Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-06-26
THE RAcE-couRsE IN DANGER.

We hope that the fears expressed by the
''organ OF n sporting fraternity" referred to-
in the following from the NeW York TriJ-
u'le, may prove well founded. We had
feared that the race-course was growing In
popularity, even among those whom society
considers respectable, but shall DO glad to
learn that we were mistaken:
An organ of the sporting fraternity has a
long article on the enemies of the race
course. So numerous aud so fanatlcal have
these enemies become that /! is necessary,
we arc assured, to take measures Mt once TO
guard against their encroachments. We
are told that tho religious press is united
against horse-racing; that the great MAORI
ty OF the agricultural papers are opposed to
racing at fairs, and that even the great dali
lies are only too willing to ridicule tho turf.
Even jornals devoted expressly to tho stock
interest are not only unflithful, but they
actually denounco the owners of fast horses
and their practices. As consequence the
alarm is sounded, and it is said that
"lf it is now TO be proclaimed that man
can not be respectable on the track, without
having his responsibility called to account
no now accessions will be made 10
the ranks OF those who believe in the racing
park. The first natural impulse of goner-
Gus young men would DO TO enlist under the
banner of the turf; but with thousands of
Journals laundering against the depravity of
the track, and not one of influence to speak
III its defence, u second nature, which comes
of education, would gather force and win
the day. And so the new generation, in
stead of staunch patrons of the course.
would arm itself with the sword of opposi-
tion.n
10 this we have TO say: We arc glad
that the horsemcn and their associates have
come clearly to understand that the indus
trial and producing classes do not believe in
horsc-racing, whether conducted fairly or
unfairly. While il is true that few honor
able men delight in the course, it is equally
true that every low.bred rascal and pick
pocket will run to the race rs a place where
no is sure of finding plenty of companions,
and this has been the case for the last fifty
years. In every village where there are
idle, drinking loungors. unfit for decent So
eiety, they will be sure to get up u horse
race. Now farmers, rs a class, have their
opinion of these persons, though they are
not much given to expressing this opinion
but when they assemble together to hold n
state or county fair for the display of tho
products of their industry, and for the en-
couragemont of the young, they look, ms a
class, with indignation upon tho whole tribe
OF sharpers who crowd themselves in, and
especially upon the racing characters, who
strive to make their worthless pursuit n
chief attraction. II gentlemen of means
and leisure wish TO enjoy the race-track let
them do so on their own grounds, and under
their own management; lot them not crowd
among Woodworking mon and women with
whom they have no IDEAS in common. 1t is
sufficient that by the trckery of society they
arc enabled to live upon the labor of others
their coming upon fair grounds with their
last horses is simply impcrtinence. -Ameri-
can Rural Home.