The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-08-02
RACING.

As long ago as the memory of man run
meth, a fine horse has been an object of ad-
miration among the civilized as well as among
the savage races. And ever since Adam took
the risk of eating the apple in the garden of
Eden men have taken risks upon the speed Of
their ~favorite animal. Men have always
done this and always will until the end of
time, and through the cultivation of the pas
sion for it, horse racing has become a legiti-
expended in bringing the race horse upto his
present high standard Of projection and som
of the first gentlemen in the world have given
their time, money and talents in accomplish
ing it. They have by years of unremitting at
tention to judicious crossing added to
the feet footed Arab steed of the
Middle Ages the bone, muscle and
staying qualities of the powerful
chargers rode by the warning knights of that
time. They have done the people of our day
a service that canno nor should not be ig-
nored. They have given Us powerful draft
animals, fine roadsters, fast trotters and fleet
runners. This could not have been done
only through the practice of racing, by which
the good qualities of one animal or the defects
ofthe other could be detected and when discov-
cred the one could be preserved and the other
avoided by subsequent crossings. To &C
complish all these required not only capital,
labor and perseverance, but intelligence.
Hence the breeding of fine horses has
become one of the paying industries of the
country and the racing of the animals a le-
gitimate practice. But like many other legit-
innate businesses dishonest men are to0fre-
quently engaged in it. They prostitute the
sport as a means of gain. BY a system of
I" chucking' races, which is sometimes so
neatly done that it may be classcd as one of
the fine arts, the unsuspecting but hearty
lover OF horse flesh, who invests in the pool
box and wagers his money upon the faster
horse, sees his bets 60 into the pockets of
men who, too cowardly to waylay and rob
him upon the highway, take this method of
possessing themselves of his cash. Where
localities have permitted practices of this
kind horse racing has very properly fallen
into d%isrepute and honorable gentlemen will
have nothing TO do with it.
We have been led to these remarks, which
may be considered general only in their char
acter and not intended TO apply to any par
ticular persons or locality, by learning that eff
forts have been and are still being made to
inaugurate t ii races at Butte, and that ''many
citizens from whom liberal subscriptions were
expected and who would receive three times
the amount they are asked to donate, abso-
lutely refuse to assist the project" We feel
assured that the public spirited citizens of
Butte must have some good reasons why they
do not subscribe liberal sums for all enter
prise, from which they "would receive three
times the amount they are asked
IN interest of three hundred per
cent. on an outlay of capital in
which both the principal and interest
would be paid within a few days from the
time of the investment is certainly very
tempting to business men, and there must
exist powerful reasons why they will not take
advantage of the opportunity which has been
so generously offered to them to realize it.
We cannot account for their refusal to make
such a profitable investment only upon the
ground that there is a lamentable lack of
money in the Butte market or q
lamentable lack OF confidence in
the Butte men who have the pro-
posed races in charge. In view of the pros
porous condition of our busines men the first
reason may not be accepted as the proper
one, we are, therefore, impelled TO the con-
clusion that the latter reason must be the
true one.
Accepting this to be the fact we can all see
the necessity of RELOCATING the management
of public races to a legitimately organized
association, composed of men of integrity and
standing in the community, in whom our citi-
Gems have implicit confidence. When this
shall be done We anticipate there will be no
difficulty in obtaining subscribers for pur-
ses for the use of the association. As we I'M
derstaRd it there is at present no regularly
organized racing association in Butte, no one
to enforce square dealing upon the track and
no one who can I've held responsible if
'%'chucking races' shall be INDUCED in.
This being the case, no one is surprised that
our citizens are " manifesting an Indifference
which is hurtful to themselve and to the
CITY," That such indifference may be over
come we would suggest that som of our en-
terprising, wide-awake business men take
immediate steps to perfect a West SD Min
eral, Mechanical and Agricultural Fa. Asso-
citation, with power to purchase ground, erect
the necessary buildings, &c. We can see no
reason why Butte, the wealthicst and most
fopuious city in ;Le territory cannot do this
at once. Until it be done but little cuufi-
dence will be placfd in the ephemerLi racing
ASSOCIATE ons OF this city.