view raw text
Here and There on the Turf With the program of this afternoon the Aurora meeting comes to a conclusion and the scene of Illinois racing will shift over to "Washington Park, the Chicago racing ground a.t Homewood: And with the closing of Aurora today, there also begins the long meeting of the Fairmount Jockey Club, at Collinsville, near St Louis. That meeting le to continue until July 6 and there will be conflict with the big Chicago tracks. There au-e ample horses and abundant patronage for both meetings, and these Illinois courses are far enough apart to make the conflict of »o consequence. The Fairmount Derby will have its running June 1 and it is the biggest event of that meeting. The date was chosen to avoid a conflict with the American Derby at Washington Park, and thus it is that the three-year-olds have three big opportunities Jn Illinois, far enough apart to make possible the starting of one eligible in each. These are the Fairmount Derby of 5,000 added ; the American Derby with 0,000 added, and the American Classic, to be decided at Arlington Park in Chicago. One of the best races this year to date Is scheduled for Churchill Downs this afternoon. Reference is made to the Grainger Memorial, in which Clyde Van Dusen, the Kentucky Derby winner, will make his first appearance since his notable triumph in the Blue Ribband of the turf. Seldom does a trainer risk the reputation of a Derby winner bo shortly after the big race in competition With older horses the calibre of which Clyde Van Dusen will meet today. The confidence of his trainer in the quality of the son of Man o War could not be more forcibly Btressed than when he sends Mr. Gardners Btar against such redoubtable handicap horses as Toro, Jock, Easter Stockings, Cartago and others. There is every indication the trainer Van Dusen is confident that his namesake Js fully capable of beating his older opponents this afternoon, as he has announced thai the Derby winner will be a sure starter. Certain it is a great crowd will be out to see Clyde Van Dusen, and a wonderful contest should result. The Bostwick brothers, A. C. and G. H. "Pete," are reviving memories of the best gentlemen riders through the steeplechase field of several years ago. They both would have unquestionably been stars in any company of any time and in the present days of the sport, when the skillful gentlemen riders are fewer, they stand out with particular brilliance. And gentlemen riders make for a greater Interest in the cross-country sport. There is always infinitely better racing through the field, and a wider interest when the sport is blessed with an abundance of good amateur Jockeys. This country has had many a good rider through the field, jockeys that really needed no weight allowance from the best of the professionals. Just a few of the old timers who can be called to mind are W. C. Hayes, Harry S. Page, who stuck to it longer than any of the others ; Henry J. Morris, Henry Lawrence Bell, Charles L. Appleton, In whose memory the big cross-country prize Is named. Then there was A. J. A. Devereaux, Bib Taylor, Percy Evans, who had a fatal fall at the old Terminal course, and his brother Lee. Jay OBrien, in his day, was one of the best, and for a time he and "Cordy" Smith, another accomplished rider, raced in partner-phip. Bob Holloway, who won a steeplechase one afternoon with an arm strapped to his side to protect a broken collarbone, received in a previous race, was another. James Park and Al Davis, the latter still a rider of parts, were others of some years back. Then, there were the Tucker brothers, Johnny, Harry and Evans. They all made glorious turf history. Fred Alpers, who occasionally rides now, was one of that day, as was Will Wildey. F. Ambrose Clark and Tom McCreery were two others. Bayard Tuckerman, Jr., who still holds a certificate, has seen a deal of riding. Just at the close of the meeting of the Ontario Jockey Club at Woodbine, Toronto, the stewards took action against certain bad actors. This was a prohibition against starting in any races in which the starting stalls were not employed. This is a commendation of the stall device. It is an admission that the stalls render bad actors at least unable to Interfere with the chances, or injure another horse In the same race. |
