The sun., 1898-01-11
OUTLAWS MAY Be PARDONE]
Some Reasons Why They Should
Be Admitted.
MANY EAGER TO RETURN.
Barksiale Talent Think That Jockey
Club Will Give Them Another
Chance.

The outlaws may have chance to rae
on the Jockey Club track in the nca
future, at least, that is the opinion OF
number Of leading sporting men. If sucl
should be he case, II will be appreciated
by them and the public in general, no
only in this vicinity but among thos,
who attend the racing east and west.
The average view of the situation il
based more on hope than fact, but at the
same time there is considerable that
argues in favor Of their confidence. The
turf powers have not officially held fortl
any rcstorationS to the fold, yet in scv.
eral eases where personal application fol
a restoration to favor has been made
replies that at least held forth Il ray ol
hope for the banished one, have been
received.
When the stewards Of the Jockey Club
at their recent meeting, refused to rein
state Joe keys Brophy and McClusky few
OF those interested lost heart, as the pre-
vailng belief is that if the sought for
clcmehcy is granted it will come in the
form of general proclamation
The writer has talked with many of
those who are awaiting some definite
information on the subject and the
eagerncss with which they look for a
chance to rc-cntcr the legitimate ranks
shows that at tie very first signal of a
truce they will fly to the standard from
which circumstances have forced them.
1t has been repeatedly claimed that
the main supporters Of outlaw racing
were he outcasts OF the racing world.
Facts fail to bear out these assertions.
There are, OF course, many undesirable
factors, but the same can he 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 of the
license they have been granted than the
majority OF those who are today classcd
as ''outlaws.'
A large number who are now racing
horses at these Maryland tracks, were
but few years ago the owners of large
stables OF thoroughbreds, which we're
very prominent ones on the Mctropol-
tan tracks, but through hard luck with
their horses, were forced to go where they
would not have to compete with stake
horses run in selling races, like some of
the big graballs have been known to
do. 1t was this or starvation.
Some believe that under these condi-
tions they should quit the business. An
argument Of this sort is ridiculous. WHY
should man who has spent a lifetime
on the turf, who has been rubber, exer-
else boy, jockey, trainer and owner in
turn, lose the result Of years of hard
work in acquiring the experience that
his craft calls for, simply because fortune
has refused to smile on him for a year or
two? 1t is not that his skill is less or
his methods no longer useful. 1t is due
to the material of his stable. The or
dinary mishaps Of a race horses career
can make cripples OF what promised to
be bread winners.
any one advise that he become a cob
bier? Why, then, should horse trainer
be forced to seek pastures new, because
circumstances forced him to Il field of
Is pirations where feed bills could be
[aid, and privaions averted?
That there are many things about out
aw racing which, in true love of the
sport, could not be tolerated, is admitted,
out this state OF affairs is due to the at
cmpts that have been made to crush it.
If the turf powers had devoted their
'fforts to elevate it. with the same
mount OF energy that they have to sup
press it, it would today be recognized
eature of the racing world. 1t has been
without a head. 1t has been harassed
~ State laws as well as turf laws, and
'et has prospcrcd.
As tot he class OF racing and the sup.
'ort it receives, many have an erroneous
dca There were more people at Barks
|alc on Saturday than there was at either
'cnnings or Pim|ico on any day during
heir meetings last fall.
The majority of the patronage comes
rom Philadelphia, which means Il trip
4 fouv-scven miles each way. The ,
racks appointments are, of course,
rude, for their future is too uncertain to
warrant any great expenditure. 1t would
" difficult to imagine what the support t
would be il racing of this sort should be /
made a minor circuit, ruled and con-
rolled by turf powers t
1t would not be necessary to place $
hem on the standard Of the big tracks, {
ut let the poor man have field of opcr- ,
ticns as well as the rich. TO do this i
;oSlId be simply justice. and the Jockey !
Tub can do so without much, if anv, +
'ss Of dignity. q