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Here and There! on the Turf Chance Sun Odds Rise j Shorter Price in Belmont j Large Jamaica Crowd Expected j Better Sport Seems Likely j t- .---4 An interesting story is presented in a comparison of the future book quotations on the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes offered by Frank Shannon, the well known New York commissioner, who takes it with a smile when hes caught napping. The Derby is to be run Saturday, May 4, and the Belmont Stake3 on Saturday, June 8, five weeks later, and Joseph E. Wideners Chance Sun is favorite for both events, yet he is 5 to 1 in the Churchill Downs special and 4 to 1 in the mile and a half event offered at the Nassau course. An explanation of the variance in the two prices may be forthcoming in an inspection of the odds laid against the other horses eligible for these two contests. During the past few days Chance Sun has been a 4 to 1 Derby favorite in Shannons book with Commonwealth the second choice at 8 to 1. However, Shannon has raised the Widener colts odds a point. but at the same time he has lowered Commonwealth to 6 to 1 and Omaha from 10 to 8 to 1. This is an indication of substantial play on these two horses and none on the favorite. Commonwealth is not an eligible for the Belmont Stakes, which is probably the reason why Chance Sun is such a short priced favorite for the mile and a half event. Omaha is the second choice at 5 to 1, with Balladier, Boxthorn and Rosemont each being quoted at 10 to 1. It is significant that Boxthorn is 15 to 1 in the Derby futures and only 10. to 1 for the Belmont and probably indicates that E. R. Bradley has failed to support the son of Blue Larkspur for the Downs attraction because trainer H. J. Thompson has been unable to pursue the proper training campaign because of the severe wet weather prevailing in the Blue Grass for more than a month. Bradley always wagers on his Derby candidates when hes satisfied they can f make ready for the race and usually his commissions are placed by this time. As Shannons line is in a good position to tell the story, the evidence points to an absence of confidence in the Bradley camp. If the manner in which they have been supported in the futures means anything, the starters in the Kentucky Derby will be Chance Sun, Chanceview, Commonwealth, Nellie Flag, Omaha, Our Reigh, Roman Soldier, Sailor Beware, Special Agent, Today, Weston and Young Native. Only a dozen are mentioned but with the Derby appearing such a Wide open event, the field certainly will be larger and may reach a record size of twenty-four with others that may start including Bluebeard, Calumet Dick, Gallant Prince, Good Flavor, Gum, Mirter Gander, Mantagna, Morpluck, Plat Eye, Shoeless Joe, Skip It, Try Sympathy, Whiskolo and Whizzaway. These three-year-olds have not been stoutly supported in the future books but that doesnt mean they havent trained well. A good man of them may be seen in competition over the weekend. Shannons Kentucky Derby book has been more or less shaped by the play he has received, whereas he has but recently announced the quotations on the Belmont Stakes and they are more of an indication of how he believes the race will turnout rather than of his clients. The Belmont has almost half the number of entries as the Derby but the percentage, of deadwood is just as high. As a matter of fact, fewer horses will start in the Belmont than in the Derby and the identity of the field will be better known two weeks in advance than is the case with the Churchill Downs attraction. It will be almost surprising if any other three-year-old starts in the Belmont than is to be found among Balladier, Boxthorn, Chance Sun, Firethorn, Gillie, Good Flavor, Mister. Gander, Omaha, Our Reigh, Plat Eye, Polar Flight, Preeminent, Psychic Bid, Rosemont, Scatterbrain, Special Agent, Sh Bernard, Today, Whiskolo and Young Native. a Racing returns to New York tomorrow afternoon with the opening of the Metropolitan Jockey Clubs annual spring meeting at Jamaica. The latter course has been given a general brushing up under the direction of Dr. E. P. Kilroe and secretary John J. Kane and now awaits the large crowd expected to enjoy the inaugural program, which will be the first fashioned by John B. Campbell, who was appointed general racing secretary of all New York tracks last fall. Campbell and his chief assistant, Francis Dunne, have been at Jamaica the past few days making ready for the opening and their Work will be watched with interest due to the dissatisfaction often expressed against the metropolitan secretaries in the past. Just how many bookmakers will be on the line tomorrow is hard to guess. More than a hundred raised their slates on opening day last year but at the close of the season the number was about sixty with only about forty-five of the original starters still in action. A crowded ring can be expected but whether it will remain that way depends almost entirely on the character of the racing. If good, well contested sport is offered as a rule rather than the exception, the layers will last longer because the attendance will be greater and the play will be more general, but if the racing is spotty the patronage . will fall off and the odds-purveyors will find themselves in a dizzy whirl. The coming of Campbell is expected to aid in solving the problem. Use of the Bahr starting gate will be of considerable aid and air tight officiating will do the rest towards maintaining uniformly good racing.
