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Here and There on the Turf Passing of Payne Whitney Chance Shots Place On New York Rules How Trainers Dominate The untimely passing of Payne Whit ¬ ney is a shock to the entire turf world just as it is a shock to the financial social and sporting world for few men have enjoyed the admiration and respect that was the due of that sterling sports ¬ man It is an irreparable loss to the American turf and only his close asso ¬ ciates fully realize the meaning of his death to racing for his innate modesty never permitted the rank and file of the devotees of racing to understand his powerful influence in the sport sportNo No man gave more generously of his wealth and his talents to the turf and there were few men in racing that could be better spared to the sport Joseph E Wideners Chance Shot has made one more important step towards the Belmont Stakes which is his big goal this spring When the son of Fair J play Quelle Chance was an easy winner j of the Withers Stakes at a mile before as fast a colt as Sweepster he left no doubt of his present ability The Bel ¬ mont Stakes is a mile and a half race but this sterling colt has every reason to carry on for such a distance and Peter Coyne has brought him back to the races in a condition that bids fair to see him champion at the end of the year yearThe The absence of Valorous and Whiskery from the Withers Stakes field still j j leaves the Kentucky Derby winner and j possibly a better colt for Chance Shot to j j overcome before his title to the cham ¬ pionship is clear but the manner in which he disposed of Sweepster was to say the least impressive and should he meet the Whitney colts in the Bel ¬ mont Stakes he will surely be the public choice over both of them Nowhere that horses are raced are the trainers shown so much consideration as in New York and at the same time they show scant appreciation of the privileges they enjoy enjoyEntries Entries are not closed at 10 oclock in the forenoon because it does not suit the convenience of the trainers Scratch ing is permitted almost until post time while elsewhere they must be announced early in the forenoon and at some courses as early as 8 oclock in the morning There need be no announce ¬ ment of the jockeys that are to ride until the afternoon and not long before the actual running of the race raceJust Just by way of comparison at Churchill Downs and the other Kentucky tracks the regulation is that entries close at 1030 a m and declarations must be made at 9 oclock in the morning In Canada there is the same closing time for the entries and the declarations must be made at 830 in the morning This is the rule that is found at almost every other race course except those of New York YorkAn An effort was made to bring about some reforms at Saratoga Springs but it was a failure for the reason that the trainers would not conform to the re ¬ quest rather than a rule It was at ¬ tempted to have them name their riders at the time of entry as is required else ¬ where but that was also a failure for want of the cooperation of the trainers Some time ago a real effort was made to have an earlier closing of entries and it was strenuously fought by the trainers though at Aqueduct the closing time was moved up to 130 oclock which was not much of a concession concessionThese These same trainers when they invade the other racing centers as they fre ¬ quently do have to conform to the rules and they do so without complaint They do so because the rules are enforced In New York each time an effort has been made to bring about changes for the good of racing it has been the cus ¬ tom invariably to consult the convenience of the trainers before anything is done and it is not recorded that the trainers have made any concessions for the good of the sport and the progress of the turf Then there is the adding of starters that is prohibited on various tracks yet it is permitted in New York YorkRacing Racing associations should come to a realization that each one of these track rules is one that advances the sport and it is high time that some consideration be accorded the public and not all the consideration be given the trainers who show so little appreciation of what they enjoy enjoyThere There is no reason why entries should not be closed just as early at the New York courses as elsewhere and there is no good reason why the declaration hour should not be just as early as it is in Kentucky and everywhere else New York trainers have the same chance to name their riders at the time of entry as they have in Kentucky and there does not seem to be any reason why the pro ¬ gram should not carry both the names of the jockeys and the post positions as are shown at the other courses coursesThese These are aids to the patrons of the racing and after all the public that pays the way of the horses and the trainers should have some say in the matter Then this question of scratching fre ¬ quently becomes an evil that does a world of harm When entries announce the meeting of a number of stars of the turf and at post time it is found that all of these stars are absent it is the most natural thing in the world for those who do not know the rules or the lack of rules to at once come to the conclusion that the card has been purposely padded with the intent of drawing a crowd crowdNo No association in New York is guilty of this cheap catchpenny trick but the way is open for such a charge and the patrons that visit the race course to see a Crusader Sarazen Mars Macaw Os mand Silver Fox and Sweepster in com ¬ petition and then find instead a field of platers under colors naturally feel they have been cheated cheatedTime Time and again under the present slip ¬ shod method programs have been wrecked in just this fashion and it should not be And it all gets back to the lack of adequate rules for the guidance of trainers in the entering and scratch ¬ ing of their horses horsesIt It is only in New York that these trainers have the opportunity to play fast and loose They have shown such an utter disregard for the public that only a change in the rules and the en ¬ forcement of better rules will bring a reform reformThe The New York public has put up with these conditions for many a year and it is only the tremendous appeal of rac ¬ ing that maintains the bountiful patron ¬ age under the existing rules and the dis ¬ regard of salutary regulations for the comfort and convenience of these patrons j
