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NEW YORK RACING MONDAY - r w JAMAICAS OPENING First of Spring Meetings to Begin on Metropolitan Circuit. Inaugural Program Featured by Paumonok Handicap High Strung Among Entries. NEW YORK, N. Y., April 19. After having their appetites for racing sharpened by the two-day United Hunts meeting Thursday and Saturday, New York race-goers are to greet the return of their favorite sport to the Metropolitan circuit Monday when Jamaica begins its twenty-one-day meeting. Track conditions were much improved today, and as the weather had cleared within twenty-four hours there was every reason to hope for a fast track, a circumstance that seemed very improbable yesterday. The change was warmly welcomed by scores of horsemen, who were able to give their charges morning work that had been materially cut down because of the unseasonable "" weather and a muddy track. Mondays program includes several appealing races. All except one filled well. The card is topped, in importance, by the Paumonok Handicap, which will have its twenty-first running. The Paumonok is a dash of three-quarters of a mile, for three-year-olds and over, with a value of ,000 added. Included in this Paumonok are several Preakness and Kentucky Derby candidates, and older horses of distinction. The Derby candidates entered are Mrs. Aranderbilts Fair Stables Sarazen II. and T. M. Cassidvs Crack Brigade. DISTRACTION STARTER. Heading the list of older horses in the field is R. L. Gerrys High Strung, which is scheduled to make his first start since he ran in the Jerome Handicap at Belmont Park last September. High Strung has been on the track several times this spring and appears to be ready to race. He has been assigned 123 pounds, practically the same as he had up last fall when he led the Jerome Handicap field all the way to the stretch and then tired, dropping out of the money. Distraction, the good five-year-old of the AVheatley Stable, which is also to make his ,.first start of the year in the Paumonok, also will have up 123. Top weight, however, will be carried by AV. Ziegler, Jr.s Polydor, which was the winner of this Jamaica fixture in 1928. Last year the race was won by Mei Foo. The first week at Jamaica should bring out a number of other high-class fields, as there are three other stakes to be decided on April 23, the Suffolk Claiming, for two-year-olds; April 24, the Highland Claiming, for three-year-olds, and on April 26 the Colorado Stakes, worth ,000, for two-year-olds, and the AVood Memorial, worth 0 000 for three-year-olds. The AArood Memorial is expected to attract to the post a large number of eastern candidates for the Preakness and Kentucky Derby and other major stakes of the year for three-year-olds. It is the richest stake that is down tor decision during the meeting.
