view raw text
Here and There on the Turf Single Foots Debut. Whitney Juveniles. Hastes Good Trial. Huntingtons Opening. Single Foot has made his 1926 debut and it was not exactly what was expected of him. Of course, the sterling sun of Wrack and Virginia L. is such a prime favorite in Maryland that anything short of a victory wa; bound to be disappointing, but Single Toot has been brought back to the races by Harry Rites in condition that should make him well up in the handicap division. Undoubtedly the courageous and swift running four year-old was just a bit short, even for the five and a half furlongs distance. Then it must be taken into consideration that he was meeting a fast band, under the top weight of 126 pounds, and Clarence Turner in no sense abused him in an effort to win. It is not meant by this that Single Foot was inadequately ridden, but he was not urged to give up his best, as he would have been in a race of greater importance. What counts for more than anything else is that the colt looks exceedingly well and his gallop was enough to convince that he still belongs right up in the front division, as will be demonstrated when he is next sent to the post. While on the racing of Saturday at Bowie it is well to call attention to the successes of H. P. Whitneys juveniles. Capricorn and llorian, both unsexed sons of Dis Done, a young stallion that raced under the Whitney silks some years back. Both of these geld ings will surely improve over this excellent showing, in which they finished first and second. Each is a gelding of becoming size and each has a smooth way of going that will win races. Fred Hopkins is to be congratulated on the excellent condition of the juveniles he has shown at the meeting and it is a sure thing that he will pile up more winnings for the popular New York sportsman before the end of the present meeting. Then at Havre de Grace, which is to follow, there will be other Whitney two year olds brought to the races and for the most part they have shown more than those that Hopkins has already ur.cov ered. There is sure to be great interest in the news that Joseph E. Wideners Haste is coming along so nicely in his preparation for the Kentucky Derby. When the swift running son of Maintenant and Miss Ma.aprop showed a half in :50% at Churchill Downs Friday it was enough to indicate that "Ham" Keene has his charge in a condition that will make much more serious questions possible within a short time. It will be remembered that Haste took the measure of Pompey, the two-year old champion of last year, in the Saratoga Special and in fh" Grand Union, also run at Saratoga, he beat home Canter. Both Pompey and Canter turned the tables on Mr. Wideners colt in the running of the Futurity at Belmont Park in September, but Haste did not seem to be exactly at him self in that running. Doubt has been expressed of the ability of Haste to go on for the mile and a quarter of the Derby distance, but Keene knows the colt well and he has no doubt of his being able to carry his speed for that distance with the best of them. It must be admitted that he is possessed of electrical speed and he is being brought up to his Derby engagement in a thoroughly satisfactory manner. The return of such a colt as Haste means much to the three year old division. He is particularly well supplied with big engagements during the year and even should he fail to make the Kentucky Derby, which is his present goal, Keene will have many another prize in view for his star. And while on the subject of the notable two-year olds of 1925 that have the Kentucky Derby in view it is well to remember Walter J. Salmons Right of Time. This fellow is another that was looked upon by many as a sprinter pure and simple, but as good a judge as Johnny Maiben, who rode him in most of his races, has no doubt of his developing into a notable stayer. And Maiben is a good judge. But Maiben made one mistake last fall. He had his choice of mounts in the Futurity between night of Time and Ursa Major and h" chos? the latter on what had been shown in private. He has regretted that choice ever since and had he been riding Flight of Time it is possible the Futurity would have had a different ending. Maiben has an abiding faith in Flight of | Time and in a conversation during the winter he said he would not swap the chances of Mr. Salmons co.t for the chance of any other eligible. Saturday marked the opening for the season at Huntington, W. Va.. and that means the opening of the circuit that continues through Ohio, over various tracks. The opening «M a thoroughly auspicious one and it gies great promise for the circuit. This racing takes care of a great many thor oughbre is of ordinary class and is of impor tance in the employment it offers these thor oughbreds. Each year many stables confine all their racing ojterationa to this smaller circuit and it has been decidedly profitable to many sport smen. Saturday the stakes of the Harford Associa tion, which races at Havre de Grace, were closed. It is known that the response to the offerings was a liberal one and when the returns have been tabulated it will be found that the second Maryland meeting will furnish better sport than ever before in its history. There are three 0,000 added stakes in the I Havre de Grace list. Two of these, the Harford j and Philadelphia Handicaps, are for three year olds and over, and the other two are the I Aberdeen Stakes for two-year-olds and the Chesapeake Stakes for the three-year olds. This last named stake is a mile and a sixteenth, to be run April 28, and it affords an excellent opportunity for the candidates for the Preakness at Pimlico and the Kentucky Derby that follows at Churchill Downs. Coming as late in April as it does, the Che?a; eake is decidedly popular with trainers who have eligibles for these big spring classics and each year it sees aspirants for either the Preakness or the Derby, or both, under silks.