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0 Here and There on the Turf Handy Mandys Feat. Peanuts Moves Up. Jolly Rogers Weight. - The Biggs Memorial. - 8 $ Some interesting turf history was made Saturday, when. Handy Mandy, a maiden filly, was the winner of the Latonia Derby in record time, and Peanuts adV vanced considerably in the handicap division by winning the Brookdald Handicap at Aqueduct Handy Mandy surely escaped from the maiden class brilliantly, when she raced the mile and a half of the Latonia Derby in 2:28, and Peanuts, repeating his Brooklyn Handicap victory, proved that he was not a weakling in the matter of weight carrying, when he shouldered 119 pounds. Were it not for the fast time that was hung out by H. P. Headleys filly in the Latonia Derby, it would surely be considered something of a disappointing renewal of the old stake race, but the fast time will always make it a well-remembered race. Handy Mandy had failed frequently and she had not been rated with the colts, even though she enjoyed the advantage of the maiden allowance when she went to the post, but the fact that she broke the American record, made her performance a memorable one. As for Peanuts, he moved up in the handicap division for the reason that he had never before won under as much as 119 pounds. The Brookdale Handicap also tended to indicate that Chance Play has been a bit overrated. He had no mishaps in the running, and the way he quit when put to the real test, in the final drive, did not add anything to his reputation. It was a great handicap when five of the six runners finished in such close order, and testified to the skill of Walter Vosburgh, but Chance .Play was "dogging it" badly at the end, and he cannot longer be considered in the first handicap division. Mr. Vosburgh necessarily keeps Jolly Roger at the top of the handicap division and, though he declined under 175 pounds, he has the same impost for the Winfield Steeplechase, that is to be decided through the Aqueduct field on Wednesday. He had won the Bayside Steeplechase so easily under 170 pounds that it was inevitable he should pick up a penalty over that weight and, as a matter of fact, it must be remembered that Jolly Roger has not yet been called upon to meet the best of the cross-country division. Just how he will perform when these best ones meet him, which probably will not be until the August meeting at Saratoga, then there will be the first real chance to determine his real class. Thus far the big horse has earned all the weight that he has been asked to shoulder. The minimum weight in a steeplechase is fixed at 130 pounds, and the class of the others in the Bayside Steeplechase is shown when eight of them are In at this minimum, while there are twenty-six of them in the same race that are handicapped, at less than 140 pounds. This means Jolly Roger is required to give away more than ,, thirty-five pounds to each of these, which, of course, makes it appear a severe handicap. Thirteen more of them are in at less than 145 pounds, while the nearest to Jolly Roger are Erne II., a stablemate, and Joseph E. Wideners Lizard, both at 155 pounds, twenty pounds less than his weight. To give away twenty pounds, whether-it be on the flat or a steeplechase, is a big contract, but it does not count for as much through the field as it does on the flat. While 130 pounds is the fixed minimum, it is easily understood that Mr. Vosburgh must go to 175 pounds with Jolly Roger to make room for the others in the Winfield Steeplechase. One of the big chances for the three-year-olds comes as late as November in the Riggs Memorial Handicap at a mile and a half, a 5,000 added race of the Maryland Jockey Club, which had its first running last year at Pimlco. It is appropriate at that time in the year to have such a race under handicap conditions, for it is usual that so late in the racing season, there is perhaps one that stands out so far over the others, at scale weight, that it would seldom result in a good contest. For the initial running of this race last year, Samuel D. Riddles Crusader, under the top weight of 130 pounds, was its winner from Mars carrying 119 pounds and Gaffsman under 110 pounds, and it was worth 2,450 to the winner. There is every reason to expect that the Riggs Memorial Handicap will have a like, or even a higher net value next November. The nominations to the Riggs Memorial Handicap will be closed by secretary M. L. Daiger of the Maryland Jockey Club Monday, August 8, at the Baltimore office of the club in the. Equitable Building. Such memorial races as the Riggs Memorial Handicap always are a fitting monument to the memory of a turfman of high repute. There are several in this country, as in fact there are several in every country where horses are raced, and they keep green the memory of notables of the sport The Riggs Memorial Handicap is in commemoration of the memory of the late William P. Riggs, who for many years was secretary and the ruling spirit of the Maryland Jockey Club. It was largely through the influence and work of Mr. Riggs that the Maryland Jockey Club was brought to a first importance among the racing associations of the country and it was fitting that when the memorial race was designed that it should have both a monetary and a sporting importance. A mile and a half for three-year-olds with 5,000 in added money and a gold cup of ,000 value has that importance and the history of the stake began auspiciously when it fell to such a colt as Crusader. There was little surprise when announcement was made that there would be no race meeting at Peoria, 111. While no reason was assigned for the declaring off of the meeting, it is the generally accepted belief that it is because of the new racing law for Illinois that goes into effect July 1. The daily tax, imposed by the new law, would be a heavy load for such a meeting as that at Peoria to carry and it is doubtful if the racing could be made to pay its way, over such a track, when put to an expense. One of the chief reasons for the law was to control the racing in the state and make it a sport that was worthy of the best horses and the best sportsmen. By this, it is not meant to in any manner criticize the sport that was conducted at Peoria, but it naturally had to be modest racing, by reason of the limited patronage, and necessarily it did not measure up to the standard that is desired in the state. The passing of Peoria will still leave racing for all needs of both the horsemen and the public. Application has already been made for licenses to race, under the new law, by the Lincoln Fields Jockey Club of Chicago, for its meeting from July 2 until August 13; by the Fairmount Jockey Club for the three racing days, from July 1 until July 4, that will remain of the present meeting under the Lager racing law.
