The Washington times., 1903-02-24
SHORTER DISTANCES
FOR THE YOUNGSTERS
Englishmen Seriously Con-
slider Innovation.
CORLETT FAVORS THIS PLAN
In Future -Year-Olds May Only Be
Asked to Cover Half Mile Spirits
in Earlier Part of Season.

NEW YORK. Feb. 24-The rumor has
reached America that the English Jockey
Club is entertaining the proposition OF
reinstating haIf-mne races for tyo-year-
Olds. More surprising than this is the
fact that so conservative man as John
Corlett the editor and proprietor OF the
Sporting Times supports the idea in
his Note Book" The position he takes
up in the matter is odd and worthy OF
comment
The claim is made that we namely
The Sporting Times" were zone Of the
earliest 10 agitate for the abolition of
half-mile races for -year-olds. Our
principal reason for chem opposing
them was that in races Of this descrip-
tion almost everything depended upon
the start. whereas with the distance in
creased by rurlong IL would give some
chance to those horses that had not sue
ceeded i'm getting well away. to make up
the ground that had been lost At that
time there was not starting gate. but
now that field OF two-year- olds would
stand as good chance of getting away
on even terms at half a mile as at FIVE
furlongs. il would. we think be well 10
go back 20 the shorter distance. or at
any rate until June l.
Gate Factor.
AS this is a matter about which :as
been much written in America. al
lusion to it is not inapropos That al
most every contention made by Mr.. Cor
lett can be upset seems certainty.
That the gate" should be expected to
equalize matters between a lot Of green
youngsters. racing before June 1. re-
member, is quite absurd. Granted that
they are tho best behaved lot OF raw
hands ever seen, there are sure 20 be
in any field a number that in the early
part Of the season have not become ac-
customed 20 the gate. That cannot pass
as a good and telling argument for the
resurrection OF the haIf-mile scurry. and
still less can the contention made fur
Their on in MIR. Corlett's article that the
deduction OF a furlong from a race for
-year-olds renders 81 less distressing
TO the young horses. II he had contend
I'd for -three-furfong rsces there woald
have been more room for this idea
Even in a hve-furlong race there is
scarcely perceptible pause. which is
horses over such course very diff
cult matter. Take two horses that can
be brought together by a matter Of three
pounds at seven fuTlongs, and it may
take twenty-ono pounds to do the same
for them al FIVE furlongs At five fur
longs. AT that there is some sembIance
OF n pause when tWo-year- are rae
ing. as an average OF fractional times
viii show, but al half a mile none It
is ger up and get there" from the rise
OF the barrier 10 the winning post so
that the tension is extreme. Two-year-
old racing carried to an extreme has
caused trouble enough in both English
and American turf affairs without being
exaggerated by the reintroductiOn in this
country Of an abuse that has been fortu~
natcly given the go-by. And. for that
matter. the American authorities. who.
from selfish motives. will not even adopt
so much Of a curtailment OF early two
year-old racing as has been brought into
vogue here would do well 10 consider
whether II two-year-cIds must be raced
10 help the dividends. il would not be
wisest 10 ask the young things TO go a
full hye-turlong course from the first