The morning times., 1896-01-14

As the time for the Washington Jockey
Clubs spring meeting draws near the pros
poets of Washingtonians once more being
| treated to high class racing, such as they
witnessed in the days when Ivy City was
in its glory, grow brighter.
The travesty on racing that has been fur-
uished by the merry-go-rounds across the
river have thoroughly disguised all lovers
of true sport The lax methods of conduct
ing those places, the corrupt, dishonest
class of horsemen that gathered there and
dragged in the dust the sport OF kings,
until the very idea of witnessing a morse
race that was conducted on sportsmaniike
, lines was all but given up by the citizens
of The District.
The Benning meeting will be The open
ing wedge toward this reform. lhat III
will be an unqualified success is all nut
assured by the standing of those who are
interested both financially and morally III
the welfare of not only the coming meeting,
but the many that will beyond doubt
he held there in the future.
The Times saw Mr.. S. s. Howland, the
president and Mr.. Ben. HELEN, the secretary
and treasurer r of the club, at the Metropolitan
Club last night, and when spoken 10 re-
garding the interview with District At
torny A. A. Birney, which was published
in The Evening Times few days since,
they said there would positively be no
public betting allowed upon the grounds
of the Benning course.
UNLAWFUL BETTING.
I'VE will conform in the minutest par
liCular" said Mr.. Howland, with the laws
Of the District as regards betting and book
making. Far from having any idea OF at
tempting TO break these laws in any way
whatever we will take pains to have them
enforced.
II understand perfectly he said, 1.-The
text OF these Ia ws and the act under which
betting was prohibited at Benning's. We
Go not wish To have any booknlaking upon
the track ana will use every means in cur
power to see that no passage Of money is
made within the grounds at any time.
"Of course we shall not attempt 10 pro-
hibt betting between private individuals.
1t would be too much Of a task in the first
place, and in the second. as far as l can
Judge. it will not be an infringement of the
laws of the District. The plan In vogue in
the State of New Y ork during the racing sea-
son last year raised the tone Of the sport
in that State to a higher level than it has
attained since the days of jerome Park.
UNDER JOCKEY CLUB RULES.
I'VE intend to hold this meeting under the
laws and supervision of the Jockey Club
Their officials will preside a Benning and
so long as we conform to the rules of that
body do not see how we can meet with
any opposition from the local authorities.
Indeed on the other hand, il is within the
bounds of reason to suppose that we will
be entitled TO their hearty support.
.One of our principal motives in not open
ing the track last spring was the fact that
Congress was not then in session. We
want to show these legislators that racing
can be conducted on a plan that is alb
solutely free from Objectionable features.
believe that in the course of a few years
the sport will be conducted throughout the
country upon lines similar 10 those in vogue
in New York and which will prevail at
Benning.
Could Il bill be passed through Congress
tomorrow allowing the booknla kers to con-
duct operations upon the old plan the stock
holders of the Washington Jockey Club
would not give such a measure moments
consideration. To do so would be to go
backward. We do not intend TO do this.
We are working for the future OF the sport,
not for any present gain. financially or
otherwise that may he derived from it.
DECAY OF THE SPORT.
Throughout the country racing has suf-
Tered terribly during the past few years
from legislation arising from the contin-
Ial warfare between those interested in
aIf .f,
only interest was one of dollars and cents.
THE latter class had attempted to re-
duce what was once sport to mere money
making scheme, and not satisfied with
a reasonable return for their money, they
considered il a hardship if they did not
clear from fifty to hundred per cent
profit. This state of affairs naturally re-
acted upon themselves, aud driven from
pillar to post racing interests in the West
is tottering upon its last legs.
"If these Western legislators can see a
meeting conducted at Benning such as 1t
is proposed TO hold there it viii be the
saving of the Western tracks. They will
return TO their native States with the con-
viction that the only manner In which rae
ing can be conducted is under the condi-
tons that govern the sport under the con-
troll of the Jockey Club, and sooner or
later the Western States will al be hav-
ing the same high class sport.
Don't imagine, however, that this meet
ing at Benning Is meant in any sense
for the 400 alone. 1t is intended to attract
The masses. and the admission fees will
be set in accordance with this idea. There
are hundreds upon hundreds OF people in
Washington who have entirely stopped
going to the races during the past few
years owing to the Objectionable features
that were encountered. most of which had
birth in the betting ring
VIRGINIA TRACKS MAY FIGHT.
Mr.. HELEN is hard at work upon the
program for the meeting. and hopes soon
10 have it ready. Work has not yet been
started upon the buildings and stables at
the track, but Mr.. Gorman has arrived upon