New-York tribune., 1918-07-28
Two Thousand
Horses to Race
At Saratoga
Cudgel, Omar khayyam and
Roamer Will Compete
on Opening Day

President Richard T. Wilson and his
Saratoga Association for the Improve
ment of the Breed of Horses conf
dently expect that the meeting which
will be inaugurated on Thursday next
will not only surpass in brilliancy the
gathering of 1917, which was notable,
but any carnival of racing tests held
in this country since 1908. Already
more than 1900 thoroughbreds from
all parts of the United States and
Canada are housed on the grounds Of
the association, and with the close
of the Empire course fully 500 addi
tional horses Will be shipped here.
Improve Saratoga Track
Ever since the formation of the
Saratoga association by w. c. Whitney
and the group of lovers of the thor
oughbred associated with him no ex
pense has been spared in the. effort
to provide ideal conditions for racing
tests and for the comfortable housing
and material comfort of those who de-
light in them. Each year has seen
some Improvement inaugurated, but
visitors on Thursday will be given a
surprise, indeed so many and material
have been the changes wrought since
last season.
More than 500 900 has been spent,
but every cent of it shows. First and
foremost in the improvements made
by superintendent Meyers, who has
been constantly on the job since the
work was begun last autumn, is the
new course, which should be one of
the fastest III the world. 1t will be
remembered that the footing in wet
weather was most treacherous. due to
the clay foundation of the track
proper. Mr. Meyers had the unsatis-
factory material removed and replaced
with loan. after which bitches insur-
ing perfect drainage were dug about
the entire oval
A retaining board keeps the soil
from washing, and with this change
the track should dry out as rapidly
as any in the country. The steeple-
chase course has been improved also
and the jumps replanted with living
brushes. A space in the inner field
from which considerable material was
taken for road construction will be-
come a lake as soon as arrangements
can be perfected for water, of which
there is an abundant supply.
Clubhouse Refurnished
The clubhouse has been entirely re-
furnished and its furnishings and dec
orations represent the taste of Mrs.
Wilson, wife of the president, who
has been here for some time, having
taken Hillcrest cottage, on North
Broadway, for the season. Mrs. Wilson
has also superntended the improve
ments at the Saratoga Reading Room,
which visitors have found such de-
lightful rendezvous in former seasons.
Club members and their guests will be
served from a new buffet, and Frank
Stevens, who was here in company with
Racing Secretary a. Mel. Earlocker,
few days ago, was delighted with the
change in the catering department.
e. There have been some very extensive
strings in training here since the close
at Aqueduct, the Macomber and Whit
ney stables shipping directly here in
stead OF taking in the meeting at En-
pire City. w. B. Jennings has forty
head for Mr.. Macomber who is still
in California, but is confidently ex.
pected to attend the meeting.
The Whitney stable has thirty four
occupants under the care of James
Rove and Albert Simons. Other note
worthy collections of thoroughbreds are
those of Commander J. K L. Ross,
which totals thirty; Edward B. Mclean,
twenty-four; Joseph T. Seagram,
twenty-five; Colonel L. R. Bradley.
twenty-five, and f. Ambrose Clark,
tv enty-one. Mr.. Seagram is the
president of the Canadian Racing AS
sociatlon and he has long been an ar
dent lover of the horse of blood For
more than thirty years his coloTs were re
seen annually at Saratoga, but for the
past few seasons i'll health has kept
him at home
Another Canadian whose colors Will
be seen at the Spa for the first time in
some years is George NJ. Hendre, of
Hamilton, son of that good sports
man, William Hendre, whose Martimas
scored so decisiyely in the Futurity of
1898. Mr.. Hendrie owns good horse
in Rancher, which is entered in the
saratoga Handicap. and as Commander
koSs VIII be represented in the same
race by Cudgcl the chances of the
honor going to the Dominion beyond
the Great Lakes are considered good
by the advance guard of the talent al
ready on the grounds.
Saratoga Stake Is Big Feature
The Saratoga, which viii be the feat
ure of the opening day, surprising in
importance the Flash Stakes for two
year-olds and the Shllelah Steeple
chase IN point of public interest be-
cause OF the material engaged should
be one of the very best tests Of the
year; While Cudgel is accorded the
crushing impost of 1873 pounds, he viii
have host of followers Omar Khav-
yam, with three pounds less, has many
friends, who say that their English net
has regained his plumpness of BODY
and buoyancy of hcalthful condition so
conspicuous by their absence in the
early spring. Roamer at 129 and
George Smith at 1913 have friends in
abundance, as have also War Cloud
Westy Hogan, Polymelian, Rancher and
half dozen others that might be
named. II Polymelian goes to the most
the public VIII have chance to de-
termlne whether he can stay mile and
quarter or is simply brilliant
sprlnter. Roamer has the UNIQUE dis
tlnctlon Of having won the event in
1915 and 1917, and it would be a brill
lant wlnd-up to the career OF the re-
markable eelding if he should get
home again this season.
The programme for the opening dav
is only a foretaste Of what Is offered
Tor the delectation of visitors on other
occasions, with the climax on the clos
ing day August 81, with its $4,000
Hopeful Stakes for two-vear- ods, the
Saratoga Cup, at one mile and three
quarters-a real test of speed and bot
tom for three -year-olds and upward
and the Saratoga Steeplechase, at two
miles and a half, to send people away
with vivid memory of glorious sport,
an ideal vacation and a longing for