view raw text
Here and There on the Turf - F. R. Hitchcock Dead. Paumonok Weights. Chesapeake Outlook. Withers Declarations. In the sudden death of Francis H. Hitchcock the turf has lost another of its bigrest men. As is told in the news columns. Mr. Hitchcock died suddenly on shipboard while sailing for France on the Olympic. Sunday. Mr. Hitch cock was on his way to France to attend the races, where he has campaigned with even ■ greater measure of success, in recent years, than came to him in this country. It was after the passage of the Agnew Hart anti racing bill that Mr. Hitchcock, like many other turfmen, transferred most of his racing endeavors to France, but he continued one of the most valued members of The Jockey Club and one of its most energetic stewards. A son of Thoma Hitchcock, he came from a notable strain of turfmen and like his brothers and the present Thomas Hitchcock, there was no more ardent supporter of the turf. Two of the best horses raced by Mr. Hitch cock in this country were Dandelion and De canter, while he was part owner of the Futurity winner Yankee, after he had been retired to the stud. He was also a member of the syndicate in France that purchased Rock Sand from the late August Belmont for 50, 000 to return him to France. And it was in i France that Mr. Hitchcock bred and raced with i satisfying success. Mr. Hitchcock played an important part in the Saratoga Association and on the death 1 of its president. William C. Whitney, he wit-chosen its president, holding that office until 1908 when Richard T. Wilson i ecame its presi dent, an office which he still holds. Francis R. Hitchcock was of the highest type of sportsman. He frequently served with lis tinction in the stewards stand and in his office with The Jockey Club he was far seeing ? and a man of force and good judgment. The B turf on both sides of the Atlantic has suffered I an irreparable loss in his untimely passing. With the announcement of the weights for r the Paumonok Handicap new interest conies in 1 the rapidly approaching opening of the New • York racing season. It is but natural that Sarazcn should be at the top with 130 as his s impost, but it is improbable that he will be e seen at the post. Max Hirsch seems to have e the Dixie Handicap in view for the son of High h Time and Rush Box and his champion is train ing favorably for that big feature of the Pindico meeting. Sarazen is at Havre de Grace ■ and it was there last year that he had his final d tightening up that enabled him to win the C 1925 Dixie Handicap. That would make it it seem that he will not be on hand for the e o| cning of the New York racing season. The Paumonok Handicap is a three quarters "s dash to which ,000 is added, while the Dixie if Handicap is at a mile and three-sixteenth * with 5,000 in added money. Worthmore, last years winner, is just two *0 pounds under Sarazen with 128 as his burden, n, but he is another that may not be feared this ■ spring. His Miami form was anything but it good during that early meeting and he went it amiss in Florida. Wise Counsellor, his stable e- mate, is in no better fix and that takes the ic handicap to Silver Fox. This colt is in under »r 124 pounds and that is just two pounds more re weight than the assignment to Sun Hag. Then •n there comes a thoroughly seasoned sprinter in in Noah. lAst year Noah was only beaten a nose, by ty Wise Counsellor and he is a wonderfully iin a proved torse this year, as his performance es j | i j | j • . i . . p i i 1 ? B I r 1 • s e e h ■ d C it it e "s if * *0 n, ■ it it e- ic »r re •n in in by ty a es in Maryland will testify. Unless a three year I tl old should be the winner this Noah seems to b; by be the logical choice among the highweights. tl Of the three year-old; George Odom seems to have a dangerous candidate in Sarmaticus ni and. at the distance, he is one that must be ai accorded serious consideration. p But a high class field and a great renewal 0 seems assured and after all that is what is jj most to be desired. a at w To talk of the possibilities for a good race n coming out of the Chesapeake Stakes of the V Harford Association, at Havre de Grace, is to talk of the candidates for the Preakness Stakes of the Maryland Jockey Club, and the candi dates for the Kentucky Derby that are in training in Maryland. This Chesapeake Stakes contains the names of many of the eligible* to these 150.000 stake races in its list and it is generally looked upon as one of the best trials for the Preakness Stakes, which is to b- run at Pindico on Mav 10. Some of the good r ones in the Chesapeake Stakes are J. K. I.. Ross Penstick, the Sagamore Stables Rock i Man. Walter J. Salmons Display, the Glen i Riddle Farm Stables Dress Parade and Crusa I I IS der and there are others that are coming up 4 *4 to the race in brilliant fashion. IS 5 i 6 It would appear that the Chesapeake Stakes 1 j will have one of the best fields in ils history j for the coming renewal. This race for three year olds was first run in 1920 when it fell to 1 ] Sandy Beal and after his victory a high price! . was offered for him. Then in 1921 Walter J. j Salmons good filly Careful was the winner, j S I Bunting was the winner for H. P. Whitney j j 4 in 1922 and in 1923 Richard T. Wilsons Wil 1 j 1 .". derness won. J. S. Cosdens Nautical was its . j winner in 1924. while last year the race fell j to the Xalapa Farm Stables Sweeping Away. T While not one of these winners has ever gone on to win either a Preakness Stakes or 1 a Kentucky Derby, the Chesapeake Stakes still I continues an excellent trial for both of those I I | races and this year, possibly more than ever ■| I before, the prospect is bright for some of the eligibles to those great races being in the field. . I 0 It develops that Chance Play has not been I declared from the Withers Stakes, as was an nounced some time ago. The Racing Calendar of February published that Chance Play. Festi val, Claptrap, Caustic and High Star had been declared. This should have read that the dec larations were Rejuvenation. Priceman. Cata clysm, Rickvel and Judicial, Thus it will be seen that the publication was on those that remain in the race, instead of f those that had been declared. It was an error r | J tl b; by tl ni ai p 0 jj a at w n V that occasioned a deal of comment, principally reason of Chance Play being among those that would not have a try for the race. Just who was to blame for the mistake is not known, but no serious harm has been done and there must be general rejoicing that Chance-Play . is to have his opportunity in this famous old mile dash, which is to be run Wednesday, May 28. He has been training well for Feustel I Belmont Park and it is expected that he . will be brought to the races during the Jamaica 1 meeting to put the finishing touches on his i Withers Stakes preparation. »
