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HERE AND THERE ] ON THE TURF | # % There has been always a great sporting rivalry between the East and the West in the running of the Kentucky Derby. It has Invariably brought on the best from New York and Maryland, while from its beginning, away back in 1875, it, of course, has been the most prized of all Kentucky prizes. It has never lost its appeal, and year after year since it has been built up so niarvelously, thanks principally to the efforts of Col. M. J. Winn, it has steadily grown in importance. The East, on various occasions, has made an invasion of Kentucky and carried away the prize, but there is scant chance that there will be an eastern victory this year. The best of those that have made the journey from Maryland or New York do not seem to measure up with the best of the Kentucky candidates, and the natives are supremely confident, and with good reason, that the Kentucky Derby will remain at home. This sectional sporting rivalry means much for the importance of the Derby and it is the same spirit that has always made racing the greatest of all sports. It goes away back to the earliest days of thoroughbred racing in this country when there was an almost bitter rivalry between the North and South, and matches of great importance were run. It was treasonable for any Southerner not to support the horse of his section, just as the sportsmen of the North would not dare BiifrK st the possibility of its champion meeting defeat. Of course, much of this sentiment is dead in these days of the sport, when men do not let patriotism run away with better judgment, but there is still the yearly battles and the fond hopes that New York will whip Kentucky or that Kentucky will whin New York. There was no surprise that Joseph E. Wide-ners Osmand was made top weight for the Toboggan Handicap, which is the big feature of the opening of the Westchester Racing Association at beautiful Belmont Park Friday. The three-quarters through the Widener course is in no sense strange to this good sprinter, and it will be remembered that he was winner of the same race last year. For the running Friday, Osmand is to take up 129 pounds and under that weight he gives Victorian, the Warm Stable ace, five pounds. But there is more than a doubt that Victorian will be in the field. The winner of the Preakness of last year has not been any too well since his last appearance in Maryland, and, as a matter of fact, the stable will have to depend largely on The Nut for the time being. Polydor is in the Toboggan under 123 pounds and there need be no fear of his readiness. He is one of the smartest sprinters in training and W. J. Spiers surely brought him back to the races a good horse as was demonstrated by his first racing effort at Jamaica. Mowlee appears to be in the Toboggan well at 119 pounds and there is no doubt of his excellent condition. High Strung, temporarily out of training, heads the three-year-olds under a burden of 115 pounds, but, of course, his assignment may only be used for comparative purposes. At that weight Mr. Jerrys good colt is required to give George D. Wideners Jack High three pounds and many a good handicapper would have fixed the wreights just the other way about. It is known that Jack High has been training well for Mr. Joyner and, on his brilliant races of last year, he must be right at the top of the three-year-old division. It is known that the Withers is an objective for Jack High, but, of course, it is possible he will be sent in the Toboggan, though the Withers will only see him opposed by those of his own age, and it is a race of greater sporting importance.
