Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-11-23
THE RACE TRACK.

ing the races at BenniDgs track, in the
suburbs of this city. Alexandrians
come over in droves, and all the neigh
boring Virginia counties contribute
their quoto of visitors to Bennings.
This makes quite source of revenue
for Washiugton, the stables, the cabs
and carriages, the hotels and saloons,
and the CITY generally being the bene-
iiciary of the races at Bennings. 1t is
now proposed to continue this sport at
intervals throughout the winter, when
the present regular season closes. 1t
will be an additional attraction at the
national capital when Congress meets,
and will be the means of filling up the
ootels aud keeping things lively during
the winter.
Washinstonians have au eye to busi-
ness, and this racing plan of increasing
the city's revenues. pleasure and wealth
was very cleverly managed. Hereto
fore all the patronage OF the races and
tne thousands who like the sport went
10 the city end county of Alexandria,
when the st. Asaph and Alexander
Island tracks were in operation. There
were always from 400 to 500 horses
stabbed at those tracks and there We're
nearly 900 grooms, trainers, hostlers
and stable boys to attend them. All
The feed, fodder, hay and straw con-
sumed by this large number OF horses
was purchased in Alexandra city and
county, and all the employees were
aoused and boarded there. 4 consid-
cradle percentage of department Of
icials, storekeepers, clerks, military
and navy people and other residents of
Washington fiocked over to Alexandria
everv afternoon ard spent large sums
OF money at the tracks and in the an
cient city itself. HICKS and traps of all
kinds were engaged to take the race
course visitors from the train to the
tracks, and money was spent in the
county in various other ways by the
crowds from Washington.
An estimate of the annual loss 10 this
city and the profit to Alexandris by
the races brought the figures up TO the
hundreds of thousands, and this awOke
the hotel men. the saloon men, and the
3torekeepers OF Washington TO realiza-
lon of the fact that something must be
done to keep this enormous amount OF
money out of Alexandria and in Wash
lngton. They went about systemati.
cally aud deliberately. and soon plans
were matured and put in operation to
produce the desired result. Then be-
gan a war on the part of the Washing
ton papers on the "race-tracks across
the river" Jackson City. which is q
great distance from either OF them, and
with which they had no connection
what yer, was made the theatre OF gam
ing rows, scraps" cutting and shooting
scrapes, and scenes of general disorder,
always linked, somehow with the race
tracks, though they had nothing TO do
with them. Governor O'Ferrall and
the Legislature were next brought
into service, and such pressure
was brought 10 bear that winter
racing" was finally stopped at the
Alexandria tracks, and The Washing
tonians had scored victory. The flow
of money across the river ceased, and
soon began to find its way again into
the Golfers of the Washington mer-
chants and hotels and saloons, and
Alexandria, which was a blooming,
thriving county, soon became deserted,
and relapsed into its former dullness,
inactivity, and comparative poverty.
The alleged gambling which the legis-
lation at Richmond was supposed 10
suppress still goes on, for a foreign
book is made at ST. Asaph's, where any
one who wishes TO do so can place his
money on his favorite horse at the vari-
Gus race-courses throughout the coun-
try. But the horses, the grooms, and
the entire money-spending fraternity
are all over here now, and the Wash
ingtonians are happy.
The race tracks in this neighbor-
bood, says Washington authority,
will follow themselves as fast as the
blue .bloods. in one-two-threc order.
At Magruder's station, just beyond Il Q
eastern line of the District, there is
preparation in haste for The con-
struction Of a track, on which it is pro-
posed TO give q thirty day sea-
son" after the close of the pres
ent meeting at Bennings The manage
ment of the proposed track have select
ed level piece of meadow-land near
the station. The promoters have gone
to work with ali expedition, having on
hand large force of hands, as if it
were case of emergency. There is,
however, remarks the authority quot
ed, no haste, according to the Maryland
law on the subject of racing. How
skillfully it has been done! Magru-
ders is just across the District line, on
the railroad. The Maryland law per-
mits racing for thirty days in the
year and this can be taken advantage
of for January as we'll as December It
is all right for Washington, but all
wrong for Alexandria. The people be-
hind this scheme. however, announce
that they are anxious to have the track
in readiness by December lst. 1t is
understood that professional operations
will begin at the Magruder track inn
medately on the close OF the races at
Bennings. The land for the track has