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LEXINGTON BOOK OUT » Conditions Announced for Races of First Kentucky Meeting. » More Than 700 Horses Now in Training at Kentucky Association Course. v ♦ — — LEXINGTON, Ky., March 31.— Distribution of condition books for the coming thirteen-day meeting of the Kentucky Association that opens April 21, combined with much improved near springlike weather to arouse a keen interest in the approaching Kentucky racing season here this morning. Horsemen, riders and the more devout enthusiasts were stirred to the sharpest desire to witness the preparation of the more than seven hundred horses at the local track in the face of adverse training conditions. The Kentucky Association track retained much of the water deposited on Thursday, when heavy showers visited this section but, realizing xhe condition books and brilliant spring sunshine signalled the approach of a new season, trainers set a number of racer:: down for brisk moves over the muddy racing ground. Activity of the thoroughbreds was so extensive that the main ccurse and sand track were crowded with horses from sun up until almost noon. While the muddy condition of the outer track was against fast trials, no small number of horses worked briskly over the slippery footing and the training over the sand strip was punctuated with numerous speed tests at short distances. DERBY CANDIDATES WORK. Outstanding among the trials of candidates for the impending renewal of the 0,000 added Kentucky Derby was the easily done five-eighths in 1 :09%, by R. S. Clarks Dark Eagle. This son of Star Hawk — Breathing Spell well satisfied trainer A. "Jack" Baker by doing one-quarter in :27, half in :56 and five-eighths in the aforementioned time. He was hard held throughout and convinced the many onlookers that he is quite proficient in such trying footing as prevailed. Breaking behind Dark Eagle and also hard restrained. Wisdom, another three-year-old in the pretentious Clark stable, breezed a like distance in 1 :13, which was not much of a task for him. C. W. Moore sent Martie Flynn to the main track for light exercise that required him to gallop over the mile course at a slow pace, and several other Derby hopefuls were seen in like training during the morning. A continuance of the fine weather that prevailed today is expected to work considerable betterment in the track overnight, and excellent going is in prospect by Monday, should the weather hold up. The condition books, the work of racing secretary William H. Shelley, which the printer delivered "this morning, were ordered distributed by S. S. Combs, president of the Kentucky Association. They were well received by horsemen and were in great demand. Careful perusal reveals that the better grade of horses will have more opportunity than ever before and. despite the early season, older racers will be required to race over a longer distance of ground for most of the purse money. Two-year-olds will race exclusively at one-half mile for the first five days of the meeting, and at four and one-half furlongs for the remainder of the local season. NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS. Additional improvements to the Kentucky Association plant are to be made before the coming meeting, and work of installing some of them was inaugurated this morning. The latter includes repu:ng of portions of the lawn of pavilion under the grandstand with concrete and brick, and repair of the grandstand. President Combs this morning announced that the demand for stalls here is so great that the association was forced to r ~t 125 stalls outside the grounds to take care of some of the overflow. It will be impossible to meet all requests for stabling accommodations, according to Mr. Combs, who estimated that about 450 horses of various owners will be deprived of opportunity to come h?re through the stall shortage. This morning the stable of Frederick Johnson, in charge of Jack Middleton, entrained for Belmont Park and trainer W. W. Taylor got away for Bowie with nine racers owned by H. P. Headley. The latter stable was headed by Mike Hall, which will carry the Headley colors in several early Maryland stakes. His principal engagement in the old line state will be in the Dixie Handicap at Pimlico on opening day. Soon after Taylor got away with his nine head Johnny Daniels brought in from Headleys Beaumont Farm fifteen additional Headley horses. They took Continued ou nintU page. LEXINGTON BOOK OUT i Continued from first page. quarters in the Headiey ham at the local track. Jake Lowenstein took fouiteen horses to Douglas Park to join ten others that have been at that Louisville track for two weeks, the fourteen horses which left here included Ruril:, the gray son of Stefan the Great, which is looked upon as one Of the outstanding western candidates for the Kentucky Derby. The colt, purchased last fall from Joseph K. idener by Lowenstein and L. M. Xtwgass. has been galloping at Elmendorf Farm and left here in spltndid condition. Others in the shipment were Chicago, F. M. Ghmbners sterling ohier performer and regarded as a leader among the western handicap horses ; Spanish Kay, Renharg, Brunswick, Sun Saoeur, Windy City, Al Sabath, Coppc-rfield, Cloverfield, Killyfield. Dearfield Momentous and an unnamed two-year-old son of Whiskaway. Ifementona was pu"chased Friday from J. E. Widmer by Lovrensteks and Xtwgass at private terms. He is a brown son of Mont d"Or II. — MomentOhv. Lowenstein has Miss Mildred. Dora D., David K.. Laddie, Blessc field, Florida Gold, Cuddle, Dr. Maxen, Blue Mask and Blight Shawl at Douglas lark. They were raced at New Urelans during the past season. The stable of J. T. Looney, local turfman, and several other smaller establishments are due here tomorrow from Jefferson Park. The Jaris stall gate for starting, which is to be tested during the coming loeaJ meeting, is expected to be available for schooling here the latter part of next week.
