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Here and There on the Turf Two Rich Races. American Derby. Belmont Stakes. Hitchcocks Successes. « - ? | With the American Derby down for a decision at the Arlington Park course in Chicago, and the rich and famous Belmont Stakes to be decided at Belmont Park this afternoon, it is indeed a great day for the American turf. And Latonia is also much in the picture with its Clip-setta Stakes and Quickstep Handicap, each with ,000 added, while the Valley Stakes at Fairmount Park is another big attraction of Saturdays racing. If bright weather and favorable track conditions are the order at the four courses, the day should prove one of the most important of the present racing year. The American Derby, established in 1 1S84, was accorded such instantaneous ; popularity and prestige as to make it t first among American races. For seventeen • years Derby Day was one of the ! greatest holidays in Chicago. Gone, but not forgotten, are those memorable scenes — the gayly decorated windows of our State Street stores; the carnival spirit permeating the very air; the seemingly endless procession of tallyho, coaches, cabriolets, victorias, phaetons, hansoms and hacks, each and all with 1 their favorites colors flying and filled with stylishly gowned women and well-dressed men on their way to Washington 1 Park, where at that beautiful race course, virtually located, as well as enshrined, in 1 the heart of the city, thousands and thousands — over 70,000 saw the Worlds Fair r Derby — gathered to cheer and encourage c the gallant thoroughbreds and their skillful riders as the best of the East met the e best of the West in what was then considered l" the racing epic of America. Then came the catastrophe. A wave of persecution stopped racing in Chicago, the American Derby was discontinued, 1 Washington Park was dismantled and the metropolis of the West was without one of its most popular outdoor diversions for over twenty years. Now the pendulum has swung back k again. Racing has been restored to Chi- = | 1 ; t • ! 1 1 1 r c e l" of 1 k = cago. New tracks have been built and gradually the sport is regaining its old prestige and popularity. It was only natural, with the return of racing, that an attempt to revive the American Derby would be made. This was done at the new Washington Park track in 1926 and 1927 and, while large crowds viewed both contests, the old spirit and enthusiasm was missing. This year the American Derby has been transferred to Arlington Park, the 1 j. newest and largest of Chicagos tracks, J 3 where as many as 100,000 may find van- 4 4-tage points to see Chicagos most famous 5, race, which will be run there today. C • 7 Certainly this third renewal of the present American Derby will take place under the most favorable auspices, the 1 j Arlington Park track is one of the finest 2 2 in the country, the interest in racing is great and increasing, and, with a splendid race in prospect, there is every rea- 4 4 son to believe after today little doubt 5 will remain as to the return of the old 6 spirit and enthusiasm that manifested itself whenever the name of the American 7 7 Derby was mentioned. 1 2 The Belmont Stakes, which is the rich- 3 3 est of all the three-year-old races, has 4 an honored history that goes back to 5 e 1867. This gives it the greatest age of 6 6 any race for three-year-olds on the 7 continent. Both of the other Saturday attractions 1 1 that have been mentioned have attracted 2 2 larger fields, but the racing importance 3 3 belongs to the Belmont, with its wealth , 4 of tradition and the prestige that goes with victory. This race more closely re- v sembles the Epsom Derby than any other e of the American races for three-year-olds, 7 and there is no race that has proven the same kind of a championship contest at this time of the year. On Thursday H. P. Whitneys Vic- ! torian, winner of both th3 Preakness . Stakes and the Withers Stakes, had his final workout for the Belmont Stakes, and it was an impressing move when he . galloped the full mile and a half in 2:41 over a muddy track. On the same morning Henry McDaniel ] gave Gifford A. Cochrans Genie his final, also at Belmont Park, and he was sent along for a mile and three-eighths in 2:27. Both colts showed a complete readiness for the race. Genie only recently raced his way into a place at the top of the three-year-old division and he is well calculated to give the son of Whisk Broom II. a real con-: test this afternoon. The Thomas H. Hitchcock colors have come back to great prominence during the Belmont Park meeting and six of the races through the field have been taken by the stable. Bangle has two to his credit. He was a winner on the opening day, under the feather of 135 pounds, and then under 134 pounds he led both Fair- mount and Jolly Roger home, both of which carried 162 pounds. He was also a close second to Jolly Roger in the I Charles L. Appleton Memorial Handicap, when he carried 143 pounds to the 172 pounds carried by Jolly Roger. The other winners from the Thomas ! Hitchcock string, during the meeting, up 1 . to the running of the Meadowbrook Steeplechase on Thursday, were Signal, , Eelphegor, Devil Kin and Oarsman. On two occasions when Bangle has I been handicapped at 153 pounds, Mr. Hitchcock, by riding the inexperienced McXamee, has obtained a ten pounds I allowance, bringing his weight down to 143 pounds. On each occasion Bangle I has been beaten. He raced well when j he was second to Jolly Roger and again 1 Thursday when he was a good third to .. " Skedaddle and Rabel, after making most 1 j of the pace for the two and a half miles 3 I distance. . 1 J. P. Smith surely knew what he was J about when he claimed the_ English three-year-old - ; Royal Stranger for ,000. This 3 » son of Friar Marcus has proved himself J | one of the rare bargains of the year and ] ■ I J each of his performances under the e . I Smith colors has been impressive. j i Unfortunately Royal Stranger is not t * j I well engaged; in fact, he has no engage-! ~ ment for the Aqueduct meeting, which , | ! opens Monday, and that naturally limits | I his opportunities. He has raced himself f j clear of the plater division and his racing or I I will probably be in condition races and .1 i j overnight handicaps. In any event, he e » i. has proved himself a rare bargain.
