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WEALTH OF GRAND RACING Big Stake Races to Be Run at Saratoga This Week. : Alabama Stakes to Bring Out the Star Three-Year-Old Fillies of the Year. ; J SARATOGA SPRINGS. N. Y.. August fl. Astyvt has been designated as the boiuittet race meeting in England. Royalty and society gather there annually for one glorious week and pay tribute to the thoroughbred. Only the aristocrats among the eiir.ines are seen, as there are 110 minor events 0:1 the card. Ry common consent Saratoga in this country has become known as the Ascot of American courses, just as Relmont Park has been termed the Newmarket. The establishment and improvement of these superb plants has had much to do with the popularization of the sport, as they attract thousands of holiday seekers, lovers of the beautiful in nature, who find their sylvan beauties a delight to the eye. Willi the racing here at its height visitors from all over the northern hemisphere are in attendance. They make the clubhouse gay with color and lively with chatter at luncheon parties before the races; throng the paddock to critically inspect the horses as they walk in sleek array under the splendid obi pines which are a feature of the inclosure, and afterward fill the clubhouse, grandstand and boxes to repletion during the tests on the course. TluKe " who-flwl theheat in centers of population hatfc found it delightfully cool here, wraps and light top coats being essential for comfort during late evening drives. While the opening week set a high standard of excellence the racing the coming week promises to be equally as attractive. The feature for Monday is the Consolation Stakes for two-year-ods. It has a value of ,500, and is a dual event for-juveniles which have been nominated for either the United States Hotel, Grand Union Hotel, Spin-away or Hopeful Stakes. The first division is at five and a half furlongs and is u selling affair. Conspicuous among the eligibles are Rttnstar, William A.. Rudana. Dream of Allah. Nancy F.. Ak-nusti, Lord Raltimore. Sedge. Oil Man, Sidereal, Pillory. Monday Morning, Deadlock and June Crass. The feature for Tuesday will lie the Delaware Handicap for three-year-olds and over, with ,500 added. This is a dash of one mile, and should be a brilliant race, as it has among its eligibles the fleetest horses in training. Included in the number are Mad Hatter and Yellow Hand, which finished noses apart in the Saratoga Handicap on the opening day; Rlack Servant, the rival to date of Grey Lag for the three-year-old crown; Tryster and Prudery, the Whitney pair which have been in temporary eclipse, but which are expected to return to the fray like giants refreshed by their let-up: Gnome and The Porter, two of the best miters this country has known for many years, Rilly Kelly, Roniface and Milkmaid, a mighty trio of the string of Commander Ross; Lnnitis. whose race early in the meeting indicated his fitness, and that gay old deceiver Naturalist. On Wednesday the cracks in the two-year-old division will be asked to run a full three-quarters of a mile once more, and there will be a fresh opportunity to determine the race horse qualities of the colts and fillies which go to the post. The race is the Stanford Stakes of a value of , otto, and among the 17S nominations are Miss Joy, Fair Phantom, Oil Man, Little Chief, Kai-Saug, .Exterminate, Dream of Allah, Column, June Grass, My Play, Nedna, Olympus, Rroomster, Rrainstorm and Pillory. It will give the visitors their first glimpse of My Play, the brother to Man o War. The Alabama Stakes, value 0,000, for three-year-old fillies, will be decided on Thursday. This is a test which ranks among the most important of its kind on the American turf because of its value as a guide to breeding. It closed with 12S entries, and is at a mile and a quarter. The winner should achieve honors in the stud. Nancy Lee, Prudevy and Hit of White, three of the bpst fillies in the United States are entered, but Flambette, winner of the Coaching Club American Oaks and Lutonia Oaks was unfortunately not nominated. Rit of White is the English filly which gave the French mare Flambette such a hard race at Latonia and those who have seen her in action are high in their estimate of her quality. If she can overcome Nancy Lee and Prudery the East will be unstinted in its praise. Other eligibles are Careful. Chateau Thierry. Killala. Ten Buttons. Ranksia, Rettina, Last Straw, Lady Madcap and Joan Marie. The winner of the Alabama last year was "Mr. Coos exquisite English filly Cleopatra, now in the stud. Sunbonnet, another English, mare, was successful in 1117. Other great mares to win it were Mnskette in 1!09, Reldame in 1!KM. Sallie McClelland in lSfll. Miss Woodford in 1SS3, Thorn in 1SS1, Susquehanna in 1S77, and Woodbine in 1S72. the first year of its decision. It is more than a coincidence that practically all of those named which have lived long enough to have a fair chance liave made good . in the harem. In no previous year that can be recalled has the Alabama held greater promise of furnishing a fine contest. There are three stakes to allure the public ou Saturday, the Saratoga Special, for two-year-olds at three-quarters, the Champlaiu Handicap for tlnee-year-olds and over at one ami one-eighth miles, and the North American Steeplechase Handicap over the short course. The Special should bring out the cream of the two-yaer-obls of the country, as stu-scriptions to it were made as late as June 15. It is a sporting event par excellence, being for 00 a corner, the Saratoga Association adding a gold plate of the value of ,000 as a trophy. From its inception in VJ01, when W. C. Whitneys Goldsmith was victorious, the Special has attracted country-wide attention. Irish Lad, Sysouby, Mohawk IE, Salvidere, Sir .Martin. Novelty, Roamer. Regret. Campfire. Sun Rriar and Tryster are some of the great two-year-olds that have won it. It is one race fraught with that sentimental quality which is the best guarantee the country holds for the preservation of the sport. That a bumper crowd will see it decided this year is certain.
