The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-06
PREMATURE RACING
OF HORSES PLAYED
Cassatt and Duryea Urge New
Rule Against Early Events
for Two-Year-Olds.
SEEK APRIL 1 DEADLINE

A war OH the premature racing Of
two-yesr-olds. with Capt. r. b. cassat'
in command OF the attacking forces. viii
be wused at the next meeting Of the
Jockey Club, which will be held n
Belmont Park next Thursday. This aues-
ton Ii the most important that has come
Up for the consideration OF the rulins
body for some time. The lack Of stay
ers in this country and the early break
ing down of many thoroughbreds 10 at
tributed to their beginning their racing
careers when immature. 1t Is a matter
of fact that only a small percentage OF
two-year-olds that race in the winter
months are still racing when septem'
Der comes around. Tn rule proposed by
Capt. Cassatt puts a ban on all two
y~ear-olds racing before April 1.
Many breeders are behind Capt Cas-
salt in his effort TO improve tho breed OF
Of horses in America. Among them II
Herman Il. Duryea, who has been racing
in France and England and who has up
ward OF 100 horses interned In Franct
at the present time. Mr.. Duryea said
I'm France no two-year-old Is eligible
to race until July 1, the French Govern
ment IN its wise control of the spor'
ruling that the early racing Of t~wo-year'
old IL injurious, and that the influence
OF such "A course is bound to be harmful
wherever. II Is practised. Racing calls
for the supremest effort the horse car
give. and Il would be quite as sound fol-
us to argue that an immature youth
could do the work of a man whose mus
cular and nervous powers have reached
the maximum. l have long claimed that
the early and too frequent racing OF two
years-olds has given us a lot Of cripples
and sprinters."
Isn't Il a fact that this plan has beer
encouraged by some of the breeders and
owners themselves who saw a quicker
turn over for their Investment Mr.
Duryea was asked.
"Unuuestionably." was the reply,
Those who conducted racing during the
winter months found that the public,
always seeking novelty in the way of a
programme. were eager to see the
babies a. they were called. and the
practice of having contests for young
eters in March finally became fixtures
in February. From that II was only a
step to January. and in some localities
races for two-year-olds were held on
January /, the very day the undeveloped
th~oroughbreds became technically two
year-olds. As a matter OF fact non OF
very few. would be fully two years of
age before February or March-in some
cases as late as June.
The very early races are usually AT
. quarter OF a mile. What a travesty -
continued Mr.. Duryea. I'm France the
two-year-olds start right In at distances
equivalent to six furlongs. and they have
what the United States must strive to
produce II progress is to be made In the
~.at,a~. - hArua hrasItnp-Q lot nf thor.
oughbreds that can stay and carry
weight. Those who operate plants where
winter racing is conducted should be the
first to approve Of Capt. Cassatt's
plan. Its adoption will mean sounder
and better horses. and they will be
available for racing much longer than
under the present system. where any
thing over a five-year-old Is designated
passe. I have heard It said that there
was a disposition to sidestep the issue
because OF opposition In certain quarters
Kentucky would scarcely want to run
any two-year-olds prior to April !, and
certainly the Canadians. whose sport is
generally ~inaugurated around Victoria
Day-May 24-should he in accord with
the Jockey Clubs policy. BY all means
let us have 1t. and later on. when the
benefits are plain. It will be in line to
make the date May /. and the day It is
July will spell progress for the Ameri-
can turf"
When asked about his own successes
abroad. which included a Derby and
Two Thousand in England, with Dur
bar and Sweeper II. respectively. horses
of his own breeding. besides Other
honors on the Continent. Mr.. Duryea
was. as usual. modest. though he was
enthusiastic In speaking OF Irish Lad. ths
big brown son Of Candlemas. whom turl
Its -
speed and courage. particularly In the
memorable battle with Broomstick In
the record breaking Brighton Handicap,
In which he broke down.