The times., 1898-01-12
MAY PARDON THE OUTLAWS
Barksdale Talent Believe That
Jockey Club Will Be Lenient.
MANY of the Gutcasts are Anxious
20 Return-All Want CDahee
10 Race Honestly

New York. Jan lis the Jockey
Club contemplating a general pardon
for OUTLAW owners. trainers and rid
ers? is a question that is heard dozen
times a day at Barksdale. which is at
present the eNiles' scene Of operation
While the answer from the majority of
sources is a negative one, many claim
that the desired clemency viii be
granted
The average view of the situation IS
based more on hope than fact, but at
tbe same time there is considerable
that argues in favor of their confidence.
The turf powers have not officially helo
forth any reStorations TO the 1oiu, YET
in several cases where personal appn-
cation for restoration 10 favor has
been made replies that at least held
forth a ray OF nope for the pahlsiieo
one have been received.
When the stewards OF the Jockey
Club. at their recent meeting. refused
a.. refnstate Jockeys Brophy and Nc
,Yusl1v. few of those Interested lost
heart as the prevailing belief is that
if the sought-for clemency is granted
if viii come in the form OF Seneral
proclamation
II has been repeatedly claimed that
the main supporters of outlaw racing
were the outcaStS of the racing world
Facts fail to bear out Unese assertions.
There are. of course, many undesirable
factors, but the same can be SAID OF
the well-known figure Of the legitimate
tracks. MANY of those who have been
shining lights OF the Eastern turf for
years are far more unworthy oi the IL
cense they have been granted than the
majority of those who are today classsa
as outlaws
Get any of these supplicants TO tell
their story and your sympathy ls Won
Dozens who are now earning a hNlhS
at these tracks in Maryland were
few wears ago familiar figures on the
METROPOLITAN circuit Hard luck with
fheir horses and the few opportunities
for others but those of stake class,
soon nut them in debt There was but
one thing left for them to do-So where
their material could be used. 1t was
this or starvation.
Some believe that under these conul-
1icns they should quit the business. An
argument of this sort is RIDICULOUS
WHY should a man who has spent
lifetime on the turf, who has been rub
ber. exercise boy. jockey, trainer, ana
owner in turn. lose the result OF years
of hard work in acquiring the eNpe-
,-ienca that his craft calls Tor, SIMPLY
because fortune has refused TO smile on
him for a year or two? 1t Is not thal
his skill is less or his methods no longer
useful II is due to the material of his
stable. The ordinary mishaps of a race
horses career can make crippieS OF
what promised to be bread winners.
That there are many things about
outlaw racing which, in true love of
the sport. could not be tolerated, is ad-
mitted, but this state of affairs is due
to the attempts that have been made
to crush it
If the turf powers had devoted their
efforts to elevate it with the same
amount of energy that they have to
suppress il, it would to-day be a rec
ognized feature of the racing world 1T
has been without a head. 1t has been
harassed by State laws as well as turf
laws. and yet has prospered.
AS to the class of racing and the sup
port ii receives, many have an erro-
neous idea. There We're more people at
Barksdale on Saturday than there was
at either Bennings or Pimlico on any
day during their meetings last fall
The majority of the patronage comes
from Philadelphia. which means a trip
of forty-seven miles each way. The
tracks appointments are. of course,
crude, for their future is too uncertain
to warrant any great expenditure. Ii
would be difficult to imagine what the
support would be if racing of this sort
should be made a minor circuit, ruled
and controlled by turf powers.
1T would not be necessary to place
them on the standard of the big tracks.
but let the poor man have field Of op-
erations as well as the rich. To do this
would be simply justice, and the Jockey
Club can do so without much. if any,
loss of dignity.
Two years ago. when they wanted n
starter. and went into the outlaw ranks
for Tom Flynn. no one blamed them
No more would they We're they TO take
steps to control racing as a whole The
benefits that would come from such a
step are many. greatest of which would
be to thoroughbred breeding. the big
gast feature Of the turf interests.