The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-23
The he ginning Of Racing in the East.

Every owner and admirer Of tho race
horse in these parts will turn his atten-
ton to-day to the opening Of the Eastern
racing season OF 1908 at the Bennings
track In Warrington. The reports which
have come from this track during the
last few weeks indicate that never be-
fore have the conditions surrounding the
Inauguration Of years racing been
more favorable than they are now, and,
for numerous reasons well known to
turfmen, the season as whole promises
to surpass all Of its predecessors. The
Bennings meeting, while It Ii outside
OF the metropolitan district, is Of more
than local importance.
The owners Of thoroughbreds about
New York, besides exerting themselves
to the utmost to put their animals
in first-class condition, have in many
cases materially increased the size OF
their stables. With this increase in
numbers will b found, We believe. a
corresponding increase in strength.
Moreover, this department Of the Ameri-
can turf has recently acquired the sup
port Of several gentlemen not directly
identified with it in the past. Among
them Is Mr.. E. E. SMATHERs, whose pur-
chase OF the noted Western racehorse
McChesney lends color to the report
that he 10 about to build up an immense
racing stable. Other newcomers OF
prominence are Mr.. W. B. LEEDS, who
Is to Be associated with Mr.. ANDREW
MILLER, and Mr.. C. A. DRAPER, owner Of
the great four-year-old Major Dain-
ger6eld. We are told, also, that Mr..
CLARENCE H. MACKAY, who formerly
possessed one Of the best stables in the
country, is to return to the sport with all
the vigor and enthusiasm characteristic
Of his previous racing career.
Concerning the horses which will race
this year on the metropolitan tracks,
the statements Of trainers and others
in a position to know warrant the belief
that they will prove both game and
speedy. Most Of them have emerged
satisfactorily from their winter quarters
and, unless all signs fail, many records
will be smashed between now and next
December No better weather could be
desired than that Of the last few weeks
for preparing the thoroughbreds here
abouts for their initial appearance at
Aqueduct, on April IS. and they should
90 to the post on that day in exception
ally fine form.
But how, it may be asked, are the
horses to perform consistently with
inexperienced jockeys' Or, in other
words, how can the smaller stables
which have failed to secure the services
Of the comparatively few frst-class
riders expect to win valuable stakes
in competition with their more fortu-
nate =. 81 1t is true that the number
Of expert jockeys available at the present
time is uncommonly small. Perhaps
not moro than a dozen of the lads now
in the saddle deserve to rank as experts.
and they are, almost without exception,
employed by the larger stables. The
jockey problem is, however. one which
is likely TO be solved without much
trouble az the season advances. There
is in this country no scarcity OF clever
apprentices. and many Of them promise
to develop into fine jockeys. From New
Orleans. also. it will be possible TO obtain
several riders who came to the front
rapidly during the winter.
The very fact that there In an urgent
demand for high-clsss jockeys. who can
command extravagant salaries. should
he, and doubtless will be, SUFFICIENT TO
bring about a remedy for the present
situation within q short time. BY this
1t isn't meant that every boy ambitious
% emulate BURNS or REDFERs 10 sure 10
succeed a. they have. but rather that
those who have shown that they have
It In them 10 become jockeys should
hnd an excellent opportunity now 10