The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-04-11

Owing to the failure of the Legislature to
enact IL stringent racing law, Maryland is
threatened with the danger OF becoming a
a second Guttenburg. Two years ago at the
hehest of law and order societies and the
great mass OF the citizenship OF Baltimore
city and Baltimore county. IL law was passed
to break up pool-scl'ing at Arlington, to which
track the gamblers driven out of New Jersey
resorted. This law provides that pool-seling
cannot continue for more than 30 days at
any track in the State of Mary land. and this
concession was made because OF the stand
taken by the various county agricultural fairs
at which horseraccs are an important feature.
A bill against winter racing was before the
last Legislature. 1t prohibited racing in the
months of November. December, January,
February and March The Senate struck out
November and passed the bill, Cecil county,
at the request of Senator Crothers. being ex-
empted from the proposed law. The bill
went to the House. and was favorably re-
ported from committee. That was the last
heard of it.
TRACK AT ELKToN.
Last year the Elkton Race Track or the
Cecil County Agricultural Society was used
Dy syndicate of professional race track men.
and considerable proportion of the citizens
of the county protested against such further
use of the track, although some very respect
able men saw in the continuance of pool
selling a source OF revenue to the county and
no danger of lowering of the moral tone of
the people. These citizens argued that the
people of the county knew little or nothing Of
the pool-selling, and that the men active in
the gambling were outside sports and
'touts." Nevertheless, an earnest effort was
made to have the Legislature prohibit racing
in Cecil altogether.
TO RACE ALL THE YEAR.
Under the present law it is reported that
the race track promoters and supporters will
hold racing all the year round in Maryland,
and make this State the centre of the sport.
Andrew i. Burns of Pennsylvania, the pres-
dent of the Maryland Racing Association, has
leased the Cecil track from the Fair society
for 80 days from Saturday week. One hun
dred dollars day is paid for the track. A
to Elkton. and it is expected to have several
hundred there before the close of next week.
There will be six races day. for purses Of
$175 each. and special trains will be run
from Philadelphia and Baltimore, and low
rates secured.
AT BARKsDALE STATION.
After the close of this "meet' another will
be held near Barksdale Station, on the b. &
o. Railroad, in Cecil, three miles from Elk
ton. The racing association has purchased
70 acres of land, and will at once erect a
track, grand stand and betting ring. If
this programme is kept up, it will be seen
that very soon Maryland will be anest of race
tracks-there are tracks at Arlington, Pimlico
Herring Run, Back River, and others can be
readily laid off at other places near Balti-
more-and the State will be called upon to
confront the sitnation in New Jersey, which
led to such disgrace few years ago, and re-
quired heroic means to eradiate.
TO ovERRUN MARYLAND.
The Virginia Legislature recently passed an
anti-winter racing law to get rid of the
shameful exhibitions of gambling and law
lessness ut st. Asaphs, near Washington and
the racing gamblers from all over the country
are at liberty to pour into Maryland for the
next Two years, during the recess Of the
Maryland Legislature. The race track bust
ness requires to be carried on the line of trunk
railroads and near large cities, and the stu
alton of Maryland and her 3O-day law affords
the booksellers the finest opportunities for
plying their calling.
OTHER TRACKS.
On Wednesday night, a New York syndi-
cate secured the Electric Park Course at
Arlington for meet of 30 days. beginning
April %, where races will be run both day
and night. The purses aggregate Ss45 900,
and GOO horses will participate.
A new track is now being established at
Back river which will add another to the
list Of possible localities where miscellaneous
sports may have month Of racing.-Balti-
more Ne,rS.