The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-06-05
STOPS SHORT.
CROOKED RACING PLAYS OUT.
The Outlaw Track at Iron Hill Closes
Down Because of Poor Patronage.

Owing to the poor patronage. the Oriole
Racing Association announced on Thursday
that its outlaw track at Iron Hill would close
down for an indefinite period. The news was
unwelcome to most of the horsemen who have
been living from hand to mouth for some time
past. and who are now stranded here with
neither dollar nor a chance to gain one.
The present Iron Hill track has 13 days yet
upon which it is privileged to race, but it is
the opinion generally that there will be no
more racing at Iron Hill until the fall The
Singerly track operated by the Burns people,
has l6 days yet to race in 1897, but whether
those days will be used before the fall is vet
to be determined. Track No. 2 at Iron Hill
has 80 days coming, but to hear the horsemen
talk in ElktOn, it would seem that the Iron
Hill management is unpopular, not only with
them but with the public. The purses there
were recently reduced from Il $3.50 to $780,
and everything was done in the way of reduce
ing the daily expenses to keep the meeting
ailoat but without avail. Outlaw racing is
fast playing out here of its own rottcnness
and the shutting down at Iron Hill was not IL
SUI l'lISt tlt'Stlu'l. TOI Sblut uHNS past II
has been known that the affair was hanging
by its eyebrows At present it looks as though
the next race meeting in the county would be
the Elkton Fair in September. which has four
days, the track having already been operated
26 days this year. The last meeting in Elkton
was outlaw in all the term implies, and the
better class of horsemen We're free to denounce
the way in which it was carried on by the
association that mad leased it.
Most of the horsemen, to say nothing Of the
touts and hangers on are in Elkton practi-
cally without II penny, and just what is to
become OF the horses that are quartered
throughout this section is Il serious matter.
There is no track for them to race upon
now, and if kept here they will eat their heads
off Many Of the horses are OF but little value
having been broken down by hard and con-
tinuous racing and frequent doping and
those which are valuable have mostly been
gotten away some days sincc-ther owners
forseeing the finish here.
There have been 293 days of this alleged
sport in Cecil county and the people are
about of the opinion that it has been enough
for 293 years.
Since racing began in this county the meet
ings have been as follows:
lS06-EIkton, 26 days: Barksdale, 80 days;
Iron Hill, No. track 30 days: Iron Hill, No.
track, 30 days: Iron HILL No. track, 30
days; SingerIy, 30 days.
1897 -Barkslale, 30 days: Iron Hill. No. 3
track 30 days; EIktou, 2G days; Singerly, ii
days Iron Hill. No. truck, II days. Total,
293 days.
In speaking of the cosng OF the Iron Hill
meeting the Philadelphia Record pertinently
remarks: ASIDE from the distress that must
naturally ensue. few will regret that the cur
tain has fallen on campaign of crookedness
that has disgraced the American turf"
The report was current on the street yes
terday, that an effort would be made to start
races at Singery, on Monday next.