New-York tribune., 1919-08-01
Rules
4-5Fayorite in
Spa Handicap
Sam Hildreth's Best, With
Fator Up, Will Concede
Weight in Feature Event
By w. ]. Macbeth

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. July 81.
1T needs not the ever increasing
crush of late arrivals to convince the
casual visitor that the eve of the an
nual August race meet Of the Saratoga
Racing Association is at hand. Every
thing about this famous watering place
cries aloud of it.
The big hotels, silent as the pro-
verbal sepulchre for eleven of the
twelve months annually. are all astir,
agog and abustle, not to mention
crammed. crowded and packed. The
habitat of the village is sprinting to
and fro. hither and yon with the reck-
less abandon of Ty Cobb stretching
base knock. for the harvest is at
hand.
A visitor here is as welcome as ready
money, for both mean the same thing.
AS elsewhere the high cost of living
has kept apace over preceding sea-
sons-only more SO. A dollar will go
half as far as four bits would a year
ago, and the soft drink parlors are
taking a treacherous revenge for the
shakedown trust.
The thirst parlors had organized
before the days Of "two and three-quar-
ters per cent"
Best Meeting Ever Expected
The race meet which opens to-mor-
row, from every conceivable stand
point, should be the most highly in
teresting and entertaining of the past
generation. There will be no opposi
tion to the classic of the Spa. Tem-
porarily racing is dead issue in the
dominion to the north.
The great stables of such redoubt-
able Canadian sportsmen as Comman-
der j. Il. L. Ross and Joe Seagram
have been here for weeks tuning up.
The best that the West produced are
anxiousy awaiting the kings and
queens of the East on neutral ground.
There should be many a surprise, for
Saratoga always brings out lot Of
good ones that have been covered for
speculative purposes. In the matching
of wits heretofore the wild and woolly
West has never been badly shown up
by the effete East.
The Saratoga Racing Association
evidently expects a record patronage
and has most literally provided for
the comfort and convenience Of an un-
limited multitude. The clubhouse has
been greatly enlarged and verandas
extended accordingly. The entire plant
has been repainted. The park has
been trimmed and the lawns smoothe I'd
to velvety richness. The steeplechase
course, with its high hedge wings, is
picture of delight to the eye. The
crowd is already here, but is as nothing
to what may be expected for to-mor-
rows opening.
Fine Card for To-day
A very attractive card has been ar.
ranged for opening day. The prin-
cipal feature, of course, is the Saratoga
Handicap for three-year olds and up
ward at mile and a quarter. Sam
Hildreth's Purchase has been asked
to concede much weight to all five
of the older thoroughbreds named
to meet him. He meets the gallant old
Roamer at even poundage. but it is be-
lieved this wonderful three year old
will be able to conquer the older thor
oughbreds, despite his staggering
weight.
The Flash for two-year- r-olds at five
and half furlongs has attracted six
teen famed Juveniles. Miss Jemima
the queen of the West, will carry top
about two miles will bring out half
q dozen of the best timber toppers.
The three other flat races have filled
we'll. Sixteen have been named over
night for the ixfurlong-that will III
augurate the meeting. A like number
are in for the mile, while twenty-four
juveniles have been named for the
five and -half-furlong sprint that Will
close the card.