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*■ — ♦ Here and There on the Turf Jamaica Opens Season. Defeat of Crusader. Reasons for Failure. Affairs in Florida. « # That magnificent opening of the New York racing season at Jamaica on Monday tells of what is to be expected from the 1927 racing over the courses under the control of The Jockey Club. The two days at the Terminal Course met with such success that the big Jamaica opening was expected to be a huge success and it was in no sense surprising. The big crowd was a representative one and the enthusiasm which prevailed told of the popularity of the sport. And another sign of the times was the lib oral entry made in the various races by the horsemen. It was known that there was an over abundance of horses fit and ready for the word, but the fact that there was a general raising of the weights in overnight races created some apprehension as to ju*t how the trainers would take the change. The first day would tend to show that they will give it hearty support and it should make for better racing. In all of the overnight races there was no weight of less than 100 pounds, yet there were 101 horses named for the six races, an average of more than fifteen to a race, while the smallest entry was nine in the third race. That should show conclusively that the trainers will offer no serious objection to the general raising of the weights. That it is a good move was never doubted, but trainers are not always in accord with innovations and particularly changes which require the taking up of greater weight. However, the racing of the first day should allay all the apprehension and it should mean that the racing in New York this year will afford a chance for better jockeys to ride, and, at the same time, furnish contests that will be more adequate tests for the horses. It was naturally a disappointment that Samuel D. Riddles Crusader should be beaten in his first start of 1927. He was whipped in the Philadelphia Handicap at Havre de Grace Saturday, when in all of his preparations for the running of the race he seemed to hold his opponents safe. Crusader had been working exceedingly well and he seemed to be ready, but the running would suggest that he needed the race. One race is worth several workouts in the fitting of a horse and the best of them have failed for need of that one conditioning race. Both Single Foot and Canter, the half brothers that finished first and second in the Philadelphia Handicap, had the advantage of racing before going to the post on Saturday, and, of course, it must be remembered that Crusader was giving Single Foot fourteen pounds and a year, which is considerable advantage for a five-year-old of the class of the son of Wrack and Virginia L. It is expected that this race will do much for Crusader in fitting him for what is to come and he must not be condemned for this defeat. Going back to the often quoted case of Sysonby, one of the greatest horses which ever bore the colors of James R. Keene, it is remem bered that in his first start as a three year old Race King ran him to a dead heat in the Metropolitan Handicap of 1905 and the only time that Sysonby was beaten was in the Futurity of the year before when he was third to Artful and Tradition. That dead heat was only the result of lack of condition, for the son of Melton and Optime then went through the year the winner of the Tidal Stakes, Commonwealth Handicap, Brighton Derby, Century Stakes, Realization Stakes and Annual Champion Stakes. In all, Sysonby was raced fifteen times and, as has already been told, bis only defeat was in the Futurity. And it is remembered that as good a horse as Oiseau was beaten by the ordinary plater Carey, at Saratoga, just for lack of condition. There were many other cases, but these are ones that are brought to mind. And to be beaten in the Philadelphai Handicap means little other than the disappointment that always comes with the failure of a champion. The Philadelphia Handicap also demonstrated that the Brooklyn Handicap winner of last year, Single Foot, as well as his half-brother Canter, have come back to be prominent candidates for handicap honors this year. This effort to create an opposition to racing in Miami, by the so called "committee of one thousand" thus far is truly amusing. It is a high sounding name, but it means nothing ■ as was demonstrated at the monster luncheon, during which plans were discussed, there were some fifty attended. There was a reason for the decision to appoint a publici y committee, the duties of [ which will be to give the press "cautious and , censored reports" and only such information as is deemed expedient. This is taken from a report of the luncheon meeting held in the Florida city. It is a most remarkable proceedure and the natural inference is that this meddlesome body seeks to hide facts and will endeavor to so color the published reports of its work to give the impression that it is representative of the : temper of Miami. No self-respecting publication would submit to censored reports, or reports of the proceedings of the committee that were colored to suit the ideas of its members. All any reputable publication would require would be the news of this remarkable committee and its acts. Facts are all that count and, while it may be that the gentlemen of the committee would not resort to other than facts, they could so hide what was vital of their doings that the news would not appear. When a committee of one thousand is only able to muster fifty at a luncheon, which in itself was an inducement to attend the meet-; ing, it docs not appear that racing in Miami has i much to fear from this high-sounding organ- J ization. Then there was a proposal for a mass meeting, but it was agreed that the time was not ripe for such a meeting. It was decided that any such meeting be deferred until it was assured that the attendance would be larger than would be possible at this time. In fact all through this meeting of the committee of one thousand, there was a plea for missionary work to create a feeling against the passage of any laws favorable to racing in ] Florida. This will be a big undertaking, even j should the committee of fifty grow to be a I committee of one thousand, for it is entirely possible that some of the fifty that attended were there through curiosity, while it is just possible that the luncheon attracted others. Altogether the committee of one thousand has not made an auspicious start in its crusade against racing in Miami. The fact that it is not willing to have its acts reported in the public print, and this attempt to dictate to the newspapers as to what they shall publish will certainly not add to the popularity or the success of the committee. As a matter of fact this meddlesome committee in Miami that by its own admission does not represent the temper of the city, is following right along the Unes of others who have from time to time sought to injure the American turf. Almost every campaign that has been made against racing has been an under cover proceeding and one that feared to come in the light and fight. Those who would break down the greatest of all sports have invariably resorted to wholesale charges of race track lawlessness that are absolutely false. They have always been deaf to arguments for the preservation of the sport and those of them who did not know did not take the trouble to find out, while others, who did know, were maliciously false in their arraignment of the sport. Through all this, too often racing has been put on the defensive. Too often racing has not turned the tables on the killjoys and compelled them to prove their charges. Racing has foolishly let well-enough alone in days of prosperity, while these men have worked constantly to wreck the whole fabric. There has been altogether too much selfishness in the various racing sections. There has been an utter lack of unity when this or that section is menaced by attacks. Thus it is that the sport is put in the false position of defending that which needs no defense. There is nothing in racing for which apology need be offered and there is no sport that is better policed and no sport that does more for the country other than simply affording the most delightful of all amusements.
