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Here and There on the Turf New Yorkers Ready for Opening May Be Last Year of Books Kentuckians Know Their Horses Main Man Shows Fine Form --- - t The Paumonok Handicap will be run today at Jamaica, and that means the opening of the New York racing season, as that dash of six furlongs long has been the stellar attraction of the inaugural program. Much interest has been aroused by the return of the sport, so a large crowd may be expected at the Metropolitan Jockey Clubs grounds to .enjoy the set of events arranged by John B. Campbell. In the gathering will be manyi persons, not including bookmakers, their clerks and runners, to whom the oral method of wagering is the only way and if they have i been in Florida or elsewhere at the mutuel tracks the return to New York is quite a j relief. They can talk back to the bookmaker if they dont like what he has to offer, which cant be done at the mutuel tracks. With the Jamaica opening many persons will to wondering if they will be entering upon the final year of the present mode of wagering. New York is to have a constitutional convention, followed by an election this year which can result in a change in the law, permitting pari-mutuel betting. If this is brought about the "tote" lights will be blinking; on the metropolitan tracks next season and at least one plant on Long Island probably will be constructed. But that is something to think about. Right now the books are on, and those who like the system will be enjoying it as much as they can, along with the No. 1 brand c-f racing which long has been provided in New York even though the associations have no chance to arn the large profits accruing to tracks having pari-mutuels. Central Kentucky, which knows its horses because it raises a majority of them, also likes its racing. That was demonstrated Thursday at the opening of Keenelands eleven-day spring meeting, when both grandstand and clubhouse were completely filled and the overflow extended to the lawns. Keeneland wasnt made to hold the large crowds which gather at the tracks in large cities, so when it is filled, it has a gathering commensurate with the population from which it draws. Patrons of the track nestling in a setting of rolling pasture lands not only know racing, but also know its traditions and something about the breeding of the horses furnishing the show. They identify horses as such rather than according to program numbers a habit which has been duplicated at too many tracks in the country. Featuring a fine program of sport was the Phoenix Handicap, a six furlongs sprint engaging some fast horses in its field of seven. Gaining the decision by slightly more than a length, was Main Man, but the four-year-old son of Hildur Rose Mist could have won by a wider margin except for being in close quarters going down the back stretch. Main Man may be much in the limelight on the midwestern circuit this season as he began his campaign in an auspicious manner while showing himself to be a very handsome-looking thoroughbred. Last spring Main Man was prepped for the Kentucky Derby, but he failed to make the grade and he didnt quite overcome that hard training until last fall, when he won three straight races at River Downs, establishing new track records for a mile and forty yards and a mile and one-sixteenth. He has started out this season as he left off last- autumn. That Seabiscuit and his stablemates are shipping to Pimlico next week should be construed as evidence enough of Charles S. Howards anxiety of sending his star performer against War Admiral. Seabiscuit is expected to add the Bay Meadows Handicap to his string of victories this afternoon, after which he will be ready to take his train ride. As he is going to Pimlico, Seabiscuit may be regarded as a potential candidate for the Dixie Handicap, for which he has been assigned 130 pounds by Charles J. McLennan, two pounds less than the burden allotted War Admiral. The California-owned horse demonstrated last fall that he liked the Pimlicj track, winning the Riggs Handicap in record-breaking time, and just failing to take the Bowie Handicap over the gruelling mile and five furlongs route, being nosed out by Esposa.
