Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-09-10
WHITNEY'S NEW MOVE
MilIionaire's Plan to Make Sara
toga Popular For Youth.
WILL FORM A POLO ORGANIZATION

"ASneb tnc springs TO Become a
Center For All Kinds of HeaIthfuI
Recreation lis Greatly Interested
In Young aIen-TaIk of His Invest
ments.
Mr.. William c. Whitney, the famous
turfman, spoke Interestingly of his
Saratoga plans to n reporter of the New
York Herald recently. He said:
eve hope to make Saratoga the popu-
lar resort Cat it should be. This has
been the most prosperous year in the
history of Saratoga, and the race meet
ing that has just closed has been the
pleasantest and the most successful
that 1 have ever attended. 1t is my
experience that no sport stands we'll if
isolated. That was recognized as a
fact in the early days. Adjoining Jer-
ONE park a field was set apart for
polo. The unselfish interest of its
latrons made it possible for the polo
venture TO succeed. Outdoor sport,
claiming the interest of young men,
takes them out of the saloons, the bar
rooms. billiard parlors and other places
of like resort and gives them anathletic
condition which we all admire.
Il take l.. Ich pleasure in the society
of young men. l like to see them enjoy
themselves. especially when that enjoy
ment is taken in the manner that in
creases their physical, mental and moral
well being, so when l came TO Sara
toga this year l was led. without pre-
meditation on my part, TO make the
moves that l have made here. One
cay, after the races. 1 suggested to my
son that we should drive over to the
polo grounds. He was dressed in a
light suit and was not intending to take
any part in the game. but after spend
ing n few moments as a spectator
he climbed down to the ground and
said that if he could borrow a pony he
would play. He did borrow pony
and played. and when he went back to
the United States hotel that night he
locked like tramp, but he was happy
and so was L. He took n new interest
in Saratoga. He found that there We're
ways here of enjoying himself. a new
resource had been added.
''AIr. August Belmont played polo
that same day. and as l watched the
game l made up my mind that if Sara
toga was to be made a resort worthy
of it's natural resources something
must be done TO diversity the interests.
1t was then determined in my mind
that l would assist polo as an auxiliary
To racing. Now we have tennis courts,
golf links and polo grounds, which in
a way, | believe. account for the sue
cess that has attended the races.
Il do not wish to be misunderstood
in this matter. / lay claim TO no credit
for what has happened. My invest
ments made in Saratoga have been
small. and if a selfish view is taken of
them they have all been dictated by
business interests. l found that the
polo club owned an option on one-half
of the field. Clearly it was a mistake to
control only One-half of the property, so
l purchased the other half and then
took up the option that the boys held.
1t would prove a paying venture if we
chose to make IL so. An organization
will be formed. and interest bearing or
INCOME bonds may be issued.
"Seeing the prospect of future sue
cess in racing at Saratoga, | purchased
property directly west of the track and
informed the members of the associa-
ton that when they got ready to use'it
they could have it at the price l paid
for It. l presume the track will be en-
larged. and then this property that L
have purchased will come into good
use"
AS the numbers went up Mr.. Whit
ney stopped and picked up from the
floor of the clubhouse balcony a wax
match that some one had dropped. This
he carefully placed in his matchbox,
remarking in half sorrowful, Il had
that winner marked on my programme
and really expected the race to finish
as it did. but L couldn't wager against
my friend.
"Precedents." continued Mr.. Whit
ney. gave us several hard problems to
solve. 1t was our desire that the club
house should be used by ladies. but
many feared that the Objectionable ele-
ment would keep them away, and we
did not know just how to deal with the
problem. As often happens. it solved
itself. a cottage near at hand was OBJ
tanned and fitted up for the use of the
ladies. There they can remove their
wraps and then come to the clubhouse.
The first day we had nucleus here of
just the right sort. The next day there
We're more. The persons whose pres
ence we did not care for found the
clubhouse uncongenial and took them
selves over TO the grand stand, where
they now occupy boxes.
Naturally 1 am much pleased with
the success of Saratoga. Next year
there will be a larger attendance of
those we most desire to See here The
outside resources will be developed. in
creasing the attractiveness of the place.
There will be more of pole. more of ten
mis- and more of golf. and the racing
will be still better than it has been this
year."
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