National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-06
SHALL WE HAVE A GREAT Ma

IlOHAL IhOIILAG W UhSEI
The answer to the above question de-
ponds, to a great extent upon our own
people. There is large number who de-
nounce horse-rscing and kindred sports as
debssing, demoralizing and sinful, and who
are therefore conscientiously opposed to
them; but those old-fashioned, straight
laced notions are fast dying out before the
advance of a broader. more healthy and
q more enlightened public opinion. In it.
self there is nothing essentially wrong or
wicked in the turf When it is degraded
made the occasion of lswlessness and vice
it of course becomes duty to suppress it.
the same as any other practice dangerous
to the morals of the community and the
safety Of society. But the prime object in
the racing or trotting of horses is good
one. 1t means SIMPLY the improvement Of
the noblest animal that has been given to
the service of man and when we reeollect
how much and how greatly we are de-
pendent upon him for our convenience and
comfort surely anything that tends to his
greater efficiency and worth cannot be
matter of wrongdoing or of indifference.
The American turf Of to-day is perhaps the
best regulated and best conducted in the
world, and the large patronage it is reoeiv-
ing at the hands of what are called the bet
ter classes conclusively shows that if those
who are intrusted with its management and
conduct continue to watch its interests as
closely and carefully in the future as in the
near past horse-rscing will not only become
as popular with us as it is in England, but
we shall have the feetest and best animals
to be found anywhere. The achievements
Of the American trotters the present sum-
mer are simply marvellous. Horses capable
of making 2:19 have been almost as plenty
as blackberries. With such progress, what
may we not expect in the course of a few
years?
In. what we believe is destined to become
the first of our national sports the capital
of the country is, there is no use of deny
ing it, far behind her sister cities in the
Union. Until the Washington Driving As
ISOLATION was formed, about a year ago,
there was no respectable, concerted move
ment made here to advance the sport in this
community. All over the country even
villages and small towns of from five to if
teen thousand inhabitants have had courses
which were in some degree worthy the
name. Here We had nothing in fact, it
was regarded disreputable to be seen at a
trotting match or to speak about one.
Thanks to the association above named,
this condition of affairs is entirely altered,
and such rapid progress has been made that
the time is evidently not far distant when
we shall be abreast if not ahead of some Of
the famous racing centres of the country.
An article in our local columns yesterday
gives an idea of the difficulties that have
been encountered in the effort TO popular
ize trotting in Washington, and of the de-
gree in which that effort has been success
full. The fall meeting, which takes place
this week, promises to be an immense i'm
provement upon anything that has yet been
seen here, and 1t is to be hoped that due
appreciation of the efforts of the association
will be shown by our citizens. There is no
reason why Washington should not have as
fine course as Baltimore and New York
and Lexington, and be as famous and at
tract as many patrons Of the turf as those
cities. It all rests with our own people to
say whether they will have it so or not.
Our only interest in the matter lies in the
fact that it will tend to the advancement
and prosperity of the city and benefit nearly
all classes and interests in the community.
Let us all unite in the effort to make Bright
wood Park as famous in racing annals as
jerome and the Derby.