The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-06
INDEPENDENTS THE WINNERS.
Memphis and Nashville and the Turf
Congress.


Congress.
The differences between the Memphis
and Nashville Jockey Clubs and the Turf
Congress have now been on for some time,
yet the Tennessee independents do not APP
pear 10 be worried or handicapped in the
least, judging from their unconcern and
successful meetings. For the good OF the
order, the following from the Louisville
COirier-Journal, is submitted
"From the time the dates selected for
the Western and Southern race meetings
were announced, up to the present, it has
been evident that clash of dates must
occur. Efforts to prevent this have been
made, but without avail, as the Memphis
Club refused point blank TO change, and
so Nashville could not BY the old ar
rangcment, the Louisville meeting was 10
have begun when three days OF the Nash
vile meeting remained 10 be run, and
Nashville and Lexington would have con-
flicted from the beginning until the close
OF the Lexington meeting. The plan pro-
posed to prevent this was for the Memphis
meeting to begin week earlier and for the
Nashville Club to shave up its dates, so rs
TO follow closely after Memphis, thus
filling in the interval which otherwise
would exist between the New Orleans
races and the Memphis meeting, and
giving the Lexington and Louisville Clubs
the benefit Of the time thus gained. That
the scheme failed is due 10 the Memphis
Club, the officers OF which declined TO
race during Lent alleging that they
feared injuring the success Of their meet
ing. The excuse was lame one, but II
was all that could be obtained at the time.
II was generally thought that the antagOn-
ism OF the Tennessee clubs TO the Turf
Congress had something 10 do with the
matter. The new move Toy the Nashville
Club supports this belief, aud II now
seems to he an assured fact that the Ten
nessee racing associations, and possibly
the New Orleans Club, will openly fight
the clubs composing the congress Tor they
have all the best OF il, and, while the con.
gress cannot iniure the independent clubs,
the clubs seem Ia have the power to
greatly injurc the congress. That such a
feeling OF luminosity against the congress
clubs exists Is explained by the SUPPOSE
ton that the bookmakcrs are at the bot
tom of il. The Memphis and New Or.
leans Clubs have been very friendly with
the prncilcrs, and the Nashville Club has
among it, most influential stockholders u
number OF very prominent bookics.
"Ihe Louisville Club has been ut war
with the bookmakcrs Tor several years.
aud the relations between the ring and
the ~. Louis Club are not the most pleas
ant. In addition "a this the rcsolu ion
adopted ut the last meeting Of the congress
excluding all association bopkmnkcrs from
the privileges Of the congress has had its
influence. Tho knights oi the pencil have
been keeping very quiet since the blow
was dealt 10y the congress, but II looks now
m II they had not been idle, Tor u gre /
deal Of trouble has been brcwcd Tor the
congress clubs, aud particularly fnr thu
Louisville Club. The idea that the book
makers had anything 10 do with reducing
the number ui cntrcH 10 the Louisville
spring stakes Tor all aged horses was
laughed ut when tint talked OF. but IL
does not seem 80 improbable nov that the
entries Tor the stakes away from here have
been published There certainly must be-
u reason Tor the cold fact that Nashville.
on friendly terms with the bookmnkcrs,
has from ~ To ~ per cent. more horses en-.
gagged In her stakes than Louisville, ut war
with the bookmakcrs, aud this too, in the
face OF the fact that Louisville adds from
10 To ~ per cent more money TO her
stakes"