The sun., 1897-11-07
RACING SEASON OF 1897.
4 xosr PRosPEhoUs sEAsoT ENDED
on ELECTION DAT.

{ Misunderstanding. Ornament asa Ben nrush
the stsrp sf the seasop-L- .. a W. r.
Tnsnpson the LaTrest winsinE Owners
Tsa sioan winner OF the Greatest Nuubor
er Rscss-western Turf Congress Doing
Coed work-netter Outiook rsr breeders.
The racing season OF 1897 10 over and the
thorou ghbrcds which have taken part in the
long campaign which began at Washington In
April and closed At Morris Park on election day
are In the main out Of training and will not feel
the weight OF the saddle for somo months. This
refers particularly to tho stake animals, for
many of tho poorer division and not q few OF
the better-class horses must earn their way at
New o leans and San Francisco.
The season which has closed az far as New
Yorkers are concerned was remarkable in many
respects. Outside OF the Brighton Beach meet
ing tho most phenomenal luck was enjoyed in
tho way Of weather. and It seems hard to think
that the course by the sea should have had all
tho Ill fortune. For moro than two weeks thore
was scarcely . clear day, and tho practically
new course became very deep and holding,
Naturally this had its effect on tho attendance,
and tho profits at Brighton for 1897 were not
what thcy should have been in Wow Of the
enterprise and generosity shown by tho
management at every turn. still there is
good reason for believing that Brighton
mado some money. but tho financial re-
turns from their meeting did not como up
10 tho Rains of former years. However, Mr.
Engeman 10 not crying and will DO found in tho
field In 1893, WHOM with clear dates and no op-
position from Saratoga. he should reap O de-
served harvest. Tho Couey Island Jockey Club
the Brooklyn Jockey Club. the westchester
RacinG Association, and tho Queens County
Jockey Club all paid substantial dividends and
a.. - % IL
the latter meeting were very larRe-larger in
fact, In proportion, than at any other track in
this State. 1t is conceded that Saratoga m do
money. too, for Gottfried walbaum and his as
pociates, when asked to put price on their prop
erty by o syndicate Of villagers who were anx-
ious to secure control Of racing at tho Springs,
named o figure which spoke more plainly than
words and showed the situation clearly to any
body capable Of putting two and two together.
AS for the racing ITSELF 1t was up to high
average, and the Jockey Club did rything In
its power to keep It clean. There was lack of
frst-class material In tho fouryearold and up
ward division due TO tho going wrong Of Hand
spring. the training or of Requital. tho crippled
condition of Hastings during the greater part of
the season. and the breaking down Of Belmar,
hut the turf never had q better average lot of
two and three year olds. and these kept tho in.
terest at white heat Had Hastings, Hand
spring, and Requital been in condition to
cope with that sturdiest Of four-year-olds,
Ben Brush, in most Of tho big events
the sport would have been phenomenal. but
unfortunately they were on the shelf when they
wore most needed. and It remained for tho pick
Of tho three-year.old division TO give him battle
in tho Brighton Cup and Twin City Handicap.
Among tho older division Ben Brush was tho
bright particular star, having as many admirers
as any horse on tho turf. Day In and day out
no horse that has raced In very many years can
compare with him. as he 10 honest and sturdy.
and is never beaten until the wire is passed.
Among tho three-year-olds tho palm must be
awarded to Ornament, with Tho Friar second.
and Voter. Rensselaer,. Tillo. DR.. Catlett. Don do
Orc. and On Deck tho best of the others. OF tho
hlly division of that ago tho brightest gcms
are Cleophus, Sunny Slope. Poetess. Tripping.
Trolley. and Rhodesia, the last named being ct
her best only during tho recent Morris Park
meeting. Cleophus is o wonderful performer.
everything taken Into consideration, while no
praise 10 too high for Sunny Slope. This little
ally was at her best in tho Brighton Cup.
when sho beat Ben Brush. and was do
featcd by only few feet by that
best Of stayers. Tho Friar. In the opinion
Of many who saw that race. and It was ono of
tho best distance contests decided In many
years, Sunny Slope should have won. A head
only separated colt and nlly as the wire was
passed. and tho daughter of Esher was gaining
steadily. The severity of that left its marks
on both Of tho three yearolds. for Tho Friar was
taken lame after 1t and did not start again,
while Sunny Slope trained of and was soro and
stale, showing nothing of her early form In tho
races which she subsequently ran.
Voter. among tho colts. undou btedly was tho
crack at the sprinting game. and 1t Is pity that
Mr.. Keene saw fit to rush him of to England
when tho son OF Friar's Balsam was at his very
kest. 1t was q chance whether he would land in
Shape to go into Pincus's hands and be ready for
the Cambridgeshire, for which his stable COM
panion. st. Cloud H.. was also eligible. but as
the colt had only few engagements hero his
owner determined to take the chance.
1t is now o matter of history that
Voter wasn't ready. and that st. Cloud IL
was beaten only few inches by tho
English colt Comfrey in tho race for the Cam.
bridgeshire. If he winters well and the handi-
cappers do not treat him too harshy. Voter will
show his quality in the races at q mile and
under next year. The Lincolnshire should suit
him perfectly, for the distance is right and he is
an early horse; he won the Metropolitan Handi-
cap at Morris Park last spring In dazzling style.
and 1t is to our racing what the Lincolnshire is
TO the English sporting world.
Opinions vary as to the quality of staying power
possessed by Ornament and The Friar. and nm
fortunately there was no opportunity to test the
pair over distance of ground. Tho Friar Ger
tainly showed that he could run all day, and
Ornament went as far as he was asked TO and
performed splendidly when he had much the
worst OF tho weights. Ornaments campaign be-
gan in the early days OF April, and embraced the
greater part Of the territory east of the Missss:
kinds Of weights, and travelled upward OF
1000 miles His performance in the
Twin City Handicap when he beat the
flower Of our handicap division. sci, the
seal TO his greatness, and II vote should be
taken for the best and most popular three.year-
old the son OF Order would ndoubtedly receive
amajority of the votes. Rensselaer, earned the
greatest popularity by the honest. consistent
iarSe hg sbars OF ana 0n Deck came h
manner In which the former ran eives riso to the
belief that he will be one Of the very best I the
four;year,old division. He has not the speed
o. Sdn, Voter or Ornament but he has n bulldog
along that is bound to to- tell iiR IL s'efiSns ions
campaign. Unfortunately for tho racing in.
e ests Of this country, Mr.: Mcdonald saw Ii To
ehip tnis good colt to England Yesterday morn
for NEXT years campaign by Thomas, Leaders
who has charge OF Count Schomberg and
other good ones. Americans will join THT
BUN In wishing Rensselaer, success across
tho water. On Deck ran well ennnph n