Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-13
SOME POINTS ABOUT RACING,
How the Southern Circuit Can
Be Made Successful.
Seme Discussion as to Concerted
Circuit Action.
A Consideration of the Situation-Bie
Money Should Be Offered-The
Bangtails Should Have
Chance.

Can the Southern California racing
circuit be made success? 1t can; but
nothing but enterprise and liberality on
the part of the associations will save it
this year of our Lord. The trouble in
California is that there are too many
districts. Every little county has an
association and in consequence there are
not enough horses to go around and,
therefore, the events are contested by
two or three horses and, as general
thing, the races are foregone conclu-
sion. The southern cities have COM
bined and have made continuous cir
cult. This is the correct idea. Now it
is necessary to offer sufficient induce
ments to at least keep the horses owned
in the southern country at home.
With the probable exception of
Los Angeles, the dates selected
by other northern associations conflict
with those Of the southern circuit. This
is unreasonable, however. Horse own
ers will 60 where there is the most
money hung, except some few knowing
ones, who every year try to avoid strik-
ing the crackerjacks. Four towns in
the northern part of the state, viz, Red
Bluff, Chico. Marysville and Willows.
formed a circuit. Their dates clashed
with the grand circuit. They offered
fair money and did we'll, many entering
up that way to avoid meeting the best
stables. 1t seems that Southern Cali
fornia could profit by following in the
footsteps of the northern associations.
There must be concerted action in this
matter, and the chances are that
every horse owned south of Stock
ton could be secured for the
southern circuit. 1t will not cost
much to make the experiment. It is
quite the fad nowadays to announce a
programme with big string to it. It
is impossible for many of the small
towns in America to offer such rich
purses, unless they get 20 or so per cent
of the money back in purses. Why
cannot our association do likewise? The
more money they hang up the larger the
entry.
A certain number of light harness
races have been adopted by the different
associations. The entrance fee is 10 per
cent OF the amount of the purse, conee-
quently if there are ten entries, the as
sociation gets all the money back in en-
trance money no matter whether they
offer 5000 or $500 purse. The board
can reserve the right of declaring off
any event that does not fill satisfactor-
lily. The associations outside of Los
Angeles should certainly be able to hang
up purses from $500 to 5000 for the
trotting and pacing races.
More attention should be paid to the
races. 1t does not pay to train horse
for the insignificant purses offered last
year. Trotting horse owners can afford
to sink some money on trotter in or
der to increase the value OF the blood,
or sire that he may own. 1t is differ
ent with running horse men. They
must win purses in order to make both
ends meet. The writer has suggestion
to unfold. Let each association incor-
porate in their programmes at least
three running races for good sized purses
say $500, $40O and $500 purse.
There is every reason to believe that ten
entries could be obtained for a purse of
$500 at $50 entrance; therefore the race
would not cost the association more
than 5000.
In the $500 purse ten entries at $25
would bring in $3.50.
One of these races should be for 2.
year-old, as there will be more 2-year.
olds in training than anything else.
One of the other should be for all ages,
and the third might be made a.handi-
cap. OF course, good handicappeTs are
scarce and horse owners dislike to put
out money and then get handicapped
out of the race by some inexperienced
person who is not familiar with she
merits of the horses.
If all the associations combine and
offer fair purses as outlined above, many
horse owners would be thus induced to
put their horses in training. Some judg-
ment must be displayed in selecting the
events, and care must be exercised in
making conditions. This is a very i'm
portant point, and is generally over
looked by minor associations. All kinds
of horses must be given show, and the
only way to give the skates a chance is
to keep piling on the weight on the win
ners and taking it off the losers. This
will bring them together, and each asso-
citation can therefore rely upon getting
interesting contests instead of walk
overs. The above points are submitted
for the earnest consideration of the asso-
Citations forming the southern circuit.
The sporting editor OF the HERALD is
interested in seeing the southern circuit
made a success, and is ready to suggest
races and prepare the necessary condi-
tions in order to assist in promoting the
horse interests of this section.
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