view raw text
Here and There on the Turf ! Racing at the Downs. , History of the Clark. ; On Suspension Rules. Two Notable Appointments. — - «$ The opening of the Churchill Downs meeting at Louisville is always the biggest turf happening in Kentucky. It! j always means that the Kentucky D3rby i | ! is almost at hand and it means the beginning of a meeting over the most famous racing ground in the state, if not on the continent. It is natural that the Kentucky Derby would make any racing ground famous, | but Churchill Downs has many other claims to fame and popularity and while I it was the Kentucky Derby alone that made necessary the building of such stands for the patrons, there are many r other stake races of rare turf importance that play an important part. The opening on Tuesday was one to i I suggest that this season will surpass all Others in point of attendance and in I I I interest shown in the sport. It is the j first meeting conducted under the new order of things, with the Churchill Downs Jockey Club, rather than the Kentucky Jockey Club in charge. This change was brought about during the winter, but it really meant little in the e conduct of the sport, and that is what concerns the racing public. There is the g same efficient staff in charge of the e meeting. The same liberal policies are e continued and so far as the patrons are 9 concerned it merely means a change in name. The first big event of the meeting g comes with the running of the Clark Handicap at a mile and a sixteenth, to which 0,000 is added. This is down for decision on Saturday and in addition to the older horses of the handicap division , there are several Derby candidates found in the eligible list. This Clark Handicap is one of the e truly venerable American stake races. 3 It was first run in 1875, the first year r . the Derby was run, and its roster of winners contains the names of many champions. From 1875 to 1901 it was known as the Clark Stakes and it was exclusively for three-year-olds, bringing together , many of the same ones that raced d in the Derby, at two miles. In 1S7G, the second running- of the race, Creedmoor beat Vagrant in the Clark Stakes and in in : ! , ; j i | ! | I r i I I I I j e g e e 9 in g to to , e 3 r . , d in in the Derby Vagrant had beaten Creed- ■ moor. In 1878 Leveller beat Day Star, while Day Star had won the Derby with Leveller third. In 1881 Hindoo was the winner of both races. In 1884 Buchanan won them both. Then in 1889 Spokane won them both and the year following both were taken by Riley. Azra placed both to his credit in 1892 and Chant and Halma, in 1894 and 1895 respectively, took both also. Others that won both the Clark Stakes and Derby, in those days, were Plaudit, Lieutenant Gibson and His Eminence, which was the winner of the last run- c ning of the Clark Stakes as a three-year- £ old fixture in 1901. In all the fifty-three years of glorious r Kentucky Derby history it is a bit J remarkable that only one winner after- j wards begat a winner. That one was ! Halma, which won in 1S95. Then in 1902 Allan-a-Dale, son of Halma, was the « winner. . And in all those years there have only t been seven sires that can boast of send- ing more than one winner to the post, i Virgil was the sire of Vagrant, Hindoo and Ben AIL King Alfonso was the sire of the winners Fonso and Joe Cotton. Longfellow has the winners Leonatus j and Riley to his credit. Broomstick, still in service, sired the winners Meridian j and Regret, the only filly to win the big i race. McGee was the sire of Donerail and Exterminator. The Finn was represented by Zev and Flying Ebony, and Falsetto was represented by Chant and Sir Huon. One excellent Maryland rule that was put into operation at the Bowie meeting this spring, had to do with the suspen- sion of jockeys. It provided that any suspension, inflicted as a punishment for anything but fraud, would not become effective until the jockey had ridden out his engagements of the following day. The reason for this is readily understood. Almost invariably the riding engagements for one day are made the day before, or possibly two or three days before. When the term of suspension begins with the end of the day on which it is inflicted, as is the general rule, the punishment is also inflicted on any trainer who may have engaged the jockey for the following day. It is not just, and it is not the intent to punish other than the offending rider and when the trainer is denied his serv-ices in this fashion, by reason of the suspension, he is made to suffer. Frequently the time is too short to obtain any other suitable rider and it is for that reason that the rule was changed at Bowie to permit the jockey to ride out following day engagements made before the suspension was inflicted. The punishment remains the same, but this amendment prevents the innocent trainer from sharing in the punishment. It was also required, for the carrying out of this rule, that jockeys, or heir agents, keep a pen and ink record of luture engagements, properly dated, to guard against the making of engagements after the punishment has been inflicted. There come frequent cases of trainers who know nothing of the suspension of the rider they have under engagement, until shortly before the running of a race and when it is next to impossible to find a suitable substitute. The rule seems to be an eminently fair one and it should be universal. The selection of W. E. Smith of Louisville as a member of the Kentucky State Racing Commission is cause for con- gratulation. Mr. Smith has long been a close student of racing and the thoroughbred horse and no man is better qualified to serve on this important board. A man of judgment, balance and sterling integ- 7 rity, Mr. Smith combines all the quali- I 7 fications for the office. | S Gene Xormile has surely begun his j management of the Tijuana racing auspi- l J ciously when he has induced John B. J Campbell to be one of the official family J for the Mexican racing of next year. Mr. j Campbell will fill the office of racing I 1 secretary, where he has proved his worth 1 I by several years of endeavor at various I ] courses, and he will also serve in the stewards stand. There is no racing r J S 7 official who takes his duties more seri- | ously than does Jack Campbell and he ; i i enjoys the respect and admiration of the ? best men of the turf. Always in demand j j j manager Normile is to be congratulated i J in inducing Campbell to move from New 1 Orleans to Tijuana next fall.
