The Washington times., 1894-03-18
HE TIMES starts out on velvet.
LOCAL RACING CHAT.

Items or Interest Concerning the Sport of
Kings in this Vicinity.
The local lovers OF racing are somewhat
uneasy as to the time Of passage Of the bill
before Congress legalizing racing and book
making in the District. There appears to be
an element opposed to the granting of any
such privileges, but it seems to be pretty gen.
eral sentiment that the bill will become a
law. The question with the race people is as
to the time Of final action by Congress. 1t is
desired by the Washington Jockey Club to
begin their spring meeting next month, and
there remains but few weeks to make the
necessary arrangements. There is vast de-
tail of preliminary work, and the executive
committee of the club met Thursday evening,
when the outlook was discussed. 1t is hoped
that Congress will pass the measure during
the coming week.
George H. Engeman has still control of the
Ivy City track, and he will surely take adyan-
tage OF any law passed to give meetings at
Ivy City, but whether he would race in oppo-
sition to Bennings is not definitely known.
During the troublous times last December,
when the racing was stopped through the
arrest OF the bookmakers. Mr.. Engeman de-
ciared he would make it hot for the Washing
ton Jockey Club. 1t is hardly likely that he
will carry out his threat now that time has
cooled his resentment.
There are rumors of deals affecting race
tracks outside but in close proximity to the
District, but so far only the Gentleman's
Driving Park, near st. Asaphs Junction.
virginia, has developed into anything tan
gible. j. NJ. Hill, of Alexandria, has acquired
control o. that course, and will open up to-
morrow with several trotting races. The
principal attraction will be the books on
foreign races, and this will draw all the
former visitors and patrons of Jackson City.
while the novelty of seeing one set of racing
with the opportunity to bet on others will be
calculated to attract many others.
There is nothing in the new Virginia law to
compel the running of races at any track in
order to permit OF bookmaking 1t simply
allows betting to be conducted on any regular
chartered track. 1t is not likely there will be
racing every day at the Hill course but there
VIII be books open on foreign events at all
times
The officials of the Washington Jockey
Club have been casting about for a good
place to run off their meetings in the event of
Congress not taking favorable action on the
present bill. The Hill track near Alexandria
was visited and inquiry was made as to the
chances OF securing the track at Marlboro,
Md. II was found that the club can get pos
session OF the Inter. out nothing definite II
is understood. has been done in the matter.
There is also a wei-founded report con-
Meeting the name of ". J. Thompson, the
'Duke OF Gloucester" with an effort to get
race course in Maryland close to Washington.
An agent of Mr.. Thompson was in the city
recently and made a tour of the surrounding
country. and returned home to make his re-
port. There may be something result from
the visit in the near future. This desire to
locate in Maryland or Virginia is due to the
act that the outlook for the RESUMPTION of
racing In New Jersey is not 50 bright, and as
the Virginia and Maryland laws allow of rae
ing and bookmaSinS. fine field is offered in |
those States to the race people.
District Attorney Birney will doubtless cali |
up the cas- 5 OF the indicted Ivy City book !
makers before long. as he has placed himself |
on record as intending TO do so. The track |
people are not anxious to have the cases come |
to trial, rs the benefits to be derived from an |
acquittal would not be valuable now that |
Congress is about to act and make new law |
covering the subject.