The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-28
SAVE THE TWO-YEAR-OLDS.
An Answer to Captain Cassatt or the
Evil Of Early Racing.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: |
have read with interest the letter re-
Gently published in your columns from
Captain Il. II. Cassatt of Chesterbrook
Farm on the early racing of two-year-
olds n your editorial comments there
on, and while the amendment to the
Jockey Clubs rules prohibiting contests
for ~thoroughbreds of tender age prior
to April I may be satisfactory to that
gentleman and to other men of wealth
who race horses for pleasure. there Is
another side to the question which car
rles its own appeal.
There are many small breeders q:
thoroughbreds whose very existence de-
ponds upon the sale of their yearlings,
and II the so-called winter tracks operat-
ing at New Orleans, Havana, Juarez
and perhaps at Tia Juana, as n course at
that point is spoken of, to be ready by
January. should be compelled to exclude
races for ~two-year-olds from their pro-
grammes 1t would limit the earning
powers Of many Juvenile thoroughbreds,
as these racks AFFORD an opportunity
for colts n fllies of moderate class
to earn purses and help pay the ex-
penses incidental to a campaign which
at best merely serves TO afford employ
ment to men and boys who possess no
INV us VI My lit Nabt Allhl NAihN
pertaining TO the racing OF horses.
Every member of such racing stables
must help to pay his way. and the cheap
t~wo-year-old incapable of winning any
where else has TO play his part the same
as the other members of the organlza-
ton. He cannot hold his own later in
the season with the better bred and
speedier representative OF the rich man,
which, nurtured and grown TO the fullest
OF his powers. IL found his superior
as a rule. His earning capacity, except
In isolated cases, where a colt or flly
that cost q mere trife should develop
high class. as Old Rosebud or some other
winter track stars did. would be con-
fined to races run during January. Feb
ruary and March. and surely the man
with his all represented by half IA dozen
mares In entitled to confederation.
These who have seen this winter sport
know that two-ycar-old racing Is eN-
ceedingly popular in the communities
where II Is permitted, and the manage
ment of these off season properties are
always striving to give their patrons
what they want. For weeks before Jan
uary l these Juvenile racers are in
spected and talked about. and when the
first race is carded. usually on New
Years Day. the attendance il at high
"hN'i IidIhs II idlDldlH 'aSSdll : pro-
posed amendment is adopted these winter
resorts will ave no two-year-old racing,
unless owners are willing to be disqual'-
fled from racing their youngsters on the
courses controlled by the organizations
II N hoped 10 bring INTO line for the
change. Some owners may figure that
the returns during the winter will be
sufficient To carry their t~wu-year-olds
from April | to the next January, when
automatically. az | understand IL, they
Will become eligible on all tracks for
thr~ee-year-old events. For the interim
they could start ON any courses not
racing under any recognized jurisdic-
ton. and there are several Of these IN
Maryland and Canada az we'll as tracks
IA the far West where the presence ot
these eNiles for the time would be well
comed.
The turf in his section of the United
states a quarter of a century or more
since owed much of its standing to such
men as Alexander j. Cassatt. the father
OF Captain Cassatt. n II. u. Withers
OF the Brookdalc stud. who were the
ohiet factors In the management OF Mon
mouth Park. T~wo-year-old racing IN
this vicinity was at that time unknown
before the May meeting uf the American
Jockey Tub AZ jerome Park, and one
can fancy the temper Mr.. withers wouIJ
nave displayed "A aul body limited that
tWo-year-olds would ever be raced IN
January.
but times change and people VITA
them. The thoroughbred natures rap
IDLY, and some Of these ~ngs are
almost az fully grown when they are
asked 10 race as they will ever Ice. and I
realize TO the fullest the force OF the
captains argument when he cites the
need OF the thoroughbred for the i'm
provement OF our army horse. but can't
We ave our early t~wo-year-old racing
and Keep up the standard OF our horse
'ieSh 700. RACEGoEI..
NEW YORK. September %.