New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-15
FROM THE TURF CONGRESS
TIE WASHINGTON PARK CLUB IL '''''A'o'
WILL HOLD 80 MORE RACES

TIE WASHINGTON IAEh { 1t - - ''''''
Will. HOLD 80 MORE RACES
chicago oct l,.-At a meeting OF the directors
last nigb, ;hc Washington Park club decided TO
,bandon ITS racing feature. and in conformity WIN
this resolution the clubs resignation from the
Turf Congress was prepared ana forwarded 10 inc
secretary The reasons for a5andoning ms i''
tire are based il j. said. upon the popular 'iam"E
against pool-selling and the degeneration OF RACING
10 a species of gambling. The club was organized
in lss and is possessed of grounds covering an
area of eighty acres, which cost $4,000. ana are
now estimated to be worth <,J",VD or s-."VV"
General PhD H. Sheridan was the Erst president
of the cl.b ANA served in that capacity unti his
death when the vacancy was hllcd by inc election
of the present president George Henry Wheeler
Organized a. a gentiemcu's JOCKEY cluh. ana Tor
the avowed purpose Of encouraging the improve
mcnt. bre. ding. training and exhibition oil horses
the Washington Parl. club has consistently main
tanned its high standard ana gained more than
National celebrity.
The feeling has spread rapidly among the direc-
tors, howeNei that the club could not rc,din ITS
high character and uphold IL own s'anlard. IN
Quoted gambling ventures. win winch the
Washington PARK was obliged 10 affiliate under thg
rules. Horses were being raced. winter as well
summer. at various points, and the circuit was
being enlarged by the admission Of clubs OF doubt
ful standing. Under such conditions the directors
agreed that the Washington Park cub OWED "A
duty to the members ard I" the public which
could be best performed by disseminating racing.
President Wheeler. when asked after the meeting
last night Tor explanation OF the reasons Tor
the unexpected action OF The club sad.
There seerls 90 b. Gif renee Of opinion rs TO
whcticr IL is lawful Or unlaw al 10 run race
track in this s,ato. Tine directors Of the Washing
ton Park Club 20 not wish 10 90 anything cor
trary law. ard 30 decided 70 discontinue giving
race meetin,s.
will thclo ever be another meeting at your
race track o?
Not unless thcro is some change in the law. 50
that there VIII he 20 question Of the IcgahiN al
conducting a race mcctng.'
HAS there been any attack made on the club
recently?
NO. not us hnt Won know that the people
VINO own Hawthorne under Indictment W."
would like to have our usual meeting, and say
frankly that We felt pretty blue when one or the
gentleman remarkec after the vote was taken
no Derhy day hut We felt that We could
not afford 10 be annoyed by being made the sub
ject Of "A Grand jury Investigation.
DO YOU intend 10 sell the property
Nothing has been said about IL. We intend 10
maintain the social feature Of II aS heretofore q
country club with polo and that sort OF thing
Hundreds Of entries had already been made with
the club for stakes for 1870 and 1896 among them
the So ODD American Derby for the 1875 meeting
upon whose candidates the book makers ar" already
formerly Queen Isabella George '. Hankin@ Of
track. said last night: II shall make The Wash
ingtor Park club offer TO take ~" stakes
which have closed and are closing OF It's hands.