The Washington times., 1895-04-05
Western Turf Congress to Be Importuned for
Official Action Which Will Clothe the
Notorious Place with Seeming Respecta-
bility-roo Well Known to Stand Kuch
Chance Of Success in Their Undertaking

They realize that something must be done
TO save their track, and hope to secure Of
ficial sanction in order 70 hide its true con-
dition
II is hardly probable that the sought-for
sanction viii be obtained. for when similar
application W as made last January, it was
thrown out unceremoniously, for the repu-
tation Of the place is well known from one
end OF The country to the other.
IL is difficult to see just what motive
prompts this renewal OF the effort to obtain
a license. The doings OF the place since
Secretary Tompkins returned without the
sought-for sanction. which he was so conf
dent he would obtain, would not IN any way
commend its being granted; in fact, the
chances lock lar mole doubtful now than
thev did when the previous application was
made.
Tne parody OF sport which has been fur
nished during the past five weeks. since the
gates were re-opened, has blackened the
reputation OF the place more than ever, if
such a thing were possible.
The increase of patronage has made the
pirates" bolderin every way. The harvest
in sight was rich one and discretion has
been cast TO the winds.
The most bare-faeed steals have been
allowed to pass unnoticed. Horses have
been first one day and last the next. The
Jockeys, under the protection OF the manage
ment. have ridden to suit theirinstructor.
They have pulled favortes mp at the start
They have pulled them in the last strides
OF race when they have believed they
Were dangerously close: they have even
taT ST.
begun, without any questioning By the
Off icialS.
The rag tag OF the turf have been catered
10 and sought for. Owners, trainers and
jockeys Hled Off for fraud, have been
welcomed with open arms
BookmakeTs known TO make q speciality
OF laying against dead" oises have been
permitted to ply their trade unmoIested
until every true lover OF the sport has
agreed that the place is positively rotten,
and yet those in control viii ask the Turf
Congress to lend it's sanction to their out
law track
II II were believed for a single instant
that there was a chance of the license
being granted. perfect storm of protest
would go up from every lover OF racing
in the east
The very scum Of the turf have made the
place their stamping ground The blacker
the reputation of tie aspirant, the stronger
his claims for prominence. Every known
method OF wrong doing has been resorted to
without fear VI punishment. The spoils
have been liberal ones, and the game has
gone on unchecked.
To ask for official sanction for such
place is an Insult 10 everything and every
body connected with honest racing.
THEY'LL PROMISE ANYTHING.
No doubt the delegates will plead desire
to elevate their outlaw track and it's rae
ing. They viii be prepared to make
promises of wholesale reforms and will at
tempt TO deny the many ugly rumoTs in con-
nectrion with the place, but they viii find
that the gentlemen with whom they are
treating are too well posted to be misled
in any way.
They have had the chance to make these
reforms, but have not availed themselves
of it. Their racing is to-day worse
than at any time since their gates were
opened.
The one way to make the outlaw track
respectable is to close it up.
With the crowd now enrolled as their
''faithfuI'' it is Impossible to give honest
racing, and the fact that they were
licensed would not help matters In the
least They dare not offend those who
have worked with them, and IL is a waste
of words in promises to do so.
IL is the duty of respectable race-goers
TO lodge protest against the license
being granted
Mr.. Belmont and his associates of the
Jockey Club should at once notify the
Turf Congress that to grant the license
asked for would mean a severe blow to
racing in the East. Both bodies are work
ing TO elevate the turf, and while the rules
OF the two organizations differ in some
respects, the Interests of both are identical.
There is hardly man that has been
ruled off in the East but can be found
among the fold at the outlaw track. To
/ grant the asked-EoT license would mean to
| put these people IN good standing, or, in
plain words. il would mean the sanctioning
| of wrong doing.
Tracks or similar character have brought
about all the troubles that the turf has
been compelled to handle within the past
couple of years.
Gutenberg and Clifton in their worst
days We're '.clean" when compared TO this
place that now asks to be made legiti-
mate
The place is beyond reformation
It's favorIte supporters are those in bad
repute at other tracks
DON'T LOOK FOR HONEST RACING.
Its patrons are so accustomed to fraudu-
lent races That to see one hardly causes
single comment
They realize the nature of the game
they are PLAYING and do not look for honest
sport.
When the tracks delegates are making
their plea on Tuesday, it might be well TO
ask them few questions in regard to their
track
A description OF Hams pull with the
management would be entertaining.
There are thousands that W ould read with
interest the explanation or Meadows record
breaking form OF one day, andhis showing at
the tan end of bad bunch the next
Jim McLaughlin's race yesterday would
be pleasant puzzle TO have solved.
A list Of the horses owned or controlled
by the management would ook well in print
A photograph OF the horse at the track
that does not get the speed producing in
lection" would be novelty worth preserv-
ing.
A calendar or the ruled-off owners, train
ers, jockeys and horses, enjoying full priv
negAS at the track might notbe O & ood argu-
nient TO present. but it ould make q valu-
able mamento for the secretaries ofrespecta-
BILE associations
These little" items are apt TO be con-
siderad, ana it might be well to make prepar-
alton TO answer them. or course, explana-
tions, or rather satisfactory explanations,
W III be difficult to find: still they are only
q few OF the quest ions that will be asked
the clubs representatives.
If they can answer them satisfactorily the
racing world VIII be surprised.
Thousands have worked TO solve these
same prohl-rns and have gwen up in despair
The members of the Turf Congress have
heard or tire mysteries" OF the outlaw track
and can hardly be anxious to lend their
sanction 10 the continuance OF racing as
carried on there.
Fort Myer drill Tally-ho leaves 1912