy of crowning a king on winter racing. The victory of the son of Omar Khayyam was a sensational one in the New Orleans Handicap for the reason that he closed a big gap and he had it all his own way in the Louisiana Derby, but analyzing these two races they lose importance. In the New Orleans Handicap, run February 17. Quatrain carried 106 pounds, ran the mile and a sixteenth in 1 :44. which was a new track record, and he beat Prince James a couple of lengths. He came from almost last place iu the running, but so did Prince James, and after all it has not required real greatness to beat Prince James. The others of the company were President, Chilhowe?, Nassau, Honor, Starbeck, Lady-Belle. Bradleys Toney. The Vintner. Leopardess, Bonnie Omar. Ever Bold. Belphrizonia. Moms Bny and Barracuda, which was left at the post. Chilhowee was not at himself at any time during the winter racing and he was shoulder ing 129 pounds and the others wer? hardly able to gne Quatrain a test that would give him the prominence he attained. Then in the Louisiana Derby this same Quatrain beat Bnedict Vow, Brave Bob. Stirrup Cup. Parole II.. Brilliant. Walter E.. High Water. Beach Talk. Buttin In and Buz Fuz, not much of a Derby field, though a good one for winter racing. It is always particularly hazardous to attempt to name a champion on anything shown in winter racing. Just enough of them have gone on to better things after performing brilliantly in the winter, to prove the rule, but there will be the same disposition to crown winter wini.crs just as long as they appear. With the constantly growing appearance of winter racing better and better hrses are shown over the southern tracks. It is likely, with Miami so securely in that circuit, the class of horses will continue to improve, but it will remain a dangerous proj osition to ha g the laurel wreath fcr the year on any winter champion. In-.-ibly Quatrain is not as good a eolt a-he looked jaded and for from the colt he had some setbacks in his training and wh"n he went to the post for the Kentucky Derby he looked jaded and far from the colt le rhould be. and his race indicated either his condition or his lack of speed. His race at Bilmont Park surely added nothing to his im portance and, whether or not he is the winner of the Belmont Stakes next Saturday, he is far away from what a real champion slu u 1 be for such a race. It is admitted that the three year olds if 1925 are not up to standard, but it is pretty-conclusively fhown that Quatrain is not in t! e first flight. He will hae to regain a lot of lost prestige before he can, by any stretch of the imagination, be as good a colt as Am t- , I , ! I I I , " 1 ican Flag, and Silver Fox seems to be a betcr prospect, to say nothing of sr.mc of those that have not yet been brought to the races. While there is no rule compelling jockeys to wear the protecting skull cans while riding races, every effort i» being made to have thjir use universal. To that end the use of the caps j has been urged, and it i-. pi ssible that in toe event the suggestion does not mejt with a .hearty response on the part of the jockey?, a rule may be enacted making the use of the caps imperative. One reason for the latest notice snt out by the Kentucky Racing Oimmission is the fan that there are eight jockeys confined to th; hospital as the result of accidents from falls at Kentucky tracks. It is unfertunate that so many riders fa ! to avail themselves of the skull cap as a protee- I tion against head injuries. There is no real rii-c mfort in the wearing of this helmet, and the protection that is afforded should hav .-■ stronger appeal. Of course, the governors of racing ran nattily make the use of the cap~ [imperative, and it is probable thai such action will be taken generally unless the riders cone to them without such a rule. It was a big day for the Edward It. Braeiley silk- at Latonia Friday, when Broken Tov. Broadway Jones and Bubbling Over were each winners It of course was doubly pleasing for the reason that each was bred by Mr. Bradl-v at his Ide Hour Stock Farm, two being the get of Black Toney, one of the most successful of American sires, and the other, Bub bling Over, is a son of North Star III. It Is the acme of racing when thoroughbreds perform and win for thi breeder, and it is sei dom indeed that Mr. Bradley shows a hor-e that was not bred at Idle Hour and developed i from babyhood in his stable. Harry Payne Whitney and William Woodward are two ether I sportsn en who, to a great extent, breed and race their own, and there are others who knoe the thrill cf producing winners for their own silks. Saturday the stakes for the Hawthorne meet ing of the Chicago Business Mens Racing i sociatiun, as well as thoe to be docided at the new Coney Island c-urs-, near Cincinnati, were closed. It is known that each list met with a liberal response from the horsemen, but naturally the results will not be definitely known for some days, or until the returns are counted.
