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Here and There on the Turf More On Derby Chances. Appeal of Eelraont Park. Sale of Taras Hall. Justice F. Coming Back. * — — While there are several of the candidates for the Kentucky Derby that have attracted considerable attention in their final preparation for the big race, it is a notable fact that the move of each is compared with the performance of Mrs. Hertz Reigh Count in discussing chances for victory. The son of Sunreigh is still the gauge that is taken and it tells of the continued confidence that exists generally in the colt. That is reason enough for an assurance that he will go to the post the public choice. That favoritism has never been seriously threatened and, of course, his victory of Monday strengthened his position. With more than a probability that the going will be muddy for the running of the race, there still seems to be every reason to expect that the field will be a large one, and while most of the candidates that would prefer a fast track will still be raced, should muddy going prevail, there are those that will have a try, though they would not be started over a fast track. The big race remains a decidedly open one, even though Reigh Count impressed many with his one race. It remains an open one, to hear the many discussions on the chances of this or that eligible, but that is peculiar of every Kentucky Derby, and it is one of the many reasons for its being such a wonderful American stake race. Bobashela, winner of the Chesapeake Stakes at Havre de Grace, is one of the latest to attract attention and his mile in 1:41% on Wednesday morning, through going that was slow from the rain of Tuesday, was a good move. At the time the move attracted much attention and the B. 13. Jones eligible was conceded a fairly good chance. Strolling Players workout, between races, on Wednesday was not particularly impressive, but the English colt has a way of doing things his own way and it makes the impression that he is in readiness to run a mile and a quarter. Belmont Park has had its big opening and it was an opening that told of the popularity of the beautiful Long Island racing ground. To many New York devotees of the turf the real racing season begins at Belmont Park. The Nassau County course enjoys a patronage that is all its own and the opening bore out the best traditions of the old association, .the stake races of which go back to the misty past and old Jerome Park. Each year there have been new beauties added at the track that came into being in the spring of 1905, which will never be forgotten for the memorable dead heat between Sysonby and Race King in the running of the Metropolitan Handicap. Joseph E. Widener has embellished this "Newmarket of America," indeed a show place, and the marvel of it all is that he still finds new refinements and beauties to add to the wonderful property. And just as Belmont Park has a clientele that is all its own, it never fails to bring out the best of the horses in training. Jamaica continues to introduce many a good one, but a goodly number of the owners always wait for Belmont Park for showing their best. As a matter of fact Belmont Park and Saratoga Springs are the two spots where a considerable number of the best stables concentrate to the exclusion of all the other New York racing grounds. It is first at Belmont Park that these fashionables put in an appearance. At the conclusion of that meeting they are asked to do little until August at Saratoga. They return to Belmont Park and they are through racing at the end of that meeting. Before the conclusion of the Belmont Park meeting, and the running of the Belmont Stakes, it is probable there will have come many revisions in the classification of horses. Best ones of the earlier racing wTill doubtless fall by the wayside and a new standard of excellence will have been established. Last fall and early this spring Max Hirsch considered his chance for winning the Preakness Stakes or the Kentucky Derby, or in fact both, excellent. He pinned his hopes on Taras Hall, a big son of Donnacona and Milfoil. This colt was so big and clumsy that he did not show his real worth as a two-year-old, but he had a way of running on at the end that commanded attention. Now it has been decided to send the colt to the auction block. Of course, Hirsch has so many horses in his care that he was unable to give the attention to Taras Hall that he should, and that is the chief reason for his being sold. Taras Hall still has a chance to make good among the three-year-olds, but he did not measure up to the Derby in any of his preliminary performances. It is of interest to know that William Daniels Justice F. is galloping soundly again and may bo seen under silks at the Belmont Park meeting. This good horse but for his infirmities would surely have raced to a high place in the past two years. Despite his crippled legs, which have kept him away from the races when many of his best opportunities fell due, he has on frequent occasions proved himself and if H. C. Riddle is able to patch him up successfully he will be a real danger to the New York handicap horses. _ « _
