Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-03
ON EDGE FOR RACING SEASON
Turfmen Look for Better Results on
Eastern Tracks.
FORECAST FOR THE SPORT
stakes offered Have Attracted High
Glass ThOrOughbreds and Hx-
ceIIent sport seems
Assured.

next Friday the metropolitan racing sea-
son, under the auspices of the Jockey
club, will begin at Aqueduct From that
day until November Is there will be in
cessant racing In the state of New York,
but whether the sport will be a source OF
profit to the various racing associations
remains to he seen. The betting conditions
will remain as they we're last season. ex-
cept for the fact that according to a de-
cision by the court Of appeals there can
1 be no interference with oral speculation.
which includes the laying Of odds without
1 the recording OF wagers 1t is natural
conclusion that the general public will be
prevented from betting the horses under
these conditions, and that only persons
! who may establish credit can back their
opinions. But with the usual high rate
Of admission and cutting down OF the
free list the track owners feel confident
that there will be enough paying patronage
/ to enable them TO meet expenses
All OF the tracks have mapped out liberal
stakes. The overnight purses have been
hung up without stint and there seems to
be no doubt that more horses will race
here throughout the season than at any
time since the Agnew-Hart measure be-
came a law. The example set by August
Belmont chairman of the Jockey club, in
racing almost exclusively in this country.
has been followed by other prominent
owners who had big stables in England
last year; while owners and trainers who
deserted the New York tracks for Cana
dian and western circuits in 1908 and 1909
are coming back The Jockey club has
made 1t known that unity Of action may
save the turf In this state and for that
reason there seems to be a tendency to
stand together in an effort TO win finish
fight
That the tracks are prepared for
rocky road ls indicated in the pooling Of
interests by the Aqueduct, jamaica
! Brighton and Yonkers tracks. They have
agreed to share profits or losses as the
case may be so that there will be no open
dates in the metropolitan schedule. The
Gravesend, Sheepshead Bay, Belmont park
and Saratoga tracks, on the other hand
having the cream Of the racing dates.
figure that they stand alone. From
April until November, therefore. a treat
is in store for horse owners and breeders
Of all classes regardless Of the patronage
of the public. and as a result the stakes
have attracted the best race horses in
this country
While practically all of the stakes have
tractive and will provide some of the
best kind of racing. The Carter handicap,
seven furlongs, is the leading event at
Aqueduct and more than thirty horses
are eligible. The Excelsior handicap one
mile and a sixteenth, will be run on the
opening day at Jamaica and will draw
classy field During the Belmont Park
meeting the Metropolitan handicap, the
Withers, Belmont, Ladies'. Juvenile. Ma
tional Stallion and other turf classics
will be run, the best horses in training
being eligible. The Brooklyn handicap.
the Great American, the fremont, the
Expectation, the Hudson and the Brook
lyn Derby are the usual features at
Gravesend Then come the Suburban, the
Double Event. the Tidal, the Common
wealth. Coney Island Jockey Club and
Lawrence Realization stakes at historic
Sheepshead Bay
When Brighton Beach reopens in July
the Brighton handicap will be renewed,
together with other interesting events
which will be crowded into a meeting of
I only fourteen days. Then Empire City
, follows with twelve days, the Empire
: City handicap being the star event as
I usual, with more than sixty entries
Saratoga has planned brilliant meet
, ing, with $3.50, 600 to be distributed to the
J successful horsemen. The Saratoga hand
. leap, Saratoga Cup, the Special, the
I Hopeful the Alabama, the Flash, the
, Travers, United States Hotel. Grand
E Union Hotel Hurrican Rensselaer, and
other stake events will be starred and
4 many fine horses will be seen under sad
Q die. With Saratoga at end, Sleeps
: head opens in the fall season with the
rich Futurity, the Fiatbush stakes and
other big events to follow. Gravesend
EaIu pa will vii h. i'm
= portant stake races of the year, though
there will be a long stretch of racing at
Jamaica and Aqueduct before the end
comes.
" There is renewed interest in the running
! of the big handicaps the Brooklyn, Subur-
d ban and Brighton. because OF the fact that
entries closed on January and the weights
have since been allotted Last year the
: Brighton was not ran. while the other
events were SO reduced in value and drew
d such scanty entry lists that they were prac-
| tically robbed OF Importance. But this
; year the big handicaps have filled remark
t ably wen and have also been literally en-
n dowed by the racing associations. Some
l. interest is added by the return Of Ballot
e Prlscllian, Helmet Dinna Ken and other
e horses from England, but whether they
q can accomplish anything remains to be
d seen. Ballot was a phenomenal race horse
e in 1908, and Trainer Rowe still thinks the
j. son OF Voter can win some important races
but there are grave doubts to his ability
to cope successfully with such famous
: racers as King James and Fitz Herbert
HaEdicapper VOsburghs assignment OF
: weights for these three events rates Fti
= Herbert as the best horse in America. II
= is only a few years ago that his sire
Ethelbert, received the same distinction II
= these famous classics, and today 1t is q
subject for discussion whether Fitz Her
y bert or Ethelbert was the better race horse
y On the basis OF the weight for age seals
Maskette is really second in the handicaps
: Fitz Herbert giving her two pounds in th'
"a brooklyn and one in the Suburban anC
. Brighton
:. According 20 precedent the top weights
y do not always win their handicaps, 81
e that in this years events there are horse
= more leniently treated who may have ex
'e celent chances. Helmet. for instance
e would probably be very dangerous II h
% could show his 2-year-old form. Then aga
e High Private has speed and stamina an
y II absolutely sound would doubtless meas
l. ure up near Fltz Herbert's top notch. Fire
Is stone, Joe Madden, Afflictlon. Restlgouchs