Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-10-17
trated. and scandal and disgrace !
brought upon racing.

On n well conducted race. course there
is no fraud, no rowdyism or any other
display of immortality AT the spring
and fall meetings OF the numerous Park
Associations throughout the country. like
Mystic. Narraganset and many others,
may be seen immense gatherings OF
thousands OF our most respectable citi
zens. embracing fathers, mothers, sons
and daughters. participating in the en-
ioyment Of the occasion. No words to
shock sentiments OF morality and refine
mcul. but IN air OF responsibility and ele-
gancc enwraps tho whole scene; nothing
has d one SO much to dignity the turf Of
this country rs institutions OF this charac'
ter. Associated with them arc gentlemen
with honorcd names. that arc power in
the commercial. political and social
worlds. The troiting turf 10 them has
become social institution. They stand
well in this social world and cannot com.
promise themselves by giving counte
nance TO any open display Of immortality.
yet they are not bigots. Responsibility
is their hobby. and honor is rs dear TO
them rs their lives. Amusement and re.
creation direct them rs professional and
business men, loaded with care and labor,
To the racing park rs q place Of health
giving pleasure. They look upon the
scene with delight and select their favor.
ite in the contest. rs n thing OF light aud
beauty. The sport thrills them with ey-
citement and admiration. and they are
taught lesson in the contest OF strength
aud unshrinking courage that awakens
admiration in all paths of lite, rs some
thing typical of noble existence.
Racing is oil aristocratic origin. IL was
adopted ages ago. as the paslime of the
highest classes oi people, and 10 all sue
ceeding periods it hEs claimed the sup
port OF rank aud fashion. BY it We have
been enabled to test the value of the
horse, his breeding, his speed, and en-.
duranee. His present perfection would
never have been known had it not been
tor the amount that is annually given in
prizes and purses at our iairs and ex-
hibtions, instituted TO test his merit and
value. The Trotting Park is the school
that has prepared him to show his won.
derful power of speed and endurance. in
competition with others OF his class
I'VE can only Judge correctly of the in.
tellectual and moral worth oi our great
men when We view them on the worlds
stage in competition with distinguished
competitors. Without n theatre the
world could never have known those dis
tinguished dclineators Of human charac.
ter, whose names iill many an honored
page in human history. Without race
course the world would never have
known The great powers Of Lexington,
the horse That has contributed more TO
the improvement of his race than any
other predecessor"
II is true that there are men who do
not care TO engage in the sports of tho
turf, and there are others that do, and
delight in it. IL is merely matter OF
sociological value and consideration, u
question OF taste-that is all. To many
men pleasure and recreation are very de-
sirable and necessary, and this is given
them in the noblencss of their horses,
which they may be 30 fortunate rs to own.
There are but lew men among Us but that
admire the horse, and but lew but that
have desire to own one. Men and wo-
men, old and young, enjoy riding and
driving a high brcd.proud stepping steed,
or watching the actions and easy. grace
ful movements of the nimble trotter.
Horses of this character ale tho lie of
our fairs. they are popular, and when
they put forth IN effort for speed you find
solid mass of humanity around the
track There is scarcely town in our
State where the people are not more or
less, directly or indirectly. interested in
trotting horses. The truth is the people
arc rapidly putting of these old preju-
dices and rising above the idea that these
exhibitions at our industrial fairs are
wicked.
Now if this convention can be yearly
strengthened by good management so as
to exert All influence for goOd in regard
to the true principles OF racing. they will
look upon the lrotting turf with less crit
ical eyesthan now, and join with Us in
our efforts 10 make this department pure.
This is the true. rational policy 10 pursue,
and thousands will enlist those sympa-
thies with us in popular favor-and the
trotting turf in this State will stand forth
in new light and upon firmer basis.
The Presumpscot Park Association, o
few weeks since, to more perfectly CON-
pIete its organization and its purpose,
made application to the National Associ-
alton for membership. The application
was accepted, and We are now mem bers
OF that hOnored institution and are under
its protection, and have announced in our
bills that the trotting during this exhi-
bition will be governed by its rules and
regulations.
The abuses that were existing upon the
numerous trotting parks throughout the
United States were SO rapidly bringing
dishonor upon The exhibition of horses.
that IL led Drominent and inliuential mon