The Washington herald., 1907-06-16

A much smaller percentage of promi-
neEt public men, captains Of industry,
transportation "magnates" and the like,
are interested in the turf here than in
either England or France.
This has always been true and while
the total race and trotting track attend
ance is now larger than ever before in
those parts Of the United States which
encourage either form Of the sport of
kings" the number Of public men seek
ing turf prominence certainly is not in
creasing at this time. In fact. there are
fewer turfmen who are prominent IN
other lines probably to-day than there
were a few years ago.
Thus the first August Belmont was
great racing man So is his son, the
present August Belmont, but the latter is
not a public man in the sense his father
was. The elder Belmont was a power in
the Democratic party and served in the
diplomatic corps IN his younger years.
The present head OF the Belmont family
might like 10 duplicate his fathers pub
lie career. but so far hasn't been able 10
compass it,
William c. Whitney always liked fast
horses, but for many years he got his
equine recreation through speedy road
sters. Later. when. perhaps without
knowing IL. he had left most Of his politi-
cal career behind him, he went into rae
ing with all the force and vigor which
he expended upon everything i'm which
be took an interest, and for years was
power in the racing world. Harry Payne
Whitney is as much interested in racing
as his father was. but the son holds no
such place in the great world. and his
political career. still i'm the future. at
best. is by no means certain 10 material
ize at aI
British statesmen as Turfmen.
Several British prime ministers have
been big turfmen, notably Lord Rose
berry, but so far as can remember no
American Cabinet minister ever has been
devoted TO the track. Whltney's term as
Secretary Of the Navy came years be-
fore his racing career
The fondness Of most European rulers
for racing has been proveTbial. time out
Of mind Kins Edwards liking for the
turf is one OF the things which add much
10 his popularity. Queen Alexandria is
familiar figure at the Derby and other
great races. while her daughters see most
Of the noteworthy English turf contests.
The French Presidents attend the big
French races officially, the turf being
national institution in France. none has
kept a racing stable as does King Ed
ward however. partly, perhaps, for lack
of funds
Alfonso Of Spain goes to the races al
ways when in England, and his Queen.
a relative of Edward, likes 70 see the
horses run as well as the next one. King
Louis Of Portugal is another race-loving
monarch; Leopold, the old King Of the
Belgians. is another, and several Of the
minor monarchs Of Europe are to be seen
yearly on the French tracks. Kaiser
Wilhelm Of Germany IS interested in
racing. as he is i'm every other contest
for supremacy among his subjects but
his interests are so diverse that he is
able 70 devote much less attention 70 the
tracks than his uncle Edward does
Few Presidents on the List.
Per contra, no President Of the United
States seems 10 have cared particularly
for racing. and Of late years only two
have shown much liking for the horses
at ALL Grant was better pleased when
driving q fast trotter on the road than
when doing anything else in the world,
and Roosevelt's devotion 10 horseback
riding is proverbial; but Grant never was
a race track figure and Roosevelt never
has been Grants son, Gen, Frederick d.
Grant. goes 20 the races occasionally with
Mrs Grant
There is as much difference between
American and English legislators with
regard 90 the track rs between the rulers
Of the two nations. A large proportion Of
the House Of Lords are racing men; not
a few Of them maintain big stables. It
is considered almost duty for the men,
bers of the House OF Commons to see the
Derby run at least and 70 be present at
as many others Of the seasons big races
as possible But while some Of our Sem
at0rs and Representatives go out 10
Benning when Congress and the races
are in session together. the number of
ington is almost a negligible quantity.
Bailey and His TrOtting Track.
The newly elected Indian Senator, Cur
tlg. Of Kansas, began life as a jockey and
still likes racing. but Senator Bailey is
perhaps the most pronounced horseman
of all the Washington legislators and
often is 10 be seen among the rail birds
never a prominent figure at any Of the
great Eastern courses.
Five years ago ne leased a farm in
Kentucky for breeding purposes and his
horses that year included a number Of
high-grade brood mares and stations, be
sides the sensational Prodigal. with
record Of z:15 on the trotting track. pur-
chased at the Marcus DAILY dispersal
sale
Mr.. Bailey has spent some time In Ken
tuckv every year since then, looking after
his horses and watching the trotting at
Lexington His favorite seat at the Lex
ington trotting track used 10 be a wooden
plank nailed against the high outside
fence above the three-eighths pole. just
opposite the barn He makes a striking
figure. and everybody knows him vel,
stable boys and hangers-on, as well as
owners and breeders. When the horses
are being tried out. particularly HIS own.
he times them carefully with his stop
watch.
In His Element.
The Senator is always in his element
when his horses are in evidence. Some
body call the half says he. when one of
his colts Is about to get away. I don't
know exactly where TO snap it. It's large
" guesswork from this point"
SOMEBODY knows a bush that the ex-
perts snap on when the horses pass It.
When the Senator's colt glides by the ex-
perts call out up" and the Senator
snaps his watch as if there were no
more serious thing in the world for him
70 do. He sees the three-quarter pole