Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-07-02
Ra cling At Fairs.

L resident ana SeCretaFy CeTllIY Inat
was forbidden and pre-
vented, the question has been raised
as to whether racing at the fairs is
gambling. We don't think it is,
we are quito positive that
a good deal Of gambling is done on
the races. Men will certainly bet
more or less money on the issues of
every trial of speed at a fair, but
they will do it in an entirely private
manner which no law nor officer can
reach if open betting and pool sell
ing is forbidden and prevented. But
all this has nothing to do with the
main question raised. We look at
the matter in this light: Premiums
are offered for the best of a great
variety of articles, machinery, prod
ucts and stock, and judges are ap-
pointed TO decide the merits of the
various exhibits These merits are
decided by observation, comparison,
records, pedigree, etc, and when it
comes to fast horses, the breeding of
which is a great industry, there
must be some way of fixing the rel
ative merits; and inasmuch as speed
and endurance are the only elements
in the case, the most feasible and
satisfactory method of determining
the awards is by a trial, a competi-
tive trial, in other words, by race,
or series of races. The fact that
two on-lookers will make a bet, one
on the "Bob-tail" and one on the
"Bay," has nothing to do with the
society and its officers, necessarily,
so far as the law is concerned. They
offer premiums for the exhibition of
fast horses and then order trial of
speed to determine relative merits.
This is what lies necessarily AT the
bottom of racing at fairs; and call
ing the premiums purses, ana adopt
ing the rules of the National Asso-
citation does not alter the fact.
But having said this much in the
interests of cold-blooded logic, it is
desirable to add a word or two
touching the use made of these trials
of speed, They are made the great
event of each day, they are adver-
tised specially, they are given every
adjunct and flavor of the race-track
contests for the sake of money alone,
the men who compete rarely think
Of any question aside from winning
the purse as money making scheme,
or of winning as much of it as they
can and "not give the horse record"
Here is whcre on the part of the ex-
hibltors the whole thing is liable TO
pass over into the realm Of gambling.
Often the best horse does not get
the first premium because the owner.
says he cannot afford TO take the
"record" it would give his horse and
thus the aim of the whole thing is
defeated. 1t would be a great step
in the way of reducing the gambling
element in these trials of speed if
the managers of regular races would
wholly ignore the records of all
horses which were made at agricul-
tural fairs. The practice Of opening
those trials to all comers from every
where for the sake Of "booming the
show" has led away from the legiti
mate uses of the trials, viz. the en-
couragement of breeders within the
state, or county, and has taken them
as near the realm Of regular racing
for money as it is possible to go and
not abandon all pretence of adher-
ance to the original purposes for
which the trials were instituted. To
sum up: These trials of speed are
like liquor-good and useful intrin-
sically, but demoralizing and bad in
N their abuse. Portage Register.
THE foregoing is logical in several
ways, while very rigid in others.
Some features which it insists ought
10 be abolished, should be accom-
panied by instructions how to do it.
That the fastest horse should win is
what everybody thinks, but how can
.he fastest be decided on before the |
rial. After the trial, which results
1f course unsatisfactory to some,
hey thereupon express the belief
hat gambling, or iockeying, was in
lulged in. The opinion thus form
I'd on disappointment often goes for
much more than it is worth, and |
,ften leads to the censuring Of an
honorable management. Racing is
lnquestionably the most interesting
feature Of fair to the majority in
attendance old and young, male
md female-and if the society Of |
icers do the best they can to enforce
hat which is right, can more be
loxa9