Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-02
Turf Editor st. Paul Globe:


FARGO, Sept. 26.-In your article on the
Fargo fair, in the GLOBE of the 18th, you
censure the association for taking irregu-
lar entries in the 1926 class. The facts are
these. At the hours of closing of entries.
September 4, at II p. m, neither the 2:21
or the 1926 classes were filled, and both
classes were open, so that the association
had the right, if it chose, to accept entries
at any time. When the best posted men
and highest officers in the Oldest assooia-
lions in the northwest make such
blunders, it cannot be wondered at that
our association, just emerging from an
embryo state, should make mistakes &C.
casionally. Hoping that this will throw
more light on the matter, remain yours
very respectfully, G. S. ToRKELsoN.
COMMENTS.
Mr.. Torkelson is mistaken in his suppo-
sition that the GLOBE censured the Fargo
association. The language of the reporter
was!as follows: ''The suspended owners
and drivers (the 1926 class will make
fight yet before the National association,
and the alleged irregularity of most of the
entries may cause discomfort. This, how
ever, will teach this and other associations
to be more careful in getting their entries
straight" The sentence cannot be con-
strued as charging the association with
any completely with drivers in receiving
fraudulent entries, but simply that the rules
governing entrieswere not strictly complied
with requiring all entries to be in writing,
giving an accurate description of the
horse entered, age, size, color, sex, etc.
Had these rules been strictly adhered to
| mono of the trouble leading to the suspsn-
sion of the poor drivers and horses who
have occurred; and it was because other
and elder associations than that at Fargo
| accepted such verbal entries from we'll
known responsible parties, thus laying
themselves liable to having like trouble,
that the GLOBE reporter used the sentence
| above, and not to cast q reflection upon
| the Fargo association.
The most experienced men connected
with tho trotting turf of America have been
at work for years formulating rules, act
| ing under which the associations them
selves, andhonsst horssmsn, could be pro-
tected against the sharpsrs who infsst the
race track, and the public be guaranteed
square races. So far - oan be seen the
| existing rules of tho National association,
if rigidly enforced, furnish the necessary
safeguards to secure these results. It is,
therefore, not only the duty, but manifest
ly the part of wisdom on the
part of tho associations, to
live up to both the letter and spirit Of the
means.
AS Mr.. Torkslson says the Fargo associ-
alton is "just emerging from an embryo
state" All the more reason then, it should
start right, and not do wrong simply
because older associations have done so.
A mistake was made in not requiring all
entries to be in writing a. required by the
rules. That Mr.. Torkslson will acknowledge.
That it was done innoosntly, without even
suspicion of practising fraud, mo one
at all conversant with the management
and the facts, will have the hardihood, to
even insinuate. The action of Preside mt
Benton, the starting Judge and his associ-
ates, in meeting,s: the emergency,
while most distastful to all,
was strictly. in accordance with
the rules, neither favoring one side or the
other. The mistake the drivers of the sus-
pended horses made, after producing their
horses on the track, was in not driving the
race out, with the Objectionable entry in
under protest.
But the matter has now passed beyond
the control of the Fargo associations or the |
GLOBE. All the facts connected with it are |
easy of verifcation, and in due time the |
rights of the matter will be authoritative |
ly promulgated, and without detrimsnt to
the Fargo association, IS the GLOBE be-
lieves. The association, in its efforts to |
get foothold, has labored under adverse |
circumstances = circumstances which, |
with less determined and enter
prising men comprising its man
agement would have resulted in disaster. |
The Fargo association, however, pulled /
through honorably. A mistake was made,
but no one will think of charging it with |
willful wrong. Mistakes can be expiated |
and righted. It was for this the GLOBE !
reporter used the language it did-not to |
censure.
Tofovoffo Rrouov Tho ohlo froipor for