The Indianapolis journal., 1891-12-21
INDIANA A HORSE CENTER
The State Has Now More Mile Tracks
than Has Any Other on the Continent.
Rapid Improvement I'm the Breeding of Fast
Stock-Some Famous StraiDs-New Fair
Grounds and Race Track Site.

Lot Kentucky scoff no more! Indiana
has more mile racing g-tracks than any
State In the Union. and the race-course
generally carries with it all that marks the
sporting phases OF American civilization.
1t is no small thing to have the eyes of New
York and the East. where the State has
been synonymous with backwoodsism.
turned upon Indiana as the leading State
in fast stock. These mile tracks are nine
in number, situated at Richmond, Fort
Wayne. Cambridge City. Terre Haute.
Evansville. Elkhart, Peru. Rushville and
Columbus. The Columbus track is just
finished, and will be ready for the next sea-
son as part of the Indiana Trotting AssO-
citation circuit.
Besides these" said DIR. Neal, editor of
the Western Horseman. published In this
city. there are number of othor mile
tracks In course of completion or in con-
temptation. 1t has come to pass that really
great aud fast horses will not race on q
balf-mile track at oil, and this has stlmu-
lated the building of mile tracks. Con-
and 1 hope. it will. 1t is. the
center of horse country which has
many hundreds OF thousands OF d0llays in
vested in blooded stock. Next to Indiana
however, has more race-tracks OF every
description than any State In the country.
Indiana reciprocates by being second IN
point of total number OF tracks. But ten
years ago there was not q mile track
III the State, and 1t has only been within
the past five years that most of them were
built. They are constructed on the plans
and specifications laid down 10y the Amer
lean Ir0tting Association, and are, there
fore, known as regulation tracks. They
whatever
speed or value, and this accounts for the
noted horses that have. IN recent years.
been seen In this state.
Does this not, then. signify change IN
the Indiana horse?' was asked.
YES" was the reply, Indiana horse
flesh has undergone great change In the
past ten years. Kentucky has contributed
numberof finely bred horses. which have
materially improved our stock. Prominent
among the horse families imported
has been the Wilkes. This is noted for
speed and beauty. Dr.. Armstrong. of
this city. recently bought Kentucky
showed remarkable speed. but got hurt and
has not been speeded since. He il one OF
the hnest in the State. Other well-known
blood with which our native stock has been
crossed, is that which flows IN the veins OF
Nutwood. Robert Macgregor. Electioneer
and Abdallah, each of which have marked
points of difference"
Are there any native horses which have
attained nOtep
"yes there are Legal Tender senior. and
horses. Blue Bull is another. Away back
IN war times there was horse called Red
Buck. which was a marvel for that day.
Records ana pedigrees were not then kept
very carefully, and nobody knows Red
Buck'sage or his speed. lie Is accredited in
tradition from 2:1i TO go. l would like
very mnch to have Rcd Bucks pedigreo
and history. He was n remarkable horse.
Allarfnn descendants
him on their dams side. Blue Bull, an
other famous horse. has begot sixty-eighr
colts which have developed 25O speed or
lessr
What do the horsemen of the State
favor as q site for the new fair gr0undW
1T is difficult To say. The fact that In
dianapOlIs Is to have a mile track Is receiv-
ing much attention from tho hOrsemen
from all over the country. and the location
is discus ,ed among them. They are inter-
ested in it's location for practical reasons.
Each of the locations proposed have many
supporters and undeniable points of merit.
Among hOrsemen every where Indianapolis
| is recognized as q formidable rival to any
racing center in the United States, If she
| gets started OIL right. Prominent horse
men all over the country are awaiting.
| with deep interest, the outcome of the
! enterprise here. and many have offered
| suggestions as to the track. In n cOnversa-
tion recently with Mr.. c. o. Clay bourne.
| OF this city. Budd Doble said: Build n
stauuaTu regulation ullIe bracH-uOnb 20
Oh after kite-on high, dry soil. with
| best posi- BILE drainage. and shape it after
| the Washington Park track. with turns
| the length OF the Cambridge City track
turns. and tangents after the style of the
Richmond track, with q good subs0ll, ana
| yOu will have II track that will suit the
| horsemen. And you will also have q rec
| ord breaking track
IF i should be allowed to add to these
specifications" said Dr. Neal, II would say
| front the grand stand To the east and put
| it and the judges stand at the middle of
| the stretch. This thing of starting horses
| close TO q turn i'm order 70 secure % long
home-stretch is an antIeuated delusion and
| contrary to good reasoning. A good start
| Is just as essential as good fihisb."