The Indianapolis journal., 1888-08-15
INDIANA'S RACING INTERESTS.
The Meeting of the Horse-Breeders' Associa
tion Promises Great Sport.

J. S. Darnel. secretary Of the Indiana Trot-
ting and Pacing Horss-brseders Association.
was in the city yesterday making arrangements
with the different railroads for reduced rates
during the annual race meeting. 70 DO held at
the State fair grounds September to z. The
horsemen Of the State anticipate the most sue
cessful meeting the association has vet held, as
there are up to the present time one hundred
and fifteen entries in the different classes. which
are divided into twelve races. This will furnish
three races at each afternoons performance
great effort has been made by the managing
committee to make this meeting a successful
one, and the interest is manifested not only
among the local horss-trainers, but from all
parts Of the State applications are being daily
received for entries and stable-room. Mr. Lock
hart, who for fifteen years has been identified
with the State Board of Agriculture. and 10 now
general superintendent of the fair grounds, has
been very energetic in the building OF new
track and amphitheater, which now rival any IN
the State.
What amount Of money has been expended
on the new trackF was asked of him last night
II has cost 81, 900 far" he replied. The
way in which took the matter up was pecul-
lar one In 1879 rebuilt the old track and put
it in irst-cass condition. But could not 40
very much with tit was not originally con-
structed in the right way. Last Febssary Judge
Martindale had consented to have track built
by some horsemen of the State on his land,
north of the city. But it did not msteralize,
and through his influence the Board Of ARricult-
ure subscribed 81, 800 toward the building OF .
track on the fair grounds. The matter was put
into my hands, and l now think that haye
track that is second to none In the State.
I'm what does its superiority consistP
''In the first place. it is built with q very grad
ual grade Of but one inch in every hundred feet
on the home stretch. 1t has been built wider on
the home stretch, too being seventy feet On
the back stretch it 10 only sixty. There is an
other feature about its construction that was an
original idea with me. l have never seen it
utilized in any other track. One great fault
about track is its liability to becoming grooved
by the drainage Of water after heavy rain. L
have seen frst-class tracks utterly ruined by
this To prevent it have had q six-inch oak
plank laid around the entire inside circuu,fer-
ence which prevents any little rivuiets from
cracking the course. This gives an even. steady
drainage that leaves the track even and solid
What do other trainers think of Its merItsP
"a number Of prominent horse-trainers have
visited the track, and they say that il is the
best they have ever seen In Indiana. Such men
as W. R. McKeen and w. 2. Ijams. of Terre
Haute; Alvin Perry, Martin Hare and others
horses and their testimony is reliable"
'Is it the intention to make permanent
thing of this track as q central field of the
State2'
''Yes. we have determined to hold all our an
nual meetings hereafter in this city, The first
two were held here. and the third at Terre
Haute but Indianapolis seems to be q more con-
venient location. We will admit nothing but
horses bred from the finest stock. This Is the
one great hope we have of BRINGING the aseoci-
alton into prominence. received notice to-day
from parties in New York city who intend to en-
ter king" tho famous horse bred az Plainneld,
this State. which is said to have been unequsled
in speed so far in his State record. Horsemen
from Kentucky. Ohio and Michigan will be here
during our meeting, and j have
talked with number already. They say
that Indiana bids fair TO stand second ouly
to Kentucky for fast horses. We will have
everything In readiness by the first of Septem-
Der. The new amphitheater is capable of hold
ing ZOO people, and it is now completed We
hope TO make this meeting that will give us .
standing among the sporting men of this country
that will. to say the least. be enviable. The en-
tries are being made rapidly, and trainers are
using their private tracks to good advantage. A
large number of breeders have built individual
tracks and in this way their horses are in good
trim when they arrive. We will have horses here
varying in cash value all the way from $500 to
Sc, 500. aud the results of the races will be
watched all over tho country, simply because
our sister States are watching with interest the
rapid rise of Indiana In the list of noted horse
traininc Stateer