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I 1 , p I e . s | -. r p - I I, A e 0 „ g II 1, t. * of f . of - 1 e e to o to o d iy h ,-- lc by ,v of -,f .k NEW YORK RACING SEASON • Opening of Tracks on Metropolitan Circuit Near at Hand. ♦ Pmrtire of Visiting Course o See Morning QaJaapa .rowing in Popular Favor. ♦ XKW rORK, N. Y.. April IS.— With the opening of the New York racing season only a matter of a few days distant, the spirits of local turfites are running high. The publica- tion of Mr. Yosburghs weights for the Paumonok Handicap, the first of the spring races, which is carded for Wednesday. April 2S, the opening day at Jamaica, will give enthusiasts something to talk about until the eventful day is at hand. The practice of visiting the various courses .to see the morning training gallops is grow-•. ing in favor. There is no better evidence of interest in the turf than this, and it is some-;. thing that should be encourageel to the limit eby the racing authorities. It is a feature of the meeting at Saratoga Springs, and is in a gre-at measure responsible for much of the popularity of the Spa. Those who are devotees of flat racing throng the regular course, until the last horse has had his gallop and been put away for the day. while those who pin their faith to the steepleehasers. confine their attention largely to Horse Haven, where -there is a schooling ground for cross country purposes. Uelmont lark has a greater quota of horses in training than the other courses hereabouts. and il has consequently been popular with those whose love of the thoroughbred em- braces his training as well as his racing activities. President Widener of the West- Chester Racing Association has encouraged these morning visits, just as his predecessor Maj. August Helmont did. particularly when Papyrus and Kpinard were getting ready for their tests with the pick of our American horses a few years ago. The Saratoga course has long been regarded as one of the most potent attractions of that popular resort. whose glory would be dimmed without the August period of sport. President Wilson has thrown the gates eipen to the public at all times, save during the hours when the horses were racing, in the afternoon, and many a fan gets his first racing thrill by seeing a number of horses at work in the morning. FOR SA UATO; A IP. Speaking of Saratoga reminds one that his association has many fine races on its program for the current year. None, however, will surpass the Saratoga Cup. if the horses that have been named for it stand their preliminary training. The fact that no fewer than thirty-six three-year-olds are named for the mile and three-quarters rac-e. cannot fail to gratify those who recall the time when the presence of half a dozen candidates of that age in this rac-e would have caused comment. Mad Pla.v. Altawood, Aga Khan. Princess Dereen, Chilhowee, American Flag. Quatrain. Hallucination. My Own, P.ig Plaze. Silver Kox. Senalado. Our General and Imperial Kagle are the pick of the older horses in the cup. while Chance Play. Pisplay, Plight of Time. High Star. Macaw. Percussion and Kock Star are some of the three-year-olds. Imported Imperial Kagle is a son of White Kagle. one of the National Stud stallions at the Curragh of Kildare in Ireland. He is the propert of James W. Corrigan of Cleveland. Ohio, who has been racing abroad for some years. Mr. Corrigan was a partner of the late Price McKinney of Clevelantl, in the Kingston Stud sonic years ago. and it is his intention to race quite a number of horses in this country this ear. Kike other Ameri- cans. Mr. Corrigan has found a charm in racing abroad. That he is to divide his stable is good news. This is the practice that has been adopted by Joseph K. Widener. who maintains an extensive French establishment. but whose main racing interests are in this country . It is to be hoped that Qgden Mills of .New fork, whose colors ha«- been promi- nent oti French courses this spring, will adopt a similar policy to that of Mr. Widener, as he would be a distinct acquisition to racing Continued on second pagoi i I NEW YORK RACING SEASON Continued from first price on The Jockey Club courses. The American friends of Mr. Mills will be lad to hear tha- he has a good horse in the four-year-old Millet by Macdonald 1 1., from MUlerette, by Elf. next dam, Musotte. by St. Damien. Millet, though bred to stay— his sire is by Bay Ronald — was supposed to be lacking In stamina. The manner in which he won the Grand Irix de Xice at MSI nn-.i is. defeating among others the Macoml»t pair. Stetheros and the Statesman, would mark him for still better things. With the sec:. ml jockey. Botte-tpiin, on his back — Esling. the premier rider for the stable elected to ride Minas. the sup-!H sed crack of the Mills string Millet took the lead, set a terrific pace, and was never headed. Millet has also won the Frix de Monte Carlo this spring, and since his purchase at Oeauville last August has annexed four races for Mr. Mills for a value of lr.n.ono francs. The Grand Prix ie Xice of 1!*20. recalls the running of the Powie Handicap at Pimlico in 1917. Omar Khayyam and VYesty Hogan were sent to the post for that race by-Richard F. Carman. The former was considered one of the best stayers in the country, while the mile was supposed to be the limit of Westy Hogan in first class company. Wcaty was put in the Powie to make the running for Omar Khayyam, but the brown horse had taken the bit In his teeth and run away several miles a fi-w mornings before the day of the BOWte, and he was r.ady to go farther than his connections believed. Westy not only won the race in a canter but covered a mile and a half in 2:31S, which was then dose to the record for the distance over the Fimlii o course. Many horses rated as sprinters would tay il" they were trained for longer races. H. C. Crickmore. lonpr dean of ■porting writers on the Xew York World, and later secretary of the Westchester Racing Associa! ion. was fond of telling how the Feather Flate. one of the autumn long distance events of the English turf, was almost invariably won by a sprinter. If our American trainers would fill overnight races at a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half, the breed of horses would be improved, and the public would enjoy better sport. Much of the popularity of the French turf is due to the long races on the programs of the various Gallic courses. This writer saw twenty-six horses in a race of a mile and three-quarters on the closing day of the flat racing season at St. Cloud last December. It was a thrilling and novel experience, and was heightened by the fact that the winner was ridden by James Wingfield. the American-liiin colored rider, who was in Russia for so many years.
