The times., 1897-04-05
Weather Was Against Training
and Horses Remained Stabbed.
TWO HUNDRED RUNNERS HERE
Jimmy Mclaughlin Spent the Day
of Rest in New York-8rrival of
the Strings of Messrs. burch
and Graham, Both From the
South-Track News.

har,ingers of Gentle Annie's" appear
auce. ehiped in dismal tones at the Ben
ming track yesterday. The advance
agents. of springtime found little in
oentive to gayety in the chilling wind
that blew broadcast from the East, and
which was followed 10y a cold dIizzle more
befitting mdwinter than a Sunday in
April, when all nature is supposed to be at
peace, and dispensing sunshine warming
and exhilarating in its golden glory
The cutting blasts in the forenoon and
the rain succeeding in the afternoon, made
the little army Of trainers careful OF their
charges, ana only the best conditioned
sporters of silk were ganopcd on the
track The attendance OF visitors trying
TO get line on the flyers was very small.
The majority OF the big stable owners
took the day off. Jimmy Mclaughlin, the
eN-pre.ner Jockey, who is now trainer
and posSessor of thOruughhreds, took
advantage of the opportunity to visit his
family i'll Brou klyn. He will return this
morning. Messrs Bradley, Burch, Graham
and Jennings covered themselves with big
coats and comL atted the keen ozone while
watching number OF the horses work out.
1t was by no means an ideal outing day,
and the few carriage andbicy-
cle-transported visitors had little to see
Ia return for their trip. The wheelmen and
wheel women were in the ma ajority, butthey
are probably repenting the journey this
morning, as the road was dusty almost TO
blindness and the wind was as sharp as a
razor.
Nearly 200 horses are quartered a the
track. and it can be reasonably supposed
that as many as 800 viii chew hay in
the stables before the starters flag falls
on the opening day
The prominent owners are Messrs. Nc
l.aughIin. Burch, Bradley and Jennings.
w. c. r'Father Bin'D Daily VIII ship from
Brooklyn this week The Dwyers and Au-
gust Belmont viii not start their equine
proteges at this meeting.
All the siIken-coated beauties are In
good condition Last season at this time
two-thirds OF the horses Were coughing and
suffering from colds, particularly the Bel
mont stable 1t is recalled that Henry
of Navarro and hig Hastings We're all but
prostrated 10y the "epizootic.
lit is a fact" said prominent trainer
yesterday TO The Times man, that horses
shipped to BenninE from the northin spring
always contract the grip, and only in rare
cases can be made fit 10 start. On the
other hand, these sent from the South inn
prove on reaching here. The change in
climate for the latter is not so marked and
the Southern racers timber up fast on the
splendid track. >
The ma jority OF the horses at Bennng
now have wintered there or had their
alternating spell on the other side Of
Mason and Dixon's line. The Burch stable
arrived from Aiken, s. c., Friday, and
Bradley, with twenty In the string, came
Oh from New orleans yesterday.
One of the best looking flyers at the
track is Jimmy McLaughlin's Premier
who is touted TO win the Washington
Handicap. Premier is big, strong, stout
looking fellow, and is as amiable as an
old maid looking for chances, Yesterday
a gentleman, accompanied by his little
boy, youngster of about three summers,
and who is reveling in his first pair of
knickerbockers with pocketsl, stopped at
the Mclaughlin stable and looked over
the stalls Little Breeches' $ pied Premier,
and being of that specie Of young America
Offered to divide his stock of roasted
peanuts. The gentle horse appreciated
the hospitality and made friends with the
youngster at once. The trainer, too, liked
to see the admira ton bestowed on his pet
and straddled the boy over the back of
the racer. Little Breeches'' screamed
with mixed delight and doubt and clutched
Premier's name like a wise. The horse
booked around complacently and seemed to
say, "Oh, don't get nervous -
The track has heen put in excellent con-
dition and the rain yesterday made il as
fast as a jack rabbit. Until yesterdays
shower the deep sand and dust flying from
the hoofs of the galloping colts made the
course something of a Sahara with a
simeon in full tilt.
The stretch for the jumpers is in better
shape than ever before. The hurdlers will
have classic hedges, limpid streams and
the graduated hills of We old England
landscape over which to leap, and no
doubt Benmng furnishes as pretty a steeple-
chase course as could be found this side Of
the Atlantic
number of horses are expected to ar
rive this week and these, with the num-
ber stabbed at present, will completely
fill every race on the seven-day program,
which viii he inaugurated Oh the 9TH inst,
and be continued seven days.
One OF the features at Morris Park Satur-
day was the appearance of Sir Walter, who
is easily the most popular horse at the
track. This thoroughly well-tried animal
wound up his exercise with half-mile
gallop. which he was credited with cover
ing in 90 seconds. Sir Walter is a trifle too
heavy to show any great speed just at
present, but aside from this the game little
fellow appears to be as willing as he
ever was, and as speedy, too.
"Pittsburg Phil's" candidates. Belmar,
The Winner, and Howard Mann are attract
ing great attention In their practice work
at Morris Park. They were given mile
spin Saturday in 1:55 So far as the talent
is concerned The Winner is thought to have
enough speed in him to give his stable mates
considerable weight. 'Pittsburg PHIL s
expected at Norris Park this week. and will
remain there until the season opens.
The students of form who went to Morris
Park Saturday morning had an excellent
opportunity to size up some OF the Nc