The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-08
Race rack and
Stable GOSSIP

part VI TIC WEN, ohN IL 10 taDttl6u
that the grounds will be enclosed by
that time. The necessary lumber has
arrived and the work of constructing
the grandstand and horse stalls will be
pushed to completion as rapidly as pos
sble. The management hopes to open
the track to the public the latter part
of next week, when the patrons of the
track will witness, for the first time in
Butte, horse racing by electric light.
The board fence surrounding the track
is sufficiently high, so that the jockey
and horse will be outlined in full in
clear relief against the white back
ground afforded by the high fence. A
large force of workmen are rushing the
work of grading and construction.
A London cable says: 1T is not sur
prisng that the disciplining of Sloan,
whereby Lord William Beresford has
been temporarily deprived of his ser
vices, in no way threatens to stop the
winning career of the stable, for Train
er John Higgins has his equine charges
in most admirable condition this year
and, promptly, putting up Reiff the
great trainer put the winners over the
plate as you Americans call it, at
Leicester on Tuesday. Mr.. Higgins
record for 1899 will almost certainly
surpass all of his previous achieve
ments. however brilliant they may
have been, either here or in America
ITO say nothing of the long list of
moderate races captured, it is very re
markab1e that one trainer should have
led home in a single season the winners
of the Kempton Park, Jubilee Handi-
cap, Liverpool Spring Cup. Alexandria
Handicap, One Thousand Guineas, Cow
entry Stakes, National Breeders Pro-
duce Stakes, Hurst Park Foal Plate
Imperial Stakes at Lingfield Payne
Stakes at Newmarket, etc. Indeed, but
for Sloans bungling on Sibola in the
Oaks. Mr.. Higgins would certainly
have added this filly classic to his long
list of 1899 triumphs, for Sloan rode her
execrably and yet was only beaten a
short head Probably in nothing has
Mr.. Higgins skill shone more brightly
than in his training Of knight of the
Thistle, now owned by L. o. Apple by,
of New York.
James levitt handled Knight of the
Thistle for three seasons and won some
nice races with him for H. Mccall
mont, among them the Royal Hunt Cup
at Ascot in 1897: but levitt never sent
the knight to the post with the bloom
of condition on him as Higgins has
done this year, and ii is significant that
Tie SISdl HldJolliy u tui tuEl WIilSlS
have commented favorably upon tn =
horses Improvement at the hands Of
the American trainer
Democrats win in the National
Breeders Produce Stakes at Sandown
park last Saturday was especially bril-
liant and remarkable, for this is our
most important produce race, as well
as our most valuable 2-year-old stake
having received 305 nominations of
mares on July IS, 1896, when it closed
and being worth 500, 2S5 to Lord Will
liam Beresford. with an additional ST.
500 to Pierre Lorillard, who originally
nominated Equality, dam of Democrat,
for the race.
Democrat has now won three great
stakes, having previously secured the
Coventry Stakes at Ascot and the
Hurst Park F'oal Plate. These races
were respectively worth $3.50 and S.
675, so we find Democrats winnings to
already amount to more than $4,000.
To American eyes. with your great
Futurity, this may not seem a very
large winning for 2-year-old. But it
must be borne in mind that English
prizes are more valuable for the later
years than for the juvenile period. For
instance, our most valuable 2-year-old
prize is guaranteed at only $4,000
For their 3-year-old form, however,
colts may be eligible for no less than
three races worth $50, 900 each, to say
nothing of the 1000 guineas, always
worth more than $4,000: the EPSON
derby, guaranteed at 100000; the DON
caster St. Leger, always worth some
500. 900, and numerous other events
ranging from $4,000 races are also open
to the 4-year-olds; that is, to those
who We're originally nominated for
them as foals.
Flying Fox, the Duke of Westmin-
sters phenomenal 3-year-ol has al
ready won this year the Two Thousand
Guineas. the Derby, the Princess of
Wales Stakes. these four events rep
resenting a total value of no less than
$130,S75, and he has still before him
the ST. Leger, at Doncaster. and the
$50 900 Jockey Club Stakes, at New
market, in October, while in 1900 he is
in no less than four stakes, worth SO
900 each. Last year Flying Fox's three
victories Were worth only Sl3,405 in all,
although it should be added that he
was very unlucky to be beaten by St.
Girls for the Imperial Produce Stakes
(worth s14.OO0). as his Jockey, M. Can
non, completely allowed himself to be
beaten by head, whereas he supposed
he was winning comfortably by neck.
Regarding Flying Fox's superb form
this year, it may be interesting to your
readers to know that it is suspected in
many quarters that Hugggins is plan
ming to give Caiman a special prep
for the St. Leger. Honors are COM
paratively easy between Flying Fox
and Caiman in one way, for Caiman
beat the Fox for the Middle Park
Plate last year, while the tables WERE
sadly reversed in the Two Thousand
Guineas this spring. The prevailing
opinion is that Caiman has hardly any
chance to defeat the kingscler candi-
date But it will be very interesting
to see the third 'go' between the
cracks of the two great trainers"