The Washington herald., 1907-03-18
COMING TO BENNING
Closing of Western Tracks
to Bring Many Horses.
SEASON OPENS TO-DAY WEEK
Movement starts with cavanaueh's
Special Train Oat of New York
sunday-Frozen Tracks In North
Richards TrsinIns-sOme Are Hold
ing Back Until Aaueduet Opens.

One week from to-day the Eastern rae
ing season viii open at Benning, where
the usual spring meeting viii last until
April Is, which is two days before the
gates Of Aqueduct are thrown open to
the public Tor the Inauguration Of the
campaign on the Metropolitan circuit
Next Sunday afternoon at 3.25 the Cav
anaugh special train will leave New York
for Washington over the Pennsylvania
Railroad. for the accommodation OF turf
men and patrons of the sport.
The departure of the Cavanaugh train
will be the first real indication that the
racing season Of 1897 is at hand. Mean
while trainers OF horses that have en-
gagements at Benning. and have been
spending the winter on the Long Island
tracks. are not ready to say that their
charges viii be ft. The frozen condl-
ton OF the tracks at Gravesend ami
Sheepshead Bay has made fast trials out
Of the question. Some Of the horses, In
Guiding the mighty Roseben. however.
have been going along over the Ice and
snow with sharpened racing plates made
particularly for this sort Of galloping eN-
ercise. But a majority Of the horses
have been confined to What IS known as
shed exercise, and are not anywhere
near ready for racing.
Yesterdays thaw and warm sun pro-
vided. the FIRST favorable training eondi-
tons at the Long Island tracks that
have been experienced this year. AS a
result, the tracks were fairly alive with
horses. old and young. who enjoyed the
fresh air. and got some good gallops. II
this sort Of weather holds out for the
rest Of this week therefore. the trainers
expect TO make much rapid progress.
But, al that they say. they do not ex-
pect 10 be able to cope with the horses
/ that have been Wintering at Benning or
have been racing at New Orleans and
IN California.
Because Of unfavorable conditions It
may be said that several well-kr0wn sta
bies VIII not be seen on the track until
/ Adueduet opens. Their owners and train
/ ers say that it would be a waste Of time
and money to go to Benning. and that Il
/ is more advisable TO wait until the horses
lare M and ready 10 take crack at some
OF the valuable stakes to be held in April
and May.
/ But even with these stables remaining
here. there will be no lack Of racing ma
terial at Benning. which this year will
prove a greater magnet for horses from
( all parts OF the country than ever before.
/ The closing down OF several Western
tracks will drive horsemen 20 the Jockey
! Clubs tracks in large numbers, and most
OF them viii open the campaign next week
rather than spend any more time at the
winter tracks. The Benning meeting Will
Hast eighteen days. and in that time a
/! number Of important stakes viii be de-
cided. beginning with the first Benning
Spring Handicap, six furlongs, next Mon
day.
/ The imported mare Stylitene. owned by
1.-THE widow Of Col James +, Pepper. has
lfoaled a chestnut colt by King,5ton, vino is
q fun brother to the noted race horse.
Kings Courier This colt is the first foai
ever owned directly By Mrs, Pepper. as
she bought the mare from O. H. Chenault
after the disposal sale Of MeadowthoTPe
stud
I'd. Corrigan is said TO have been forced
20 reHnquish control OF City Park track
New Orleans. in favor Of local capitalists
who. report has it. may secure Joseph A
Murphy to manage the plant in future
Congressman Joseph L. Rhinock and J. B
Respess. two influential members Of the
American Turf Association, are said to be
heavily interested IN City Park. and to be
IN favor Of Murphy From this one MAY
infer that Murphys Buffalo proposition
has some underground connection witt
the men Interested in the welfare Of Cit.
Park. There will be speculation as TO tbs
Il Buffalo owners identity until Murphy de
cides to make that pubic.