The Turf

At Belmont Park, L. I., Epinard ("Spinach"), French four-year-old stallion, who came to the U. S. last week for international match races this Fall, strolled lazily about the paddock with Satin Slippers, his two-year-old traveling companion (female). He is a bright chestnut beast, slightly undersized, insured for $150,000, valued at $300,000.

At meals the equine friends munched American oats together, drank American water. Their owner, Pierre Wertheimer, and their trainer, Eugene Leigh, do not believe in "special fodder" as did Ben Irish and Basil Jarvis, owner and trainer of Papyrus, the 1923 invader.

American turfdom reiterated the question: "What horseflesh have we got this year?"

Further answers to this question:

1) At Empire City, N. Y., Sting, a three-year-old, won the Empire City Handicap from a field that included Mad Play, Harry F. Sinclair's crack three-year-old, in track-record time (1 1/4 miles in 2 min. 3 sec.). Significance : Sting bore much less weight than Mad Play, was aided by the tactics of Rialto, an early pacemaker. Even so, his time was extraordinarily good; he merits consideration as a candidate to meet Epinard.

2) At Empire City, Ordinance, aged 3 years, owned by August Belmont, picked up Jockey Kummer (112 1/2 lbs.) and won the Mount Vernon Handicap in track-record time (a mile in 1 min., 38 sec.). Behind Ordinance came Sunsini, a four-year-old, then Mad Play, then Aga Khan, of the Belair Stud. Sarazen, Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt's famed colt, led awhile but finished next to last. Significance: Ordinance had returned to form, had beaten Mad Play more impressively than did Ladkin, his stable mate, last week, in an Aqueduct race that won the latter the temporary toast of "best colt of the season" (TIME, July 14).

3) At Chicago, Black Gold, aged three years, owned by Mrs. R. M. Hoots (Cherokee Indian), 1924 Kentucky Derby winner, picked up Jockey Mooney (129 lbs.) and won the Chicago Derby by six lengths. Behind Black Gold came Giblon, then Senator Norris, then the famed Ladkin. The significance: Even if Ladkin was off form, Black Gold had regained much of his Spring virility. He cannot be scratched off the list of possibilities.