The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-03
FEW GOOD HORSES IN TRAINING
All the Three-Year-OId Cracks Have
Fallen by the Wayside.
From the New York Advertiser.

All the Three-Year-Old Cracks Have
Fallen by the Wayside.
From the New York Advertiser.
Never in the history of the turf in this
country has there been such a dearth o.
frst-class or even good class race horses
as has been experienced this season.
There is not in training at the present
time one horse of any age that can right
ly be said to be entitled to championship
honors. The serious effect of such a con-
dtion of affairs on the sport has been
made evident by protests which have re-
Gently been made regarding the in and
out performances.
When the season opened it was antici-
pated that there would be a sufficient
amount of material in the all-aged ana
3-year-old classes TO furnish exceilen,
sport. With such handicap horses as
Henry of Navarro Clifford Halma, ST
Maxim, Sir Walter Keenan,, Nanki Poon
and others of perhaps less merit in the
ranks 1t was only natural to expect that
the principal events of the season would
be fraught with more than ordinary IN,
terest. But one by one they have fallen
by the wayside, until to-day keenan, Is
the only one prominently before the pub
lie.
In the 3-year-old division much was ex-
pected from the meetings between Hand
spring, Hastings, Requital, Shakespeare
II, One Love, Ben Brush and Prince
Lief, but one by one these candidates
have succumbed to the exigencies Of
training.
Naturally the 2-year-old division was
considered something of a scramble
There was thought to be good material
in 1t, but how that material would de-
velop was a matter of conjecture The
appearance of each successive candidate
for premier honors was hailed with de-
light by hOrsemen and public alike but
before the end of the spring meeting at
Sheepshead Bay had been reached it was
apparent that class, as gagged by con-
sistency, was lacking.
How this apparent lacking has been
made certain by repeated demonstration
is not only a recent but painful exDeri-
ence Those 2-year-olds that have gone
wrong or trained off have given handi-
cappers and horesmen more anxiety than
pleasure. 1t is an unsatisfactory COM
mentary on the caliber of our 2-year-olds
to make the Acknowledgement that the
best youngsters that have been seen on
metropolitan courses are those owned bv
western horsemen.
Unquestionaby the cracks of this di-
vision were Ornament, Ogden and Ty-
phoon. The latter is by far the best look
ing colt that has been shown in years
but it is an open question whether he is
the superior, as a race horse, OF either
Ornament or Ogden. AS far as our own
material is concerned it has been proved
20 contain more chaff than wheat A
glance over the entries for the maiden
races offered by our associations will fur
nish one with a torceful object lesson of
the disappoinments that have attended
the efforts of trainers.
70 he
sport there is much that can be said I'm
praise Tt has been free from interfer-
ence by legal authorities; IL has been car
ried on in all respects in accordance with
the laws THAT govern 1t. That these laws
have proved satisfactory to all persons
directly or indirectly connected with the
sport is demonstrated on all sides.
The benefits that have accrued from the
supervision of the Jockey club have been
manifold Owners, trainers and Jockeys
have been gradually brought to a reaIiza-
ton Of the necessity for governing body
with power to control all branches Of the
sport. Discipline is oftentimes objection
able to those persons whose ideas of per-
sonal liberty have been obtained in a
world whose principles are founded on the
theory of every man for himself, and the
devil take the hindmost," but even the
most radical have been converted to the
scheme in outward appearance at least
In this respect IL is safe TO assert that there
is not one self respecting man on the
turf to-day, be he owner, trainer or jock
ey, who would not strenuously object 10
any proposition that would tend to a dis
indignation Of turf authority and a re-
turn to the old system of free lancing.
There have been occasions during the
season when It has appeared to be neces-
sary to question the attitude assumed by
the jockey club with reference to the pub
lie. IL has been asserted, and with appar-
ent reason. that there has been altogether
too much secrecy observed. The authori-
ties have not taken the public into their
confidence. 1t is more than probable that
this evident defect win be remedied in a
short tune, II not this season, assuredly
before the next opens. The men who are
In contro. Of affairs are not lacking in
the essential elements that are necessary
in leaders 1t Is safe to trust the future
of racing in their hands. A. III. MilIs