St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-21
NO RUNNING MEETING,
The Jockey Club Cannot Raise
Money Enough.

money Enough.
For the first. time in the history of
the Twin Cities said w. L. Magrath,
"defeat must be inscribed upon our
banners, i'll regard to the proposition to
establish running meeting at the fair
grounds this season. Talk about the car
nlyal bringing people to st. Paul; what
would attract larger crowd than a
goodly number of the crack flyers of the
turf from the Chicago and st. Louis
meetings? We wanted to have our
meeting take place III July, before har-
vest time began, and continue nine
days, and owners OF good horses were
willing to come here and compete for
the purses offered. All that we wanted
to insure good start was the pledging
of $1,000, and during the winter we
have made efforts to raise this amount,
but with poor success. John Merriam,
after careful canvass of the real es-
tate men, was able to raise $500, and the
prospect was reported very poor for
doing any better. Consequently, we
have about abandoned all idea of in
augurating running here this season,
although if we could secure the amount
that have indicated within reason
able period, there would still be time
left to make arrangements for such an
SfShUs IL uOU lull W ulOnGV
to both cities, for besides the stables
and their followers, the betting con
tingent that patroh;zes running races
would be here in large numbers from
Chicago and other contiguous points. [
suppose, however, we must content
ourselves with trotting meeting. at
which races will he cooked after the
first heat, as usual, or worse still, fixed
up by the drivers the night before they
appear On the track. Although a breeder
of trotting horses myself, | am con-
WINGED that their day has gone, and
there is no longer any money in them.
The people do not care for them anv
longer, for the long waits between heats
are tlreSOme, and Oh the track there
should he
NOTHING BUT DASHEs.
Say that instead OF stringing out three,
five or seven heats in trot, two-miles
OF three-mileS dash should be substi-
tuted, maybe interest would be aroused
in the sport, but | doubt it. | have
talked with Mr.. WOodmansee and other
gentlemen who wanted to make this
running meeting a success, but they are
discouraged at the outlook and do not
think that the people fully appreciate
the matter as yet. We could come i'm
very nicely between Chicago and st.
Louis, and it would make good circuit,
but those who have money to invest
don't seem to think that the return will
prove profitable one, and hence will
not take the risk"
Il made tour of the real estate Of
fees" said Mr.. John Merriam, land put
the matter as strongly as | could, but
could only secure beggarly $500, and
so threw up the affair in disgust.
There is good opening for such meet
ing as we proposed to have, but every
body does not think as the projectors of
the scheme do, and l am afraid we will
have to give it up for the present"
Il will give a thousand dollars to help
boom the running meeting fnterpoSed
Mr.. Kincaide; NOW let us see what
some of the moneyed men of St. Paul
and Minneapolis will do in the same
direction. 1t cannot help benefting
both places to have such sport at the
Fair grounds. and it will show that we
are abreast of the times at least. 1t will
not do to give up SO easily, and will
make good every cent that l promise for
sucL7a purpose"