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i RACING AT ST. LOUIS. The sport this season has proven more pnpu. lar. perhaps, than in any previous year. The general era of prosperity, of course, has had much to do with this, but the racing has been singularly free from scandal. Of course there have been troubles of one sort or another, but Judge Murphy showed early in the meeting that he intended to manage his affairs with a tight rein and the lessons of the early days have not been lost. Punishment for anything out of the way ha- been severe, if not always prompt, and the general effect has been wholesome. The result is easily seen in the attendance. Despite the street car strike and the fact that almost all of the most attractive stakes were run either in bad weather or over a bad track, the average attendance has been probably some ten per cent in excess of that of la6t year, if not more. The ring has been much better patronized by the bookies and, all in all. neither President Anil nor Secretary Murphy-has anything in the past two months to cause regret. One would have thought last Saturday was a Derby day at the Fair Grounds to judge b the size of the crowd. The attendance was iuite remarkable, but it was overshadowed by the business in the ring. Nineteen books cut on in the big ring, as many as were on for any of the biggest stakes of last season, and there seemed a good enough play to keep them all busy. Racing is truly the leading sport in this city, as well as elsewhere in the country.— St. Louis Sporting News.
