Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1908-01-02
GERAT CLOSING OF
TURF EVENTS

Brighton Beach Racing association
closed entries with a gross value or
about $4O0. 900 for the spring meet
lnSs, and many additional entries
for fall stakes and fixtures for the
coming two years, bringing the to-
tai up to nearly a million dollars.
Such wholesale closing of high
racing events has never before been
known. and it is likely that today
will remain red letter day of the
turf racing associations, the Queens
County, the Jamaica. the Westches-
ter and the Saratoga, and one new
organization, the Empire City Jock
ey Club. Even should all Of these
decide on the same closing date. to-
day would still hold its place as the
most important on the turf calendar
Of the United States.
The stakes closed today include
the schedules for the spring meet
ings of the three most popular clubs
of the East The chief interest Of
horsemen and the sporting public is
in the renewal of the three great
spring handicaps. one OF each is to
be run at each of the three tracks,
with the Brooklyn handicap at
Gravesend first, the Suburban at
Sheepsnead Bay second and the
Brighton at Brighton Beach third.
Under the agreement by which
today was fixed for the closing of
all the three great events, with a
similar time limit fixed for the pub
LEGATION of weights and declarations
under the minimum fee, the values
OF the Brighton and Suburban han
dicaps have been raised for this
year to equal the value Of the Brigh-
ton handicap. which for several sea-
sons. with guaranteed worth OF
$4,000. was the richest OF all the
handicaps. The agreement Of the
three clubs puts all three races on
the same plane. SO far as value is
concerned. and the setting of one
day for the closing has greatly sim
plified matters for horsemen who
have made entries.
The conditions OF the three great
event. are in a general way very
similar each Of the famous handi-
caps now being stake Of $4,000.
guaranteed, for three-year-olds and
upwards, at distance OF mile and
a quarter.
For the severa, races special Con-
ditions have been provided. with
the exception of the Brooklyn which
as in past seasons, is framed to ig-
more the earlier meetings of the
New YORK season, and which called
for $3.50 entrance, half forfeit, or
only SIS forfeit it declared on Feb
ruary 20, weights TO be announced
on January 80 The race, subject
to the arrangement Of dates BY the
jockey club, will be run about the
middle Of May. The Suburban,
with entrance, forfeit and declara
ton fee exactly the same as the
Brooklyn, provides scheme of pen
alties for winners after the publica
ton of weights. the penalties rang
ing from four pounds extra for win
ners Of three races OF $1,000 or one
race of $4,000 up to a penalty of
twelve pounds for winners of three
races of $4,000, two races of $4,000
or one race Of $4,000 after the an
nouncement of weights. The Bright
on, which occupies its old place in
the racing calendar, will be run in
early July. The general conditions
for the race agree with the earlier
handicaps, the Brighton being gov
erned Dy special conditions similar
to those of the Suburban, providing
lOF peualtleS lOI winters after tue
publication of weights.
Aside from the three big handi
caps, the three clubs closed today
for fifty-two other stakes in the
spring meetings which will pro-
duce fifty-five races. with gross
estimated vaelue OF $500. 600.
These are all for the spring meet
ings Of this year. and are aside from
stakes, with an approximate gross
value of 100000 more. which
closed today for the fall meetings
of this year, and for 1909 and 1910,
some of the latter being produce
STAKES or fixtures which call for the
entry of foals.
In the big list of spring stakes
closed today the Coney Island Jock
ey Club makes the greatest showing.
with the $4,000 Suburban, the