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, ; . GREAT CLIMATE FOR HORSES , Col. Eradley Liberal in Praise of - Louisiana for Racing. Believes That With Return to Normalcy in General Conditions New" Orleans Will Be Rich Turf Center. NEW ORLEANS, La., Jan. 8. -The future of racing in Greater New Orleans is bright, and the time is coming when the sport here will veiy closely approach, if not equal, that of the principal central western and eastern tracks, in the opinion of Col. E. R. Bradley, owner of the local Fair Grounds, where a meeting of forty;eight days opens Monday, January 25. "We must only await the return of better conditions generally," said Colonel Bradley, "before racing here begins to ascend with a rapidity likely to exceed that which marked the growth of racing in Illinois, Maryland, Kentucky and New York. "New Orleans and all Louisiana will make rapid strides forward when better days return. Substantial progress made the past few years leaves no room to doubt that, and with business veering, let us hope, in the right direction, it may not be long before great prosperity abounds, and particularly so in this section of the South. Louisiana, rich in raw materials, a great agricultural country, with seaport New Orleans, an envious progressiveness and fine, hospitable people, looks good to me. Investments here and throughout Louisiana will return large dividends. "With the advancement of Louisiana and New Orleans, racing will grow, and I cant help but feel that in time this city will be right up among the principal centers of the sport. "No better winter climate for thoroughbreds can be found than that which prevails here. This is a truly remarkable wintering place for horses, and with excellent training grounds and modern facilities, New Orleans must come into greater popularity with owners and trainers- of, thoroughbreds. Almost without exception horses raced or wintered here under present conditions, which equal the finest to be found anywhere, thrive and do well in their campaigning after moving North." Colonel Bradley pointed out that the quality in all of the most notable horses ;of class brought here undeveloped, was first revealed in performance here. "Not a single one," he said, "had to be carried back to Kentucky Maryland or elsewhere for a change in climate or training conditions before finding themselves." At an enormous cost Colonel Bradley has developed the track and stables at the Fair Grounds to the point where they now excel such at other of the larger courses. More than 5,000 was expended in developing the racing strip, and the modern drainage system, one of the outstanding improvements since Colonel Bradley has owned the Fair Grounds, was installed at a cost of 0,000. New stables have replaced old ones each year for several seasons, until now the stabling accommodations are most modern, spacious and first-class in every respect. Colonel Bradley anticipates a marked improvement in the racing during the coming meeting of forty-eight days over that of the past two or three years, and looks for more of the larger stables to enter the local field from season to season, until practically all of the leading owners will be represented in local racing. .
