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JUST MARKING TIME Everything in Readiness for Lexingtons Spring Meeting. x Dedicates Mile in 1 :44 Most Im-: pressive of Gallops by Kentucky Derby Eligibles. LEXINGTON", Ky., April 15 Lexington and its more than a century-old race-course, are ready for another season of racing. Today found the picturesque "Capital" of the far famed Blue Grass country crowded to the fullest and with each of the many hundreds of local and. visiting enthusiasts eagerly awaiting Thursdays opening of the Kentucky Associations meeting of fifteen days, hotels reported capacity business together with a steady flow of reservations assuring almost record visiting patronage during the racing season. The result of unusually fine weather during the past ten days is reflected in the complete readiness of the time-honored race course and the many hundreds of thoroughbreds assembled for the meeting. This morning the plant, entirely renovated since last year, never looked finer and might easily have been opened at very short notice. The track, safer and faster than in years, again resounded with the hoof beats of rapid moving thoroughbreds and it is doubtful if a single trainer is not satisfied with the conditions of his charges. Tomorrow brings the annual important and final pre-season meeting of the State Racing Commission and the report of that body, scheduled to pass upon applications for trainers, jockeys, apprentices and agents licenses, is the final important action necessary to set the wheels of the great sport in action for another season. STAFF OFFICIALS PRESENT. Sewell Combs, president of the Kentucky Association, today found all of the staff officials in charge of the racing on hand and again spent much of the day going over plans for the conduction of the sport. No few of the better known horses were among those induldged with brisk work during the day and it is not unlikely that the trial of the Everglade Stables Dedicate, local ranking candidate for the coming renewal of the Kentucky Derby, commanded most attention. John S. Ward, part owner and trainer of the son of Dodge and On Time, again tested his star over a distance of one mile and was justly pleased when he clicked off the route in 1 :44. Moving along in hand for the opening seven-eighths and, continuing impressively when urged lightly while traversing the concluding eighth, the dark brown speedster succeeding in winning new admirers. Most pleasing to his stable attaches and well wishers was the improved temperament he disported while on the track. Blinkers were dropped from his equipment and good judges were of the opinion that their absence had much to do with the cool manner in which he went through his exercise. Breaking at the five-eighths post afforded the colt the advantage of down-hill course after the opening three-eighths. He ran the quarter in :25, half in :50, and three-quarters in 1:16. He was galloped along for seven-eighths, after which Bert Kennedy, his regular exercise handler, loosened his hold. FIDDLER SHOWS SrEED. Gallaher and Combs Fiddler, also named for the Churchill Downs fixture, exhibited a readiness when he ran five-eighths in 1:01 handily. He was timed in :23 for the opening quarter; :35 for three-eighths, and after finishing a half mile in :48V, maintained keen speed to complete the five-eighths in the . aforernentioned time. Alcibiades, H. P. Headleys smashing three-year-old fiily, which goes to Pimlico for the Preakness Stakes after contesting in the Ashland Oaks on April 23, had an easy trial at a half mile, for which she was timed in :49, paced by Night Cry during the opening half mile and by Margaret Flynn during the final half mile. Racketeer, another of the less prominent Derby hopefuls and the property of the estate of Eugene Byfield, turned a like distance in 1 :42, handily. Walter Grater, who is training the son of Sir Martin, had him out early anct he made his way over the crowded course in :24 for the quarter, in :49 for the half, and in 1:17 for three-quarters. George Collins handicap stars, Thistle Fyrn and Patricia Marian, were not - extended in traversing a mile in company in 1:42, and the Foley Brothers James M. added another good mile move to the string of fast works when he ran the distance in 1:43 handily.
