view raw text
BELMONT PARK RACING iNew York Scene of Sport Changes -Today to Westchester Course. Toboggan Handicap and International Steeplechase Big Attraction of Inaugural Program. NEW YORK, N. Y., May 26 A change iin the New York racing scene takes place Saturday afternoon with the opening of the seventeen-day meeting of the West-jchester Racing Association at Belmont iPark. To many, the Jamaica racing is only ia curtain raiser for the big season. It is I the magnificent Nassau County course that thoroughly establishes the racing each season. It is there that the most famous races are annually renewed, and it is there that j.the sport is carried on in its most gorgeous setting. This year, with the failure to pass the expected legislation at Albany, there was a threat that the Belmont Park meeting would only be for twelve days, but Joseph E. Wid-Jener, president of the Westchester Racing Association, let it be known recently, that ,the full complement of days would be utilized. And the racing has had an excellent start at the Jamaica course. The results were iJSetter than were hoped for by many and a profit was shown. This came in the face Jof unseasonable weather, for a considerable part of the meeting, and under the handicap .of, a shortage of good horses by reason of unusual sickness among many of the stables. EIGHTEEN STAKE FEATURES. With eighteen stakes down for decision during the first twelve days of the Belmont Park meeting there will come a full appreciation of the character of the sport that may be expected. Then in addition to these .various renewals there has been a special match arranged between C. V. Whitneys I .Top Flight and Sylvester W. Labrots Tred rAvon. This is one of the features for the racing on Decoration day. The same afternoon, the other big events are the Withers, tfhe Fashion and the Corinthian Steeple-chase, any one of which -would make it an unusual program. . For Saturdays opening, the big events are .the Toboggan Handicap, a six furlong dash J over the Widener course, to which ,000 is added, and the International Steeplechase Handicap over the two mile course that carries a ,500 added value. Eleven of the eligibles have been named tor the Toboggan and the top weight is among the acceptances when Andy Schut-,,tingers Pilate, vrhich takes up 127 pounds s of the company. This fellow proved him-self when he was winner of the Paumonok. The six furlongs suits him and he is thoroughly ready as was shown by a final of five furlongs in 1:01 at Belmont Park yesterday. LARRANAGA CARDED STARTER. Larranaga, winner of the Cuban Grand National for the Anall Stable, and the best sprinter that raced in Florida during the winter months, has accepted his weight of 120 pounds. He was breezed a half in :50 yesterday. Osculator is the choice from the .W. R. Coe stable and his weight is 111 pounds. He has been training well for "Bud" Stotler and three furlongs in :3546 yesterday demonstrated he has all his speed. Pompeius, a former stablemate of Osculator, that now races for G. H. Bostwick is to carry those silks and he is well seasoned. Others of the company are Okapi, from the Brookmeade Stable, which has shown a return to form; Good Advice, which will race for the Catawba Farm Stable; George D. Wideners Evening; Lucre, from the Argosy Stable; Scotch Gold, from the Howe Stable; Parry, to race for the Greentree Stable, and Quel Jeu, which races for the Arden Farms Stable. From such an array It is safe to promise the renewal of the Toboggan will be a notable one. Then the International Steeplechase has eleven participants, with Mrs. John Hay Whitneys Green Cheese the top weight an acceptance. The son of Rockminster i3 to shoulder 160 pounds, just ten more than Frank M. Goulds What Have You, second continued on twenty-fourth page.. BELMONT PARK RACING Continued from first page. in the handicap. Joseph E. Widener has both Azucar and the four-year-old Best Play to bear his silks, and Gwladys Whitney, who won it last year with Beacon Hill, is represented by Rideaway. Others in the field assure that it will be a thoroughly representative one and that steeplechasing will be fittingly brought into the racing scheme of the meeting. The setting for these two specials i3 an interesting one and Belmont Park .cannot fail to prove a welcome change from Jamaica.