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ARRANGING CHASE DETAILS » Committee Working on Conditions of New 0,000 Stake. ♦ Penalties and Allowances !Maj tiorern In Order to Attract Entries from Abroad — Captain Crawfords Suggestion. •— NEW YORK, N. T., April ! . The committee of the board of stewards of the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association, to whom has been assigned the task of ar- ranging the new steeplechase made possible by Bayard Warren and the generous co-operation of a group of sportsmen that wintered at Aiken, S. C, are making most satisfactory progress. Many details for the race, which now promises to be the richest prize for steeplechasers in the world, have been completed. The 0,000 guaranteed by Warran and his friends is, of course, assured, and indications now are that the value will be increased considerably. From all parts of the country have come requests for particulars regarding the subscription from those interested in cross-country racing, with many expressing a desire to take part in the race, confident that it will uplift steeplechasing as a whole. This outside interest should send the value over the 0,000 now assured. The plan of the committee to run the race at the course of the association offering the most generous purse to be added to the subscriptions, together with the entrance and starting fees added to the purse and donations, will bring the gross value to a total greater than has ever been awarded for a race through the field. Some estimate that the grand total will be more than $.~ 0,000. FIRST RACE AT THREE MILES. The question of distance has been discussed and while no definite decision has been made it is agreed that the best results will be obtained by making the initial running three miles. The distance may be increased for subsequent renewals. Much thought has been given to the conditions for the race as the desire is to frame a race that will please the greatest number. Handicaps have their advantages and also their disadvantages, and the thought at present is to provide for penalties and allowances calculated to prove more satisfactory both in this country and abroad. With the latter plan owners in England. Ireland and France would certainly be better pleased, for they would know just what weight their horses would be asked to carry and be guided in their plans thereby. With a handicap they would be wandering in a maze. They would naturally be compelled to ship their horses over a long time before the allotments could be made, and it might be that when the weights were announced they would take the view that they were assigned an impost that would mean little chance of victory. The uncertainty in this respect would have a tendency to keep many at home. FOREIGN OWNERS CONSIDERED. aptain Crawford, one of the keenest students of racing in England, recently discussing the race at Aiken with some of the committee in charge, assured them that a generous representation would be sent over, provided the race was over a long distance, and owners knew just what weight their horses would carry. His interest and promised support in making the race a great international event, together with the appreciation of his valued suggestions based on his long experience with turf matters abroad, will be considered in the final adjustment of conditions. The present inclination seems to be to defer to every practical suggestion that will tend to please foreign owners and trainers and give the even an international aspect, thus increasing the importance and general interest among the lovers of cross-country racing in this country. Joseph E. Davis, F. S. von Stade and Henry W. Bull, who have been commissioned to work out the details for the race are practical racing men, and their chief thought is to make the race a sporting event in the true sense of the word. «
