The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-28
WILL Be A CIRCUIT
SOUTHERN CITIES COMBINE TO IN
SURE GOOD RACES.
WILL MEAN MORE HORSES.
FOR THE CITIES THAT ARE COM
PRIsED IN THE CIRCUIT.

Representatives of the Fair and
Racing Associations of Savannah,
Atlanta aud Jacksonville Met in
Savannah Yesterday-Agreed TO
Combine in Advertising the Cir
cult Formed by the Three Cities,
Rather Than TO Advertise the
Races of Each Place singIy-Other
Cities May Join the Circuit-Mr. II.
ii. Martin of Atlanta Discusses the
Advantages of Such n Plan.
Mr. T. II. Martin Of Atlanta, secretary
of the Southern Interstate Fair Associa-
ton; Mr.. e. r. Dalton of Jacksonville,
president of the Jacksonville Driving
Club, and Mr.. James C. Shaw of Savan-
nah, secretary of the Savannah Fair AS
scciation. by which the State Fair will be
given at Savannah next fall, met in Sa-
vannah yesterday to consider the organ
ization of a racing circuit. 1t was thought
that representatives of the fair or racing
associations of Columbia Charleston,
Valdosta and Waycross would be pres
ent but they did not put in an appear
ance.
The three gentlemen and President
George w. Owens of the Savannah Fair
Association consulted about the best
plans for the organization of a circuit.
Mr.. Martin said afterwards that no def
mite organization had been effected, but
that enough had been done to show that
this could be brought about BY CORE
~. 60 ,,
nah and Jacksonville far better races
than they might have were it not for an
agreement as to circuit advertising that
was practically accepted.
If other cities care to share in the bene-
frs that will accrue from the plan that
has been determined upon, they will be
admitted into it. The more that get in,
the better will be the results Mr.. Martin
said, though Atlanta, Savannah and Jack
sonville will afford quite enough in the
way of attractions to owners of strings
of racing horses to bring many of them
from the North.
Our object" said Mr.. Martin, was
practically accomplished. The plan will
be perfected by correspondents, so that
there will be no necessity for a further
meeting of representatives of the asso-
Citations. Atlanta. Savannah and Jackson
vile, If no other cities enter into the
agreement, will decide upon what pro-
portion of cost of advertisement should
be borne by each, and then the papers
that reach the racing centers will be Civ
en- announcements of she meet that will
be held upon the circuit comprised by
these three cities. so far as the racing
is Concerned, the advertisement will be
for the benefit of the circuit, and not for
ritN anil
the advantage. as there will be no con-
fiict of dates, and the horses that appear
at one city for the races will be at each
of the others.
THE advantage of the circuit will be
that owners of racing horses, nearly all
of the best of whom are at the North
will feel more disposed to send repre-
sentatives of their stables to Atlanta, for
instance when they know that the $4,000
purses hung up for the races there will
be supplemented by other generous purses
at Savannah and Jacksonville. There will
be more in such an arrangement to at
tract them and to make them feel that
ii may be worth while for then, 90 ship
all the way to the South. If there were
TO be but one meet, they might not care
to undertake such a long trip. The pos
sibility of their winning purses might not
be regarded as sufficiently strong to in
duce them to bear such expense for trans
portation."
Mr.. Martin met a number of the Sa-
vannah gentlemen connected with the
Fair Association He has had wide ex-
perence with fairs and expostions, and
the information he was able to give them
will doubtless prove valuable. He was
entertained at the Oglethorpe Club and
by Mr.. Owens before leaving last night
for Atlanta.
From their conversation with Mr.. Mar
tin, the Savannahians gathered that the
racing feature of the State Fair should
certainly be made at least self-support-
ing. The 5000 offered in purses. provided
that amount is definitely agreed upon.
should be easily regained through the en-
trance fees charged for pacing and troJ-
ting events. admissions to. the grandstand,
the added admissions to the Fair grounds
because of the races and the sale of priv
ileges to the bookmakers. For the run
ming races no entrance fees are demanded,
Mr.. Martin said, the associations being
always glad enough to get the running
stock to attend. Only at New Orleans is
a fee ever charged, and that is because
so many horses gather there every win
ter that there would be too many entries
unless the $40 entrance were demanded
n