The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-12
RACES AND HORSES.
BY A. E. cAFFEE.

The fact that the great state fair of Alabama Is attracting attention and in- terest from the gulf at Mobile to the noble river on the north of our state, and even beyond these boundaries and the legal obstacles to full display of the wonderful resources of our state in the breeding and development of that sur passing equine celebrity-the American light harness horse in his highest state of perfeetlon-becomes more and more a pertinent subject for discussion in the highest and best sense of this attractive industry That we may judge of the im- portance attached to the breeding indus try in the oldest and most advanced of tho oldest of the American colonial pos~ sessions where more rigid interpreta- tion of the moral law has existed. I will recite a recent happening in tho old state of Massachusetts-of all others, the most exacting in it's attention to the moral education of it's youth Although the poverty of the breeding of the high-met- tied, pedigreed trotter of today, the pluck intelligence, wealth and industry of J. Malcom Forbes, William Russell Allen and scores of other naulti-millonaires have proved conclusively that the very highest state of perfection can be reach ed in the production of racing, road and matinee horses, with immense profits on those bleak hills. It seems that until re- gently one of the historic Blue laws against betting had existed in that state. but the material interests of the state, and that infatuation by society for the noblest of all sports, conspired to render the old law impotent and without force. A tornado from a clear sky or a tidal wave from a silent sea could not have come more unexpectedly than the an- nouncement last week from the superin- tendent of the police of the state of Massachusetts that he intended to en- force the anticipated law against betting at the race meeting. In his statement published, Chief Rufus R. White declares himself as follows: 'I have notified all the managers of the various race meet ings to be held that on no account will they be permitted to sell or have sold on their grounds pools on races, and will send my men to those tracks where pools have been sold in past years" Some years ago, no less personage than Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes, now on the bench of the supreme court of the United States, gave an opinion that bet ting on horse races does not come under
 
 to say unkind things about Chief Whites sudden determination to enforce an un- popular law which in the past he has al- lowed to be openly violated but that would accomplish nothing. Boston daily paper pertinently remarks that General Grant once said that the best way to get rid of a bad law was to enforce It. The first far-reaching result of Chief Whites action was that famous Saugus nrfxr norlr al Off last week, and the wealthy and power full New England Breeders association has declared all It's programme amount ing to $45 900 off this week, with the ex- ception of it's stakes and early-closing events, to which they were already com mitted and could not get released. What Saugus and Readville both suburbs of Boston, have already done will be fol- lowed by every other association in that state, and 1t Is now up to the promin- ent breeders and those interested in the industry to say what they will do. A distinguished New England writer once said that when he looked at all the narrow restrictive laws which had been passed by the descendants of the Pdri- tan fathers who landed at Plymouth Rock and reflected on all the misery, un- happiness and the retarding of material prosperity which those laws had caused, he eartily wished that when the landed on the rock, the rock should have re- versed itself and landed on them." But, it is passing strange that these rugged lovers of freedom who left their homes across the ocean for liberty's sake should as soon as they got here, begin 10 re- strict the freedom of others, and retard progress; and ridiculous as it appears, their descendants of today, in a meas ure, emulate the deeds of their sharp featured angular ancestors The wealthy horsemen and breeders of Massachusetts have the game in their own hands if they care to play it. The New England Breeders association is 8 stupendously wealthy organization, representing more than $300, 100000. and the majority of It's members and stock holders are citizens of Massachusetts. The Gentlemans Driving club and more than twenty of other kindred organizations have large and wealthy membership among the aristoc- racy of the state, and attest the gigan- tic political power of that guild. fiese membership lists can be largely aug mented, and judging from the indigna- ton expressed in the columns of their great daily and weekly journals, when the next election comes around their influence will be united, and will be quite sufficient to pass moderate, reasonable, mutually protecting and healthy racing law, which will enforce a decent regaAl for the proprieties and encourage the vast amount of labor and capital invested in this enterprise. What has been Hone in New York, with all it's far-reachng and systematic police regulations, will be done In Massachusetts. ana sooner or later. like all northern thrift ana pro- gress. 1t will extend throughout the south. Combination Is the rule today in all business and in politics, and 1t will be so in uniting the Sport of Kings the American gentlemans most attrac- tive pastime and amusement with the grandest and most profitable industry in