The Washington times., 1902-06-02
AN ERA OF TURF PROSPERITY
Participation of Millionaires
Tends to Make Clean
Sport.
COMING WEEK AT GRAVESEND
High Class Racing Carded for Six Days
Seven Stake Events to Be Decided
Great American to Be Run on Sat
urday.

urday.
NEW YORK, June 1.-The turf world
is just now wondering whether W. c.
Whitney will engage John E. Madden TO
train his strong stable OF horses next
season. 1t is rumored that negotiations
are on between the men and that II is
quite likely Mr.. Madden will handle
the millionaire's horses next year.
The continued Ill health of Mr. Whit
ney's present trainer. John W. Rogers.
is assigned as a reason for the desire
on Mr.. Whitney's part to secure another
trainer. In casting around for n sue
cessor to Mr.. Rogers, the wealth turf
nan hit upon Mr.. Madden as the only
man to whom he could intrust his valu-
able string of thoroughbreds.
Whether Mr.. Madden will consider
the proposal or not remains TO be seen.
as Madden is himself wealthy man.
and no pecuniary consideration would
have much influence with him. Madden
is the most prominent figure in the turf
world today and he can probably make
more money out OF the game by pursu-
ing his present line of business as an
owner than he could were he to deyote
his whole time to Mr.. Whitney's in
terests.
Winners Bought From Madden.
1t was from John Madden that the
ex-Secretary of the Navy purchased
most OF his best performers on the turf
and the two men have jointly owned a
number OF great runners. II the shrewd
Kentuckian were to enter Mr. Whitney's
employ as the trainer of his runners
IL would be more out of friendship than
anything else. and If they should Join
forces the Whitney stable would proba-
bly, be the most formidable racing stable
in the world.
The present season has served 10
demonstrate very forcibly that the turf
is now enjoying an era of prosperity
such as II never knew before. This is
due In a great measure to the presence
of so many wealthy men as owners OF
thororghbreds. There are more million
aires engaged in racing horses in Amer
ica today than ever before, and this has
had salutary effect ulnn the sport
Wealthy men run horses more for the
pleasure IL affords them than for the
pecuniary profit they derive, although
considered as a business proposition the
turf offers many inducements TO the man
OF wealth.
For instance. August Belmont has
surely derived very good interest on
his money this season, and it is likely
that al the end OF the year nea-l-
every wealthy owner will show a good
big balance on the right side OF the
ledger.
Millionaires Make Clean Sport.
But the presence of the millionaires
on the American turf has done more
than anything else TO make the sport
clean. There is very rarely n stake
event nowadays wherein every horse in
the race is not trying the best he can.
And. too. nearly every stake of any con-
sequence has been won by a wealthy man
The Metropolitan and Brooklyn Hand-
caps were captured by Mr.. Feather
stone. and all the important two-vear-
old events have been won by August
Belmont. while several of the three
year-old races were won by his horses.
This will not, as II may seem at first
thought. crowd out the poorer owners,
On the contrary. II has resulted in an
increase OF the overnight purses and the
poorer class OF horses are left TO win
their usual run of races with larger
profit for doing so than heretofore.
Week at Gravesend.
The coming week at Gravesend will
furnish another six days Of good. high
class sport. Seven stake races will be
decided during the week. the most val
uablc OF which is the Great American
stakes for two-year-olds. TO be run on
Saturday. 1t has a gross value OF sl2.-
500, OF which s1,750 will go TO the sec
ond horse and SEQ to the third. The
distance OF the race is five furlonRs. and
there are more than 100 youngsters ELI |
Rible for the race. There were 167 |
nominations to the race, and 61 were /
declared on January ]. II is likely the |
ield that will go 10 the post will be a |
large one, although the presence of the |
champion Belmont o-ycar-old. Mizzen.
in the race will probably scare many OF |
the horses out. Mizzen is unquestion-
ably the best -year-old that has
been shown this season, and there are
many turfmen who regard him as the
best horse ever foaled in America. He
has won all OF his races in such impress
siye style that II looks as If nothing
will he able 20 get near him Unless
something happens to the colt he will
be q starter in the race. and will doubt
less be an odds-on favorite. A number
of other youngsters will probably start
in the race that have not yet been
shown. but they will have 10 do wonders
TO show their heels 10 Mr.. Belmont's
horse.
The Broadway Stakes.
On the same day the Broadway stakes
for three yea -olds will be run. II has
a value Of nearly $4,000, and among the
entries are Hcno. Pentecost. Old Eng
land. Chiffon. King Hanover. Blue Girl,