The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-25
The Saratoga Meeting.

The souls that became downcast ana
disgustei over the fizzle of the match
betweenN aterboy and McChesney may
leaveu themselves with hope. There
is the possibility of a more stirring race
next month. when the thoroughbreds,
on whose feet the speed wings have been
growing all the spring meet on the heath
at Saratoga. Then, unless all signs fail,
there will be sound of hoof beats that
will set the blood of the most phlegmatic
sportsman a-tingling
Near the close of the Saratoga meeting
last year, when track records were being
knocked into smithereens nearly every
fine afternoon, il was suggested to some
of the men who have made the Saratoga
course the Newmarket Of America
that they arrange a special race at
mile, with suitable prize for the winner
if the worlds record for the distance
should be broken.
The suggestion was received with
enthusiasm by both the management
and the owners of possible starters. 1t
was found, however that the suggestion
had come a little too late. So many
owners had sent their horses to Sleeps
head Bay, or had made arrangements to
do so, that sufficiently representative
number of entries could not be obtained.
The semi-oflicial announcement was
made, though, that the matter would be
taken up in the early days of the Sara
toga meeting of 1903, and, if possible,
the race would be arranged.
A match race between McChesney, son
OF Macduff, and Waterboy, greatest Of
the scions of Watercress, at mile and
quarter, would have been, indeed, test
of fettle and mettle to stir mems souls.
But, speaking sentimentally (and the
sentiment of the turf is one of its choicest
heirlooms), the distance is not classic.
From the birth time OF the earliest memo
ries of the American turf the classic dis
lance for a speed test of thoroughbreds
has been one mile. Who of the fathers Of
the turf will ever forget the May after
noon in Louisville in 1877 when the great
Ten Brock then in his fifth year and
carrying 10 pounds circled Churchill
Downs in mighty flight of speed and
established new worlds record for the
classic mile?
That was race Of horse against watch,
and the time 300, remained a record
until Salvador, owned then and now by
the owner of Waterboy ran the straight
mile of the Monmouth Park course, on
Aug. o. 1890, in :35l2. Salvatore
record still stands but il has never been
regarded by turfmen as quite TO be com
pared with the record Of Ten Brock, be-
cause of the fact that the record was
made on a straight track, rather than on
q circular course, which is the standard
for the race courses OF the world. A
better performance than Salvatore, the
conditions being considered. was that
of Brigadier, which, in race at Sleeps
head Bay in June, 1901, ran the mile, with
liz pounds up in 1877 40 or that OF Alan
a-Dale at Chicago few weeks ago, when
he covered the distance in 1877 30.
EDutl II WV lS'Vlu w uutC' ~ VII
teen years Ten Brock wore his laurel,
Then it was taken by Salvador, which
now shares it with Brigadier and Alan-a-
Dale. This seems to he Il year for the
breaking of records by the blue bloods
of the turf East and West they are clip
ping seconds from the marks that have
stood for years. What prouder achieve
ment could the year bring to the owner
of one Of these flyers bred in the purple,
than to have him establish a new record
for the classic mile, and that, too, on the
Saratoga course, 80 rich in turf memories
and one of the few historic courses in
the United States that are still going
concerns?
OF material there is a-plenty. In the
all-age division there are Waterboy and
McChesney Aan-a-Dale and Roehamp-
ton, Goldsmith and Chuctanlmda Gun