New-York tribune., 1908-03-23
COMMENT on SPORT.
Ne.rs and Vie.rs on Current Topics
Amateur and Professional.

Ncscs ana ViescS on CWTfHt 1oPf'e,
Amateur and Professional.
n n never an easy matter to predlct Al this
&;,,e ~ the wear what thoroughbred racing
s..son ha. in store and the one which oeeihs
to-day st Bennins 10 no exception TO 'he ru,e
When q prediction has been attempted IN 'io
tAst n hAs rarely been verified ana TINS feaoS
e,ne - b careful about holding OUT bright ~ ion
lses or being too quick to take pessi''i's'N
view In 1906 the outlook for brilliant raolis
by high class horses was particularly orish''
N,,, the unt,rnely death of sysonby. Yankee
Consul and Rams Horn. the early reureH'eh' ..
ts,,,rcYr.sser. the champion two-year-oid OF
1Qoc and Whimsical; the non-appearance Oh
Artfrl. one of the greatest mares of all time
r.nvA and Herrnie and the failure to tram on
of MANY good horses. including Mohawk H.
ni,enu stalwart Tradition, Agile and clark
Crffath changed the complexion completely
There was plenty of good sport as the Dig
haaGraps were bitterly contested ano the t"o-
year-olds were a fairly even lot, but the weight
for-aee races were a grievous disappointment
with Accountant, an honest ana consistent
horse but hardly great one, In class pE
himself Last year conditions were reversed to
a laree extent The outlook was anything but
bright 10 far as the older horses were con-
two and three year oIds would do to make up
for this deficiency and uphold the standard
Fears that most Of the turf classics would be
fought out by selling platers were quickly dis
peiIed however and the season from a gloomy
beginning developed into one of the most brill
.Ant and successful in the history of the turf IN
this country. II made memorable by the
wonderful performances Of Colin. James r.
Keene's great Commando colt. which was un-
beaten in twelve starts. and Of such good horses
as Peter Pan Ballot. Salvidere, Nealon, Charles
Edward, Montgomery, Frank Gill. Roseben
Uncle Cet. Chapultepec, Notasulga, Stamina,
McCarter, Running Water. Meelick and others
It is true that the three year-olds dominated
the field among the older horses, but there were
enough good ones to provide plenty Of high class
sport
This year the outlook is particularly bright
again and there is much that lovers of the sport
can grow enthusiastic about II is true that the
fight racing legislation at Albany has had
a depressing effect but even if the anti-betting
bills are passed the sport will be continued in all
probability for this year. at least. the various
racing associations. with exception, have
made contracts with owners for the running of
stakes which must be kept That aside, racing
promises well There should be no lack of high
horses.
1907 may not train on enough should be left to
provide keen struggles for the rich and historic
stakes There is reason TO expect great things
of such good two -years-elds last year as Colin,
Celt Uncle. Lawrence p. Daley, Jim Gaffney.
Meeiick Cohort, Spooner Master Robert, Royal
Tourist. Stamina, Notasulga. Fair Play, Hessian,
Fsrestone. King James and Beaucoup, among
others The development OF horse from two
year-old to threeyear-old is most uncertain.
Some improve: Others go back and fail utterly
when put to the test There are enough good
prospects. however. to lend encouragement
Further than that the three-year-olds need not
be depended on to such extent as last season,
as the older horses quite likely to earn their
fair share of the prizes. There will be such
good handicap and cup horses as Ballot, the
champion three-year-old last year after the re-
tirerent of Peter Pan; Nealon, the Suburban
! Handicap winner; Charles Edward, the record
II holder mile and furlong; Salvidere, the
Brighton Cup winner: Montgomery. Running
water. Dandelion McCarter, which ran such a
brilliant race behind Peter Pan for the Brighton
Handicap; Frank Gill; DR.. Gardner Roseben-
Jack Atkin De Mund and Brookdale NyInph
The two-year-olds, Of course, are an unknown
ouant.ty but there should be cause for un-
eaeiness in this direction, Of the many royalty
bred youngsters which will go to the post some
are bound to be worthy enough 10 earn place
&, the equine hall of fame. though they
cannot take a place at the side of Colin Horses
like Colin are few and far between. but there
Is always the hope, and great expectation is the
cocktail OF horse breeding and horse racing
The action of the stewards of the Jockey Cluo
IN declining the application of Willie Knapp for
a Jockey license last week may mean the pass
fne OF a good rider, when good riders are few
and Tar between II did not come as surprise,
ae there was more or less unfavorable criticism
Of Knapp'e riding and methods last season He
ranked well UP among the best Jockeys and was
a better hcrseman than some Of the boys who
had q higher standing in the number of winning
mounts His punishment may be only tempo
yary, but 1t looks more segious Some surprise
Aas been expressed at c. Koerner's application
being laid on the table The boy rode for Harry
PAYNE whitney in the early part of last sea
son but appeared to strike bad streak and was
released on his own request He has been rid
ing well At New Orleans this winter, and has
always had q reputation for being an honest.
well meaning fellow In all probability his
license viii be granted later. Mountain, who
was suspended for the season at New Orleans,
has not applied for license. far as can be
learned. He could hardly hope TO get one. A
number Of jockeys, including E. Dugan and
willie Shaw, who will ride IN this country this
season after a year abroad, have delayed max
ing their applications. Judging by the small
number Of licenses granted last week,
The college baseball season is at hand and
befere another week is over, weather permitting,
q number Of teams viii take the field for their
opening games. Most OF the early contests viii