The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-28
A JOCKEY CLUB DISCUSSED
Why q Running Meeting Has Never
Been Established in Indianapolis.
Objection TO Gambling-NOtes of the Speedy
Flyers in Indiana-Horses Now at the
Local Track-Pool- Room Privileges.

Is no factor at ell In the states turf
history. The pacing and trotting meetings
In Kentucky and Tennessee are very tame
Affairs compard TO the running meetings.
and, of late years. the jocky club courses
are growing in favor north OF the Ohio
river Indiana has q course OF this kind
81 Robey, but the methods In vogue there
have thrown 1t into disrepute- On numer-
Gus occasions the matter of having run
ming meetings in Indianapolis has been
discussed. but there seems TO be q hesitancy
In establishing running course. Such n
race course 10 not q success unless there 10
gambling on the races at the track. for
the money received from the bookmakers
for the privileges enable the clubs TO offer
the purses and bring crack horses to the
post.
IL is perhaps the current of opposition to
rsce-horse gambling that has kept Indian
spolis from having n running meeting. for
there is no question as to the financial out
como of . meeting. Jockey clubs seldom
lose money. il Is stated. for the sums put
MP by the bookmakers almost guarantee
the club against loss bookmaker gen.
orally pays el00 day for the privilege of
doing business at the race course. and it is
seldom that the number In the betting ring
falls short of twenty. This would mean for
ten days meeting about $4,000. 1t has
been estimated that ten days meeting 10
Indianapolis would average. If conducted
on q good plane, about three thousand peo-
pie day. A dollar Is the prevailing adj
mission fee at race courses, and 1t might
be that such fee would be paid by the
people in Indianapolis. The track at the
fair grounds 10 big enough for running
meetings. although IL 10 argued that the
track itself does not contain the proper
material to withstand the hoofbeats of the
jumpers. This could no doubt DO remedied
without great deal of expense.
A point in favor of this city as racing
center 10 its central location. and II the
temper of the people would permit the
jockey club affair. 1t would be success 60
the promoters in financial way. Blg
meetings are held at Latonia. across from
Cincinnati. at Louisville and at st. LouIs,
and after leaving these points most of the
bangtails go to tho summer meetings at
Chicago. The paths of the racers from the
South therefore cross Indianapolis and it
would entail but little expense for the
stables TO stop at the Hoosier capital
for O short meeting A short meeting
with big purses and stakes would
probably be the most desirable
both to the stables aud the track manage
ment The attendance BY days would be
proportionately larger than if q long meet
ing was held. These meetings bring q
great deal of money TO q city, for she turf
people spend q great deal, but on the other
hand the bookles, as they are known. take
q good big sum away with them If they
have any sort of luck. Then again the fol-
lowers OF these racing stables arc not al
ways the most desirable set of people to
have for q brief spell in the city unless the
police surveillance 10 very good. AT least
in Ind naa IN IN
tention of holding running meeting this
summer and it may be that this action will
lead TO a spread TO other places.
The pool rooms In Indianapolis arc al
lowed TO run down town. and tins hns cro-
sted o superficial interest In the turf Sew
eral hundred men and boys are to be found
at the rooms IN the rear of the News of1ce,
every day, where they may be seen per-
spring while waiting for their little bits of
pasteboord to lose or win. man who
will play the races FROM day to day will be
o bankrupt In short order. and it only
needs study of the odds offered by the
bookmakers to demonstrate this. The per-
centage In favor of the book makers IL enor-
nous. The pool room in this city has
been given great privilege by the present
city administration. To sum mp it's value
in dollars and cents the privilege fee paid
by the bookmakers at the track may be
oIted Each of them pays 800 q day. and the
privilege in INDIANAPOLIS. where the busi-
meas 10 exclusive. IL worth q great deal
q
enjoys q police immunity valued at e25 900
or more o month. Would not Iron and his
crowd be gross ingrstes If they did not pnt
mp u big sum TO be distributed among the
boys TO encompass Mayor SulIivans renom-
inationf -.
The Western Horseman this week thus
ably speaks of q topic interesting to
trainers:
Just now is the time when trainers of
hi liz at hafxv fxrn fir.s IN
speak. Every trainer who has even a linn
tied acquaintance with conducting n stable
of the character mentioned, knows full
well the position he 10 III. Too often IL it
the case when overly anxious and enthu-
siastlo owners send their great expecta-
lions" To the training barn with the firm
belief that within n week or 80. on the
first nice day. the trainer Is in duty bound
10 show to the proud owner the improve
ment he has made IN his prospective record
breaker. He wants to see immediately
what be Is receiving for his money. He
pays for speed, aud he 10 not
satisfied unless speed IS forthcoming. The
trainer desires To satisfy the cravings of
his patron, but he knows well. be he q
competent trainer. that TO require his
charge TO undergo :be treatment necessary
to satisfy his impatient employer moro
damage will be done than q months pa
tient work and n magnificent display of
talent can rectify. Thus he stands be-
tween two fires. The owner, with his fast
prospective trotter. has a duty TO perform
for his trainer. and that Is to give the latter
ample opportunity 10 condition his horse
before speed is required. Overanxiety on
the part of an enthusiastic owner has cast
into Oblivion many promising prospect
and at the time caused many an
otherwise competent trainer TO have the
appeilation OF shoemaker" used In con-
neotion with bis name"
George j. Snyder's great sale of Indiana
horses took place Wednesday Afternoon at
Allentown. Pa. and proved highly success
ful. Fifty head of horaes were disposed of. in
all amounting in value to $4,000 Twenty
seven of these were sold By w. b. Blair. OF
the firm of Blair * Baker. horse dealers. of
this city. The Allentown Critic says:
Mr.. Blair is n typical Western man.
physically and In manner. He Is tall and
WHY III all his movements. and has the
shrewdness. oommingled with genially,
and the breezy. hearty way with
MIN or the genuine hustler He
has made seven trips TO the East
already this spring, each time bringing u
double load OF horses along. one for the
Buffalo market and the other lots for this
city. Dir. Blair Ia fond of his nativo
state 60 James Whitcomb RIley, the
Hoosier poet. and dropping horse talk for u
minute last evening be- almost became po-
etical himself when be called it enthusiasts
tIcally sweet old indiana When asked If
there was any difference between dealing
with Western and Eastern people he
emphatically replied: Yes, tho biggest
kind OF difference. The Western man in
variably planks down his cash while the
afSrn MI -.