New-York tribune., 1920-08-09
Saratoga Folk
Wax W ealthy:
Talent Suffers
Layers and Players ON Verge
of Bankruptcy; Cost of
Necessities Still Soaring
By w. !. Macbeth

SARATOGA. Aug. S.-If the outlook
doesn't improve by the end of the i'm
pending week cyanide will be as pre-
clous as radium and hemp will be the
popular style in cravats. The Sara
togians, who never could be suspected
OF being remiss in the matter Of thrift.
are getting all the money. Living ex
penses have increased from rs to 100
per cent over last year. The turf reg
ulars, both layers and PLAYERS. are
hurdling toward the abyss of bank
ruptcy.
me great popularity Of the thor
oughbred sport was never more fitting
~ illustrated than during the last week
the first week Of the annual August
siege at the Spa. Saratoga, in every
conception of the word, has been for
many years the mecca for horse racing
on this continent. But it remained for
Man O. War Saturday to attract the
greatest concourse Of enthusiasts that
ever visited the local track. And it is
safe to say that never before was there
finer representation. The clubhouse
was simply packed by the upper strata
OF society and finance from Maine to
Calltornla and from Canada to Mexico.
Money Market light
Saratoga can always be counted upon
as true barometer of sporting senti-
ment and emotion. In which connec-
ton 1T may be we'll to face facts
squarely as developed in the first week
mere Heretofore the general public
has warmed to Saratoga gradually. At
week, or even the first two weeks. 1t
was always the last fortnight that
made the Spa worth while.
During the week Just past the daily
attendances have exceeded by far any
banner week of the past. But still
the speculative market has been leaner
than any time during the famine wears
OF the racing game. 1t requires no
sharp of political economy to read the
answer to the riddle. The money mar
ket is tight and the stringency is be-
ing reflected in the play at the race
tracks. Spectacular operators who were
wont to bet in thousands a few months
ago are back to earth again and bet
ting hundreds instead.
The financial stringency has also
been reflected in the yearling sales,
which are almost nightly attraction
for the idle rich who toy in horse
flesh by way of amusement One year
ago we'll bred youngsters invariably
brought fabulous prices. 1t looked then
as if the breeding industry had come
back to get rich by quick profits. This
season the very best bred yearlings
nave commanded nothing like the at
tentlon or prices REALIZED a year ago
OF course, it may be that purchasers
tention or prices realized year ago.
are somewhat leary owing to the fact
that many of last seasons top price
purchases turned out so disappointing
ly as two -yearolds so far this season
Yet everybody in the thoroughbred
game dreams of owning another Man O.
Wac. And earlier this season certain
fabulous prices were paid for known
quality, the sale of Inchcape and Brig
adler General being notable examples
every one will readily recall.
Enthusiasm High
The class of racing here is always of
the highest order, and can be counted
upon to improve with each succeeding
week. The richest and best of the
stakes, both for the two-year- olds and
the older divisions, are still in pros
pect. Already the enthusiasts here are
working themselves up to 2 frenzy over
the prospective meeting Of Man O. War
and Sir Barton in the Saratoga Cup, at
a mile and three quarters, the last day
Ol tilc uIcSCliiS- MS SuOUlQ De CNG
race of the century. In the Saratoga
Handicap Sir Barton looked as impress
sive and irresistible as Man o. War,
and many competent critics believe that
on that day, carrying weight for age,
the Ross horse might have taken the
measure of the greatest idol of Ameri-
can turf history
Unfortunately, some of the unde-
sirable practices that were apparent at
Empire City seem to have been carried
over here. The tolerance of the stew
ards, which always has been beyond
understanding. is primarily at fault In q
race the other day one jockey reached
over and caught the bootleg of an
other to beat out favorite right at
the wire. Most everybody in the stands
and clubhouse saw the foul, which was
promptly claimed by the rider who suf-
fered as a consequence. But the stew
ards took no action, where prompt ac-
ton would have greatly treasured the
public. Those in control of racing
frankly confess they are fearful of ad-
hitting the possibility of wrong. But
it can result in nothing but harm to
overlook fragrant violations that the
veriest tyro can see plainly. The Amer
lean turf was never more greatly in
need of initiative and self-assertion on
the part of presiding officials.