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•— LIU the Here and There on the Turf 5 son ar and " Gl Passing of Price McKinney. and« take Notable Figure in Sport. tk Training of Derby Hopes. JJ Excel. wi will Bowie Racers i The untimely passing of Price McKinney fe was a grievous shock to the entire turf world br Mr. McKinney in recent years had not taken an active interest in the turf as he did some w will years back when with James Corrigan the m in Wickliffe Stud was established and a powerful stable of thoroughbreds carried the colors of the confederacy on the turf. The Kingston Stud was the breeding estab = lishment of these turfmen and when they joined as breeders it was one of the biggest . ei turf happenings in many a year. No racing stable was ever assembled with more care or with less regard to cost and the stable came . • a. a. P1 into an instant prominence, though not a by success commensurate with the expenditure • in bringing it together. After a short career in partnership there was a dissolution and the sale of the Wickliffe Stable and stud was of even greater importance than its formation. The stock was distributed among various purchasers, while the farm itself was taken over by Emil Herz, who s changed the name to the Short Grass Stud in honor of his premier stock horse at that time. Incidentally one of the reputed swiftest running horses bred by Mr. McKinney and his partner. Mr. Corrigan, was High Time, the sire of Saraien, one of the greatest geldings of American racing. Hih Time made most of his reputation in phenomenal trials and broke down before he made a name for himself on the turf, but he transmitted his electric speed to Sarazen. Price McKinney was a sterling sportsman and an ornament to the American turf. He did much for the sport and for breeding interests in this country and in his passing the thoroughbred world has lost one of its most notable supporters. With the Kentucky Derby just about four weeks away and the 0,000 Preakness Stakes of the Maryland Jockey Club to be run five A days earlier, the doings of the crack three * year olds become of much greater interest. At the different training grounds the aspirants to the big race are having their exercises stretched out a ! ii and shortly there will come news of this or that candidate being galloped the full mile and a quarter. Thus far there are none of the -training , reports that are worthy of any degree of excitement. It is always of interest to know , that the good two year olds of the year before are in training. The fact that they are gallop ing is news that is welcome and from the number that have been galloping well there ! seems to be good reason to expect a particu larly large field for the Kentucky Derby on May IK. But there is no disguising the fact ■ that by reason of the unseasonable weather horses generally are at least two weeks behind i ! in their preparation. That is to say, two weeks s behind a favorable season. Of course, much can be done in the remaining time with what has already been accom plished, but there will be scant chance of any candidate going stale by being made ready to race too early. And, by the way, there may be something in the late season. On occasions, with horses further advanced, trainers have had no little trouble keeping a candidate on edge, after having fitted him for a contest gome time before its date falls due. There is another advantage in the backward peason, though a doubtful one, and that is th- , = ei P1 by • s A * , , ! ■ i ! s -. promise that possibly it will not take an entirely fit horse to win the Derby. That . will induce many a trainer to take a chance that he would not otherwise take. The champion that is not exactly up to his best is no means as dangerous a proposition and this should make for a bigger field and a more open race. The opening day of the Havre de Grace meeting saw the Bowie form on top in six of the seven races. The only winner of that opening day that did not have a Bowie sea- ; soning was Landlord, the bay son of Boniface and Tiarco that races for J. K. L. Ross. This was the winner of the half mile dash for two-year-olds and he only scored by a narrow margin from Golden Pennant, one that raced at Bowie. Johnny Campbell, Timmara, Cudgeller, Noah, Clique and Modo all had the Bowie seasoning and it was a decided help in the result. And i this may obtain for a few more days of the new racing season, though there are many good ones which will begin at the present Maryland meeting that are well calculated to turn the tables on the seasoned horses later. Racing soon brings a thoroughbred into condition and it will not be long before those that began a 1926 campaign at Havre de Grace will ask no odds of any of the others. One good thoroughbred that has come back with a winning race at the first asking is In-grid, the daughter of Crimper and Dinah Do that races for Lee Rosenberg. Her victory over Samuel Ross Cinema at Havre de Grace Thursday was truly impressive. It was impressive for the reason that it was the first start for this good filly, while Cinema had the advantage of the seasoning that came with her Bowie campaign. Ingrid had last appeared under colors in the Endurance Handicap at a mile at Bowie last fall and in that race she was only beaten a head by High Star. Shelby Burch has brought this good and game filly back to the races in good condition and she is sure to go on to greater things. Ingrid does not seem to have grown any since last year and is anything but an impressive filly in appearance, but she is both fast and game, qualities that should carry her far among those of her age and sex. . . Ingrid is well engaged and it would not be entirely unexpected if she raced her way to the top of the filly division. , 1
