Evening star., 1894-02-08
NO RACING IN NEW JERSEY.
Statements Made by w. j. Thompson
of Gl0ucester and Others.

Oh UlOUceeter ana OtnefS.
"You can state positively. as coming from
me- that there will be no racing on the
Gloucester track this year." Thus spoke
President William ]. Thompson of the
South Jersey Jockey Club to a reporter yes
terday. Mr.. Thompson, who had just re-
turned from his legislative duties at TEN
ton, sat in his private office. in Gloucester.
surrounded by horsemen. whose stables are
still within the confines Of the Gloucester
track. Among the owners seen about the
grounds were w. NJ. Rogers. Carter Hall.
H. Flippen and Col. May, the secretary of
the club.
There have been many statements cred
tied to me-" said Mr.. Thompson, which /
have never made One of the Philadelphia
morning papers recently quoted me as say
ing, nothing but divine power could prevent
racing at Gloucester / never said any
thing OF the sort. OF course, l. as well as a
great many horse owners who still have
their horses quarte-ed here, would like to
see racing resumed, but don't care to have
any trouble with the authorities. and here
the matter rests.
Another report had a new grand stand
being erected and other repairs under con-
temptation. Now, as matter of fact, there
has not been nail driven, and you can
readily see that the grounds are in precisely
the same condition as when the track was
closed last Thanksgiving day"
Despite Mr.. Thompson's positive state
ment, there are those connected with the
track In different capacities who are hope
full that something unforeseen may occur
which will bring about the opening of the
track. The stable boys and trainers expect
the track to open in the near future, but
they have evidently not heard Mr. Thomp-
sons ultimatum. The horse owners are
lying low and saying nothing, but they are
not moving their horses from the track.
There are at present about 800 horses
OF hi lad on, fhA IN
side of the grounds. scattered about the
town, there are almost double that number
Some of the owners remain at Gloucester
out Of choice and with the hope that racing
to stay owing TO force of circumstances.
Last summer there were in the neishbor-
hood OF loo horses on or near the track,
and majority of them are still there.
Among the more prominent thoroughb-eds
now stabbed at Gloucester are: Can't Tell,
Dillon j., Dart and Jersey Of w. NJ. Rogers
string; Robin Hood, Philora Tar and Ta--
tar, William T. and Sweet Alice the prop
erty of May and Hall; Flattery, Despair,
Belisarius. Belle of Fermoy. Maid of Blar-
ney, Fagin and Rosaline Of F. d. Weir's
string Artillery, Uncertainty and few
others Of less prominence the property of
NJ. T. Downing; Beautiful Bells, Henry
Young. Pottowatomie. Minnie j., Sonora,
Peppe: and Houri. who carry the colors of
VIM. Beckett; Frank r. Harf. Vulpina and
few others owned by John Underwood;
ShahSS' SChSoi, OIpAdu anu MdIlud Ot
Dan Honig's lot
Tom Heffner, Pop Lowell the Durack
boys and Flippen were the only owners Of
any prominence who removed their horses
from Gloucester. All OF these owners drove
stakes and pitched their tents in New Or
leans, but according to Flip" who return
ed from the south a day or two ago. 1t Is a
hard game to go up against. The New Or
leans track is, he says, run by a southern
clique. and when a horse from the north
wins purse 1t is dollars to doughnuts ne
will be bid UP. An instance Of this kind
was when Jack Lowell won the New Year 8
day handicap there. 1t cost the old man
just the amount Of the purse to retain the
horse.
Flip won a few purses with Bryan. sold
him FOR $4,000 and set sail for Gloucester
Should Mr.Thompson change his mind and
decide to open the Gloucester track, there
will certainly be a clash between the Glou-
cester police force and Sheriff Barrett of
Camden county. The sheriff recently made
the positive declaration that he will pre-
vent racing at Gloucester IL 1t necessitates
the swearing of 500 deputies 1t Is believed
by many that the senatorial deadlock at
Trenton has been enginee ed by the race
track owners of New Jersey, in order to
prevent the passage of measure which
would wipe out racing in that state
Mr.. Thompson's decision not to attempt
to open his track on March / Is In keeping
with the recent declaration OF Allan Nc
Dermott at Trenton, that there will be no
racing In New Jersey this year.