The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-09
WILL We Have RACES?
Secretary Pope Says That Will De-
pend Entirely on Several
Considerations.
THE Principal One Is That the Citi-
Hens Must Help the
Cause.
Otherwise the Fair Gates VIII he Closed
and Helenn win Drop From
tho circuit.

sWhat are the prospects of a race meet.
Inc in Helena this summorr' was asked of
Secretary Pope. Of the Montana State Fair
yesterday.
.sNot very good" the secretary answered.
s.The last three or four fairs have been held
at q loss which ia now represented by an in
debtedness Of some $1,000 or over. In view
81 this the directors do not feel like taking
any chancos towards increasing thisi ndebt-
edness. All meeting held two months
since they practically determined that no
fair would be held this season. The Worlds
fair az Chicago would fill every want in
this line. and this idea has prevailed in
many states besides Montana. The ques-
zion Of a race meeting was left somewhat to
circumstances II the town felt like help
ing the association along tho directors were
perfectly willing that = race meeting should
be held. Dates following the Butte meet
ing have been reserved in the circuit pro-
Cramme for Helena in case she
should conclude later to get up a
programme and invite the horsemen to
visit Helena and enter their stock. The
prospect Of a large attendance from differ
emit states is good. Still the directors feel
S06G Gu6y UEo " WN1S00tcA Al OuGEAuk llD-
eral purses without help from the citizens.
There can be no question as to the benefits
derived by the city from such a meeting.
All branches of business are benefited by
II. and il ought NOS to be said that Helena
is second to any other own In the cir
cult"
.sWhat effect will it have on the circuit if
Helena drops outT"
mo very bad effect this year, because,
strange as il may seem. outsiders think
THAT L is not possible for Helena not to
be hard to rssurrect and recover lost
ground. Helena needs everything that
can possibly hclp her along as the capital
city. and while II race meeting is not u ne
cessity to any town. il is metropolitan, and
IL isilooked for in Helena, where q meeting
has been annually given ever since 1867"
''Do you expect TO make q losing if you
give q meetinR?'.
mot necessarily. but it may come that
from causes not easily avoided. The
expenses are slways there. the receipts not
always"
..How much did you lose last year,"
I'VE lost $1,000. and that may be taken
~ about the amount the board would like
20 sec guaranteed them before any purses
are hung ~. We are now paying interest
on 5000 and should We make a little
money it would be applied on the indebt-
Of the treasury by the stockholders, and the
directors look 10 the city of Helena to sus-
tain the institution and to keep it out of
debt. II this is not done the gates will be
closed. Every horse kept at the grounds
means an outlay Of from $1.50 to 81 per
per day. training expenses, and the amount
reaches to q considerable sun when fifty or
seventy five horses are in training at the
grounds. This all goes into circulation
here. Hotels, saloons. feed men. livery
stables. railroads and all classes of business
feel the good effect, and participate in the
general distribution. The city of Helena
cRnnot afford to lot the Montana State Fair
lanna.M