Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-29
BY JOHN B. FOSTER.

More than l,3OO races were run the
tracks comprising the metropolitan circuit
last summer. This circuit. of cou' e. in
cludes Saratoga, which is under the juris-
diction of the Jockey Club.
These races included contests of all dis
tances and contests for all ages. Oppor-
1unity was given to the poorest owner as
well as to the wealthiest to enter his
horse in some trial of speed for which 1t
was adapted and undertake TO win a por-
ton Of the money.
Without any question it comprised the
greatest series of races that ever was run
in the United States. AS splendid as that
season was. both in it's opportunities and
developments, the season of 1908 prom
ises to surpass it.
Racing began in the east at Benning.
With the completion Of that meeting the
stables move to New York, where they
take up the campaign on the sandy course
at Aqueduct. From there they go to ia
naica, an inland track of no great scenic
beauty. but one which arranges a series
of contests for the benefit of the horses
that are brought into early training. After
Jamaica comes gay session at Belmont
Wnere the first of the spring classics be-
gin to make their appearance, and where
society begins to take interest in the
sport. Brooklyn, the most democratic
course of all, follows, and after Brook
lyn the stables travel to Sheepshead Bay,
and racing may then be said to be in full
swing.
Brighton, a course on the very shore OF
the ocean, attracts the horses next, and
with the conclusion Of Brightons sport
the wealthy owners send their horses to
Saratoga, where fashion reigns supreme.
This year the Empire City track, to the
north of New York city proper, will divide
portion of the time with Saratoga. AT
the close OF the Empire meeting the
horses again journey to SheepShead Bay,
to enter upon the rich fall season. After
leaving Sheepshead they follow in reverse
. order OF the circuit of the tracks similar
to that of the early spring and summer
season. For tWo-tlirdS OF the year own
ers are kept busy testing the comparative
merits of the candidates in their stables,
horses acquired by their own careful fol-
lowing OF blood lines or horses purchased
because of the possibilities that they may
have as money earners and as possible
stars of the great turf kingdom.
Most Famous Handicaps.
The most famous handicaps. from course
TO course, are the Benning, run in two
sections at Benning; the Carter at Aque-
duct. the Excelsior at Jamaica, Metro
poltan at Belmont. Brooklyn at Graves
end, Suburban at Sheepshead Bay. Brigh-
ton, at Brighton: Saratoga at Saratoga
and Empire. at Empire City. Probably the
most popular stake race is the Futurity
for two-year-olds, run on the first day of
the fall meeting at Sheepshe2d Bay 1t is
the one stake which has the unusual
faculty of drawing a tremendous crowd
TO witness straightaway race mong the
youngest horses of the year.
The total amount involved in the prizes
offered for the handcaps which have
been mentioned is not much less than
$4,000. while the Futuritys total value
viii average about $4,000.
In addition to these there are a dozen
classical stake races. which are likely TO
be worth all the way from 900 TO So
600, and more than all stakes and handi-
caps the scores of overnight events Of
tered by the associations with a guar
2ntee OF added money, to give the bread
winners such opportunities as they may
seek to enter their horses where they
will run to the best advantage. 1t may
readily be seen how quickly the money
offerings of the associations mount to
the million mark.
Most Popular Races.
From the remarks which have repeated
~ been made by owners and by breeders,
but more particularly by owners who
breed their horses as well, it would appear
that the two races in which victory is
most coveted are the Suburban and tho
Futurity. Very true, there is no owner
who would not gladly win any one of the
more important handicaps, for all of
them have, to a large extent, world
wide reputation. but there is a something
to the Suburban and to the Futurity
which make them paramount to all. Ii is
possible that the public has something
to do with creating this sentiment, as
Suburban day and Futurity day al
ways the best patrsniZed of all turf fete
days, If the weather is favorable, and
men who take but passing interest in rae
ing at the best rarely hesitate to discuss
the chances of this or that horse in either
the Suburban the F'uturity.
One OF the best fields is named for the
Suburban this year that has been enrolled
upon the books of the Coney Island
Jockey Club for some seasons. Cnques-
tionably, this is very largely due To the
entries of such horses Colin. the un-
beaten wonder of 1907, and Calt. colt
concerning which less is known, but which
some believe to be even superior TO his
stable mate. In addition TO these are
such well-known thoroughbreds as Bal
lot, a r-year-old. also OF the keene
stable: Nealon, winner of the Suburban
last year. a steady, slow beginning horse
which is said to have wlntered very Wen
and which may show more merit than
he did in 1907: Salvatore, Montgomery,
DR.. Gardner. winner of the Excelsior in
1907: Superman, another keene horse and
the winner of The Brooklyn in 1907; Sir
Huon, Jack A3in, DeMund, the most &C.