The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-02-08
Activity in Anticipation Of Coming Turf
Season Increasing.
New Interest in Bowling on Alleys of
City With New Journeys.

Now that the sun has begun 20 ap-
roach little nearer TO this planet OF
ours and it's warm rays TO battle success
fully with the chills of winter, activity
among the horsemen is becoming more
and more appreoiabe. Plans are being
laid and campaigns contemplated with
unalloyed vigor. One OF tho most char
acterstic facts OF this Is the steps TO
be taken today In New York for the pur-
pose OF forming new association.
At the meeting OF the grand circuit
stewards recently committee was ap-
pointed for the purpose and a permanent
organization for light harness races. a
move OF this kind has been the talk
among tho racing men for number or
years, but nothing ever came OF IL.
The trotting track owners and associa-
tions realize that some stringent actoh
is necessary TO preserve the trotting game
and they intend 10 take definite steps at
the meeting tomorrow which Will tenu 10
nut the sport on a firmer footing.
lust "a wear ago a committee came to-
gether and threatened 10 take the con-
troll OF the association out OF the hands
OF the stewards. but the thing zen
through The chief OF the many changes
desired by the track managers Is 10 nave
60 have full power 10 act with whatever
cases may come up during the meeting
AT present a case is referred 10 the
stewards, who meet once or twice year.
The track owners claim that their IN
terests is not well served under the pres
ent system and it Is their desire TO es-
tablish an organization on the same lines
as those OF the Jockey club on the run
ming turf when discipline Will be more
stringent
Another great indication OF the coming
activity among the turfman is the an
n0uncement that The Empire Clty uach
will be greatly improved.
The first important step INTENDED py
Mr.. Butler Is 10 erect new barns I'm place
OF the two large ones which were destroy
ed by flre last summer. The destruction Oh
the barns robbed the track OF nearly one
hundred stalls. and although there were
accommodations for eco horses at the
track, late arrivals were obliged 10 seeh
quarters outside of the grounds. rms,
Mr. Butler saws, will not be the case next
summer. as additional barns will be con-
structed that will afford horsemen ample
accommodations.
The track Is now well covered to protect
a. from the frost, and st will he gotten In
shape as soon as the cold weather ceases
Ma Butler is giving considerable atten-
tion TO the New York Driving club, which
holds a series OF matinee races during the
summer. THIS emu Oh lne SiloIi MI
believes will be even more interesting
than the high-class racing OF last year
Special attention is also going to be
paid TO the track the attempt being made
te have II the fastest OF any In the eoun-
try. For the coming season II Is predicted
by McHenry. the trainer OF Dan Patch,
that n mile will be paced i'm 1864. IL such
a prediction can be verified the season
will be another OF sensation. Had such
prediction been made few years ago the
racing world would have laughed but now
they all say IL is among the possibilities.
One thing Dan Patch has been improV-
ing every year no has been on the turf,
and with a corresponding improvement
this year there Is no reason why he
should not clip his present record.
Eyes, ] believe that Dan Patch is capa-
BILE OF pacing "A mile in 1852" said Trainer
McHenry the other day. THAT may seem
pretty strong for a prediction, but I am
willing to stake my reputation as
prophet on those figures. Dan Patch was
better last season than he was the sea-
son before. lie clipped his record fully
three seconds, which is quite n jump for
one season when you get the records
down so far
As to champions no less than three
loom up at the present time and their
performances will be watched with much
interest. First OF all comes Lou Dillon,
15Sk, G. X. O.. Billings champion trot-
Yer. Lou Dllon VIII De sent against ner
record to sulky and it is more than like
L. that she will be sent against time
without the aid OF any pacemaker in
front Nosmatter how Mr.. Billings sends
her after the records those interested in
the mare are confident that she can re-
duce her present record.
r. r.. Smathers champion trottlng
relding, Major Delmar. who trotted a
mile at Memphis I'm 1;59A. has been saved
for the coming season and the geldings
efforts will be confined TO record break
ing. Mr.. Smathers believes that Major
Delmar Is capable OF reducing his record,
but whether he can surpass that of Lou
Dillon Is n question.
The faot remains. however. that Major
Delmar, I'm the hands OF A. +. Mcdonald,
~ receiving the best OF care, and that ne
will he pointed for records next summer.
Outside OF the record performances. Mr..
smathers stu has his eve on the Mem
phis gold challenge cup. which he would
Hike very much. to win. At present
Messrs. Billings and Smathers each have
leg on the cup. and, the race this sum-
mer will be the final race, the winner get
ting permanent possession OF the 5000
trophy.