The Washington times., 1902-10-27
Most Prosperous Year for the
Sport of Kings in the
History of the American
Turf.
Aqueduct's S Two Weeks Meet
Brings to a Close the New
York Season-Question-
able Races investigated.

NEW YORK, Oct 26.-The metropoli-
tan racing season in the East is at an
end. 1t was brought to a triumphant
afternoon, and went out in blaze of
glory.
Tomorrow two weeks meeting will
open at Aqueduct, and then the run
rers will journey to Washington, where
the season for the year will close.
Never has there been a more prosper
GUS year for the sport of kings. There
has been more genuine interest exhibit
ed than ever before, and the sport has
been of nature to warrant all the en-
thusiasm that has been evidenced.
Yesterdays racing was such as to stir
the blood of the most phlegmatic and
when old Advance Guard came home a
winner of the Autumn Weight forage
race, there was demonstration rarely
Witnessed on racetrack. There were
only three starters, it is true. but Ad-
vance Guard won in such commanding
style that he was at once acclaimed the
best horse over a distance in America.
He occupies a warm spot in the affec-
tions of the race-going public such as no
other horse since the days of good old
Imp. Raced almost every week in the
season. Advance Guard has always done
his best, and showed that he was game
to the core. The Iron horse" together
with the entire Carruthers & Shields
string, will be shipped to Benning to
take part in the meeting to be held
there, and Alec Shields. his trainer,
thinks he has a pretty good mortgage
on the long-distance races that will be
features of the program.
Stewards Eyes Open.
The season that has just ended has
had its share of in-and-out running on
the part of the thoroughbreds, but the
stewards have not had their eyes closed.
and an investigation is now being held,
it is said. that may result in some
startling disclosures. II has been re-.
marked On more than one occasion that
certain owners have not been running
their horses to win, and it was whis-
pered last week that one large owner
would be requested to retire quietly from
the turf
The ruling-off of Jockey L. Smith, on
Friday, demonstrated that the Jockey
Club is determined to get at the bottom
of all questionable races. Smiths Of
fense was the alleged pulling of P. ].
Dwyer's two-year-old, Merry Acrobat.
in the Rarcho del Paso Stakes, on oc-
tober 13. On his previous showing he
was legitimately made strong favorite
but the best he could do was to finish
fourth, six lengths behind the third
horse The stewards were not satisfied
with Smiths performance, and began a
quiet investigation, with the result
stated. Yesterdays victory of the colt
in the White Plains Handicap, when he
defeated a much better lot of horses
than those who beat him ten days be-
fore, seems to confirm the impression
of the stewards and the observant public
that Smith did not try to win with the
colt
This action of the stewards and the
rough riding earlier in the season is
good evidence that the Jockey CLUB
means business, and that all offending
turfmen will be summarily dealt with
There has been a deal of talk that the
racing officials were closing their eyes
to many fragrant. cases OF form reversal,
but it is safe TO say that the governing
body of the Eastern turf can be relied
upon to make full and fair investigation
and act accordingly.
First Race for Dwyer.
The victory of Merry Acrobat, by the
way. was a source OF much qualification
to many turfmen. as 1t marked the first
victory of the .'red and blue sash" in
two years. p. j. Dwyer's colors have
always been in favor with the racegoing
public and, although he did not race any
horses last year, this season he has been
trying TO win race. His horses have
been near the front on several occasions,
but yesterday was the first time that
any OF them was given the decision.
The meeting at Aqueduct promises to
be a good one. Several stakes will be
decided in the two weeks of racing, and
a good quality of horses will contest for
the purses The oni! stake event on
the program for tomorrow is the Aque-
duct Handicap, and the class of horses
entered to run indicates that it will re-
sult in good race all the way.
AT the Morris Park meeting Mrs. l..
Curtis headed the list OF winning owners
with a total of sl3,500, all of it won by
that sterling flly Eugenia Burch. F.
r. Hitchcock il second on the list. only
500 behind Mrs. Curtis. His two-year-
old Grey Friar is credited with the ma
aer portion of the winnings. The
steepiechasers OF Mr.. Page earned him
50 800, giving him third position. and the
Western turfmen, John A. Drake, is
fourth.
Lyme was the premier jockey of the
meeting with sixteen victories. while
Redfern was up on fifteen. The rivalry
between the two was keen.
Latonia Entries.
First race-Three-q quarters of mile;
selling. Sister Kate ii. 107; Blue Ridge,
Miss Chapman, Floret, 102: Moderator.