The Washington herald., 1922-02-13
new ORLEANS RACE
SEASON EXPECTED
TO CLOSE IN PEACE
No Trouble in Ofing as
Last Two Weeks of
Meeting Loom.


tainIy has had Its peck Of troubles
this winter between the over-zeai-
Gus actions of the district attorney.
the severe and often unwarranted
criticism of the actual conduct of
| racing, and the demand that IL
should pay Off the yearly INSTALL
ment due on the purchase Of the
| City Park property before seeing
whether the association was in con-
dition to do so.
1t is not legally bound to paw for
this property. but a gentleman's
agreement exists between the racing
association and the city that where
the earned dividend. on the racing
season is in excess of 10 per cent
that excess will be given in part
payment OF the liability on the for
mer racetrack. Briefs have been
filed by both sides and the district
court judge will. in a week or ten
| days time. render his decision as
to whether the memorandum slip
handed by the hacker to the book
maker constitutes a device under
the existing law against gambling.
That Is the point at issue and II
will not affect racing for the bal
ance of the meeting because II nec-
essary the inevitable appeal will be
made. Legal expenses will amount
to a considerable sum and as the
attendance has fallen far short Of
expectations this has not been a
good year for the association.
Matter of Politics.
The adverse attitude adopted by
the local press Is largely a matter
| of politics. The accusation was re-
peatedly made that tho association
| was padding its pay roll with a
large number OF employees and so
building up a civic political ma
chine.
There is some ground for this
accusation but the outs" would
probably have done just as the ''ins'
have IL they could have secured con-
troll Of the majority stock in the
association. 1t is very sordid
story and the publicity in connec-
| tion with 1t had a marked effect
on the public attendance.
The poor condition of the track
for the greater part of the meeting
caused lot OF in and out running
and kept many of the best horses
in their barns. The track at the
Fair Grounds has peculiarities when
drying out. which makes 1t uniaue
among race courses. 1t dries out
in spots, streaks. and islands in a
manner that Is all its own. Being
overbanked not only at the turns
nut all the way round the going on
the extreme outside is often fairly
NH
go houndering fetlock deep in the
"gumbo."
Many Upsets Have Occurred.
Post position and speed enough1to
get the path count for a whole lot
IN racing under these conditions and
IL is little wonder that many I'M
sets OF form have occurred and fav-
orites gone to defeat IN the most
unexpected manner. The effort to
get these coveted positions and TO
avoid the bad spots is Responsible
Tor a good deal OF the humping ana
jostling that has been too conspicu-
Gus feature Of riding at this meet .
ing.
The efforts of some Of the iock
eys nave left good deal to he de
sired and that Is putting it yerv
mildly. One or two OF the chief Of
renders have not been seen much
in the saddle and one has practically
gone out OF business as the resul,
OF intimations quietly conyeyed IN
them by the stewards. or rouob
rldinS there has been enough and
TO spare. but for the first time this
winter a horse has been disouali-
NED for roughriding on the mart Of
the Jockey.
1t is only once in a lifetime that
one sees humping match to get
positions next TO the outer rail. We,
owing to the peculiar track CON
dltlons this is what actually han
pened when Coney. the negro rider
or Siesta, was disqualified for bumn-
ing Wilson on Jago. II was hard
luck for Burtschell. the owner of
Siesta. to lose the purse, as siesta
was the best and the colored how
was as much sinned against as sin
ming.
The Clark Stable continues on n.
conquering way, and Lang, after an
unlucky stream, rode three winners
and three seconds in six mounts
United Verde and Tom Hare. Jr"
nave been the support OF the Mon
tana mans outfit. When Tom Hare
Jr. gave fifteen pounds and a heat
ing to the Blakely-trained 3-year-
otu Cos'lean. not so much was
thougnt or the victory till the lat :
yer colt came back and only sue
cumoed by short head to a really
good handicap horse in Sands OF
Pleasure over a mile and q .;T-
teenth. AS very young 3-vear-oId
1t was a remark a bly, good nerSorn,-
ance on Costigan's part, az bebind
him was United Verde and Other
older horses. In this event the
Clark Stable scratched Tom (Hare
Jr. and started United Verde in
preference. "
1t seems a pity that Costiran Is
unsexed as he is developing in a
way that Is calculated to keen
green the memory of his sire. that
great racehorse. Colin. one Of the
best horses that ever carried the
white and blue spots Of James n.
keene. Colin is standing at Z. r.
McLean's Virginia farm.
Costigan started couple n,
times around New York as ..
year-old, ran placed, but perhans
as a result Of not being overraced
as a 2-year-old. Is now coming ON
In great shape. and when Northern
racegoers again get a look at him
they will see a good-looking race
horse.
A brown colt, not so dark as his
celeorated sire was at his age, Cos
tigan possesses lot OF power and
substance, with very even action.
sands OF Pleasure, which just did
peat Costigan, has many wins to
MS creoit and a record of having
gone mile in 1885. 1t was ths