The Sunday herald., 1886-10-31
REFORMING THE TURF.
\ Talk with Col. Clark-How He
Would Stop Fraud aud Make Racing



One OF the most liberal Of Western racing men is
Col. NJ. Lewis Clark, president of the Louisville
Jockey Club the leading association beyond the AL
leghanies. MIR. Clark has Just returned to his home
from visit Of four weeks TO the East. When he
first became Interested In the turf Col. Clark went
to England TO study the racing system there, not
1t something better suited to American ideas:
"As TO the need OF a National Jockey Cub,' said
Col. Clark to an interviewer, "such as there exists
In England, think we are not nearly ready for
such an Institution. 1t may bc needed In time. but
tlrely unsulted to any except slow going, c0nser
yative people Ike the English. Do you seriously be-
could be persuaded to submit to the power welded
by such an organization as the English Jockey
Club? Mr.. Jerome says that the power OF that club
Is greater OH the turf than the power OF Parliament
That Is trle and 1t suits Engishmen to have 1t 80.
But Americans going to give to any i've or seven
nine men authority, absolute authority, to declare
when and where new track Is or Is not needed,
when an old track must be shut up, on what days
the privileges OF owners, jockeys, and trainers? No.
the American spirit is spirit OF compromise, not
tenn In this country. The American turf, IN my
| opinion-and have given the matter much study
Let ali the Jockey clubs In the country come TO
agreement on this point and send delegates TO such
acongress, which shall convene once year,say IN
ference and compromise all differences that may
exist among the associations For Instance, look at
| our own little congress In the West. We meet once
year TO prepare for the racing OF the next season.
In this congress there are at present represented the
Washington Park, Latonla, ST. Louis, Memphis, New
Orleans, AMI Louisville clubs. Each club has It's
champion NJ court to protect Its rights. Now, last
year It was contended that Louisville had too many
racing days and II was proposed In the congress that
we give up two or three to certain other clubs /
fought to keep those days, assure you, but In the
mise mis- great good was Effected ali FOUND Now let US
make this congress- nationa taking In ri! the climbs.
feature as support OF racing betting there must
be. In his opinion. He had solved the betting prob.
lem years ago with the Legislature OF Kentucky and
"the talent" could Invest It's money In modern and
Improved style on his track. lie made the book
makers do their part toward the support OF the club
"What about pulling horses, Colonel? Can you
| devise plan TO stop this ln-and-out runnng?n
| At tins query the Colonel grew enthusiastic.
Throwing on his coat, lc mounted his Pegasus and
"Ai, - said he, 'that Is my strong point. Here is
my plan already devised: our national Interests
once combined on the old Kentucky plan-'united
we stand divided we fall-let MS choose from among
| the bestnlorned racing men In this country four
Jockeys, or IN any way Interested In race except
| that II be run honestly. These four Judges must
choose niln, IKE unto themselves, and me iivo
Hoard OF Stewards. They must he paid good sala-
ries, for they Will he busy throughout The racing
season, with little time for other duties Two mem
bers OF this board shall act as Judges at every race
track represented in the congress, having the
way OF compliment. Ile may not know anything
about racing, 80 they may Let him place the third
| horse. These Judges, honest men all, shall force
the racing rules most rigdly so that every owner,
trainer, and jockey may know tho penalty for in
| irlngemeni. think could put men In the Judges
| stand who would soon nnd out why u horse x ,cs n
mile to-day In 40 when yesterday he ran II In ;iG
Win such men as Judges you let jockey do any oi
this funny business and see the result Why, hall
| the Judges In this country know nDlhing of racing
rules, aud can tell you that the Jockeys very soon
hnd out the manner OF men under whose eyes they
| are riding. once sure that we-inforlned, coura.
geous men are In the Judges stand they 'out FOL
The money IL Ia astonishing how many horses there
| are In America to-day which can pack weight hC
| much better than they can pack money. Win q
big load OF the public funds their backs they
seem utterly unable TO run. My board of judges
| would put NJ end to all this"