The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-05
CLOSING OF THE TRACKS.
UHY 81. ISIPH'S md ALEXANDER
ISLAND sJsPENDED.
The Decision Came Unexpectedly and Was
Perhaps on Account of "A Tip
From Lich nond.

\ special to The Times from Alexandra
says the closing OF ST. Asaph's and Alex
ander Island race-courses came suddenly
on the employees and horse-Owners at
these tracks. and that the impression
prevailed that there would be no stop
page except from severity OF the weather.
As late as yesterday. string Of i've
horses were brought from st. Louis, two
Of them by express. at cost OF nearly
$500 10 the owner Or. kirk. one of the
owners Of ST. Asaph's. states that the
large collection Of horses at the two
tracks Will almost certainly remain
there since there Is no other place to
which they can conveniently be changed
There are nearly one thousand horses al
the tracks. TO ship them would involve
great expense and the stabling free.
and provided as cheap as 1t can be mad
anywhere. IT is. therefore, pretty GER
tain that there Will be no general removal
of these animals at present and the re-
tention Of the horses in Alexandria
county will be- Of no inconsiderable bene-
fit TO the farmers and feed-dealers In
that locality.
The Washington Star Friday says:
/, O. announced that the managers OF
the ~irgnia Jockey Club. engaged In
business al the -. Asaph race track,
Virginia. have decided 20 close the track
beginning to-day. and will not reopen un-
til spring. At the same time II Il under
stood that the Old Dominion Jockey club.
doing business at Alexander Island. will
take advantage Of the abandonment OF
winter racing at ST. Asaph's. and viii
hold meetings daily instead Of an alter
nate days. Thus the community is not
I'm the least better of for the 'volun-
tary" action Of the Virginia Jockey
club for there will still be daily eX-
hibitiOn Of cruelty 10 animals under the
guise of hOrse-racing within few miles
Of the Capitol 10 might be expected that
the action OF the ST. Asaph management
would have some effect upon those who
run the other track. but the AleNander
Island people now have monopoly OF
the eastern winter racing and will doubt
Jess continue to hold fast TO it. year
ago the Virginia Jockey Club was under
the discipline Of a national organization.
and was forced 10 abandon its operations
on the 1st Of December This year tt is
outlawed and Independent, and, encour-
aged By the good weather, 10 continued
10 hold three meetings a week throughout
the first half of the winter. IL Is unlikely
that there was any great amount OF
Difference 10 public opinion az the bot
NDlN Oh Allr Nf-lribu TO tlbrt i'i TIC At'A
of the winter. and il is more apt 10 be
found that the real reason was q hnau-
cial one. Since the other track does not
follow its good example the scandalOus
spectacle is still 10 be- presented through
out the cold months OF useless and cruel
horse races for gambling purposes every
week day
THE WASHINGTON TINES
Tho Times. Of Washington. yesterday
discusses the matter vigorously as fol-
lows.
The closing OF the race-tracks across
the Potomac Is "a distinct and crafty
ing victory for The Times and its con-
stituency which has given it the strong
moral support of it, approval in the
light the paper inaugurated against those
iniquitous places and has carried 20 It.
successful termination It was fight
began with rather dismal prospects. but
tho issue has once again demonstrated
the all-powerful influence OF public opin-
ion when voiced by fearless, honest
newspaper the Times was urged on in
It's warfare against the outlaw tracks by
the concentrations or good men, 10y the
prayers OF parents and wives. It's Iabors
nave borne good fruit. and Ia the accom-
plishment of iis ann it hnds us ampiest
reward.
,..i, ~ ,atrona.,e or the
'....'',',.,,',.. ,,f co,@,nor O,Ferrau and the
a.'.',.i- ,..isls,,,rs ia tine foreshadow-
lsi','" ~ -,.'.,,s ~ 81, omen nues-
.i'5 vi ''',....,,rs,nent Of fho clos.n.,
s'o''' III, ,.'''i, arotner maj tner. VIII
be "A reopenlng I'm Che spring, Dut ia inc
mean uin'' " , n'' s.et. viii repeal the
lesisl,1e t ~. ,,r,,e ~ which the St Asaph
ola' 'eis ~ ~ '' ts'enG race-fracks were
CO. @''a~.ted T.na- is really the most i'm
,,r,tant york the General Assembly has
how I'm IN hand. So far as the tracks are
Dorcerr,od
The popie of Alexandria county are TO
pc nIatmated that even for "A time
these places viii he shut down, and th"t
the coiutv will De purced of the criminal
and ,icious element they attracted. and
ma less win Wasningionians leicitate
,,,.,sal,.es that me vile influence OF
,,,. ,,.,.,,,s and of the rambling-oens and
,ii,.,s NJ Jackson chs promises 10 Dee NUM-
fered amone the things of the past. The
,.,f,. onos 10 Dee commisoatel are the
Ill and -tabic-hoy-. thrown ont of
.-.,l,.,.,,ort sr "a most uupr0p.uous sea-
.-'', t,,+ e,-en they may find other SER
80 b., a. eouauy remuneratiye and
w. ,''',ar,ii,ire
leas az .r1.'',,.i,ia,s however. who have
Inc .A'eS ,,..@ ,.fiffons 10 the Legis-
begun 10 'llD"l".N ..,, ,a,,.l,. nf the