The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-23

In a short time the summer season of
racing will be begun with the race for the
Brooklyn handicap, an event rs important
. fixture in the racing world as many
Others of far greater age, but no greater
prestige. Many of the best horses in train
ing in the east are entered, and when the
great event is over the season Of summer
racing will have been fairly inaugurated.
Other and far moro aluable races than
tue Rreat handicap will then follow each
Other in rapid succession. One of the most
interesting to many rAce-goers will be the
first great two-year-old RAGS of the year-
the great American stake. worth 500, 600.
The ordinary reader oan hardly realize.
perhaps, that a thoroughbred colt or tillv
hardly two years old when the race il run.
may not only win that but also a SO les of
ever richer prizes, such as the great Eclipse
stake, at hlortls park, worth at least 1925, 900:
the Junior Champion, worth about the
same amount; the Futurity, at Sheepshead
bay. worth about $751; 600; the great eastern
handicap, ut the same place; the Double
Event and scores of other valuable prizes,
all conceived by the various Jockey clubs
for a greater enhancement of two-vear-old
racing.
And yet is it an open question if this
prooigality is a good thing 70, the future
OF the turf. For some years now the fnct
has been noted and commented upon that
the fields Of horses that run in what are
known as overnight sweepstakes were far
lighter than seemed good for the jockey
clubs on the one part and for the public
on the other. I no vast increase in racing
which has sprung up Of late years has Gre
ated q demand upon stables of horses
which had the inevitable effect of exhaust
ing their stamina.
This has been particularly the case in
two-year-old races, so much 80, in fact, that
IL 10 M 1nnnnnylnp tLty,r v,,,r .4rri.s AZ.
height of the racing season to SEQ on n daily
programme two races for two-year-olda.
Excessive drafts upon their vitality at that
age of course discounts their availability
for campaigning at a more mature age;
hence each year notes an increase in the
ranks Of what are called SELLING platers''
and II decrease in the number of good, ser
viceabls. everyday handicap horses.
That the public are sQtferais from this
state OF Affairs ia patent enough. for when
ever a long distance race is cnrled at one
OF the metropolitan tracks the attendance
Is larger, and there is easily noted n more
hearty enthusiasm during tho CONTEST ana
at it's outcome. In lieu of long distance
races. however, the paying public are very
frequently surteited with a programme OF
abort dashes, with the result depending so
much upon the fall of the flag thai little
real enjoyment ia experienced when such
races are being run.
No" 10 heeHs TO mo tnat an organized eff
fort to reduce the number of two-year-olu
races and to coax or oajole, oudgol or club
owners to run their horses in long races will
ultimately rebound to the profit of the
jockey clubs. In many oasss horse owners
who are now forced to run their horses in
short races, with the almost invnriable re-
suit that a very few horses win most of
those races, would be glad of this chance to
train and run them III longer races. with
the result that tho contest would afford
more real enjoyment to the paying public
ind arrest All evil which, il permitted to 90
on NJ it has. must, before many years have
paaaed. bring the name Of tho American