New-York tribune., 1908-04-15
READY FOR BUGLE CALL
RACING SEASON HERE.
HERE.
Good Field VIII Go to the Post IN
Rich Garter Handicap.

The thud of the garoping thoroughhreds will be
heard at Aqueduct to-day, and the Queens County
Jockey Club will throw its gates for the open
ing of the racing season in the metropolitan dis
trict The Carter Handicap Of $4,000 and five other
races will be decided. and a crowd which is likely
tax the accommodations 10 the fullest is almost
TO be in attendance, as the outlook Is Tor
bright, clear weather. The followers of the sport
have passed through weeks OF suspense over
threatened adverse legislation at Albany, and for
that reason, perhaps. will welcome the day with
keener zest 1t has been long time since the cur
tain rung down at Aqueduct last November;
least it has seemed long to lovers OF the thor
oughbred, and that is another reason why the well
come to-day will be an enthusastic one.
The bugle will call the horses TO the post for the
first at 2:30 o'clock. and Fred Rehberger. the
secretary, has provided an excellent programme.
The Carter Handicap, the first big fixture OF the
season, is bound to furnish. good race sixteen
horses have been named overnight as probable
starters, and there is plenty of quality in the
field So far as can be learned, there will be no
radical change for the time being in the making of
wagers. although it is just possible that the per-
ambulating system used at Benning may be tried.
General reforms will be worked out, however dur
ing the season. If certain members of the Jockey
Club have their way. which will tend 20 place the
sport stronger basis, An earnest Of this
shown yesterday when II decided 10 bar minors
from the tracks.
1t is not so long ago that the course at Aqueduct
and confined, and the Carter Handi-
cap the feature of the opening day a 500
race. Now all that is changed. and whereas the
real opening OF the season used to come when the
flags were hosted the stands OF the Westches-
ter Racing Association. the honor belongs rightly
to AQueduCt. The club has been progressive. the
track is of the best and safest in the cir
cult, and the Carter Handicap has risen to the dig
nifty of a $1,000 stake for which some Of the best
horses in training pointed.
The inclosure looked spick and span yesterday and
The track was fast and the turf on the steeple-
chase course in fine condition. Jack Atkin one of
the best sprinters OF the present day, and a horse
which has raced consistently throughout the win
ter at New Orleans, is at top weight in the Carter
Handicap, with 122 pounds The race is at seven
furlongs, and this will be its eleventh renewal
On the roll of winners such good horses as
The ManXman. Duke OF Mddleburg, Box, Motley,
Ethics. Ahumada Beldame, Ormondes Right
Roseben and Glorifer. The record for the race Is
1:26 made by Box in 1900
OF the sixteen horses which will go to the post
to-day ten at least lay claim to some class
which means so much TO the average racegoer.
Sam Hildreth's Meelick, the winner of two derbies
in California and in New Orleans this winter
and the B. & o. Stables Chapultepec and AngeIus
likely to be about equal choices in spite of the
fact that they are three -year-olds. Angelus won
the City Park Derby beating Chapultepec and
Meelck. whereas Meelick beat them both in the
Crescent City Derby. The distance TODAY how
ever Is IN Chapultepec's favor. and the railbrds
who have been watching his preparation for the
race express confidence that he will give a good
account OF himself
Bat Masterson and James r. Keenes Resti-
gouche have had n careful preparation for the
struggle. and the checkers give good reports Of
each Restigouche is said have worked half
a mile IN 48 seconds which indicates that he will
be fighting in the at some part OF the tourney
He showed some class a two-year old although
he.was not ranked with Chapultepec and Meelick
The entries for the to-day other than the
Carter Handicap follow: