New-York tribune., 1920-08-02
Sport of Kings
Crowds Hotels
At Sarato ga
Army of Talent in Town;
Accommodations at Pre-
MUM; Handicap To-day
By w. ]. Macbeth

Dy W. j. lVldCOCtu
SARATOGA, N. Y, Aug. 1.-Saratoga
once more has come into it's own. The
thoroughbrcds are here for the month
the golden month to which all good
citizens look forward as benighted
pilot for the beacon in mist.
What with the sport of kings re-
established to popularity never ex-
celled even in the halcyon days of
wlde-open betting, conventions and
pilgrimage here of the sports lovers,
the good old town seems in a harvest
OF golden shekels likely to make any
August of the past appear famine
crop in comparison.
Unlucky indeed the good sport who
neglected to arrange for accommodate
tlons before he came on, for not only
are the hotels, big and little, overflow
ing with transients. but there is scarce
~ furnished room or cottage to be
found for love or money in the city.
The Saratoga folk were never bashful
about asking high prices for anything.
Nor do they display undue timidity in
| light Of the fact that until the end of
the conventions hall rooms, even, will
, be at premium.
The race track crowd, always philo-
sophical. is cheerful, and trying to
make the best of a sorry situation. AS
result the nearby towns, cities, ham
lets, villages, watering places, lake
resorts and even farm houses are get
ting play unknown before and, as a
consequence, everybody in Saratoga
and for miles around is happy at the
chance of acquiring some easy money.
Provided mine host always insists
upon money in advance it appears a
safer gamble than any of the bang
! tails seQuestered hcre-the great and
only Man O War possible excepted.
Course Greatly Beautifed
The Saratoga racing establishment,
continent, has been improved greatly
since year ago, so that even its most
ardent admirers are bound to be
charmed. The great psrklike sur
roundings provide ample space for
automobiles sufficient to move the big
gest crowd that can possibly get into
the inclosure. Extra entrances both
for vehicles and pedestrians have been
provided and the entire equipment
shines in tastefully selected new paint.
The big Saratoga meeting always
has commanded the very best thor
oughbreds in training and this year is
OF horsemen to try Tor the rich stakes
and purses that if Saratoga boasted of
twice its present capacity for stabling
there probably would not be a vacant
stall. Dozens OF stables were unable
to ship here because of lack Of accom-
modations.
But there are more than enough
crack thoroughbreds on hand to pro-
vide heavy and we'll balanced fields in
every event Of the twenty-siX days
meet. For weeks a great number Of
the topnotchers have Deen working out
on the wonderful course here, becom-
ing acclimated and preparing for the
rich events that viii be contested dur
ing the month and from which q true
line for championship honors usually
is drawn
Hiidrcth and Ross to Clash
Secretary Earlocker seems to have
provided a real treat for the opening
day-a card of six events we'll filed
and boasting class far superior to any
thing seen during the metropolitan
season so far The Saratoga Handicap
at mile and quarter is the feature
OF th inaugural, and eight OF the very
best handicap horses in training have
been named overnight to try for the
honor and money that so to the VIC
tor
The rival stables, Hildreth and Ross.
have each two horses to carry their
colors and their hopes in this prized
classic: Hildreth's pair. Mad Halter
and Cirrus. have both been working
exceptionally well for the race and
may have a slight call over Sir Barton,
which is toDweight, and the good, hon
est Boniface that viii represent Mr..
Ross. Harry Payne Whitney's Wldair,
Willis Sharp Kilmer's Exterminator,
+. K. McLean's The Porter and George
W. Lofts On Watch Will none Of them
lack for support. If it should rain, and
the weather is none too reassuring to-
night, EXtermnator is bound to COM
/ mand his due respect as mudder at
| that route.
With the exception of Inchcape the
best Wo-year- -olds that have been seen
in the East this season are likely to
meet in the Flash Stakes, one of the
most important classics for the juve-
niles and the secondary feature Of the
afternoon. Among the fourteen good
ones named for this dash at five and
q half furlongs appear such names as
General G. NJ. Gomez, Halu, Moody
Pluribus, Dimmesdale, Kirklevington
Saratoga boasts the best steeplechase
course in the East and no less than
nine timber toppers have been entered
for the Shillelagh Handicap at about
/ two miles.