The Butte inter mountain., 1902-08-16
WILSON SAYS He HAS ENOUGH
President OF Montana Jockey Club Will Retire
at the Close Of This Season--Does Not
Believe Racing Will Go Here.

an order to induce some Of the best
stables to come here we had to guarantee
a length of time for the meeting, and to
guarantee the purses also. 1t was impos-
sible to get good horses here unless such
guarantees we're made, and we had to
guarantee the time in order to give the
owners a chance to accimate their strings.
Never Again.
"I am satisfied we will never be able to
get the same class of horses again and l
don't think any one else will try to do
what we have done. For this reason /
think there will be no more high class
racing in Montana for years to come.
I'VE have labored under heavy handi
cap during this meeting which is not fully
realized by the public. As I said, it is
impossible to get people in Montana to
pay an admission to see racing, no matter
how good it be. They won't pay an admis-
sion and it is impossible to carry or high
class meeting without admission being
charged.
I'VE have been struggling along with
out admission at the gate and without en-
trance fees and yet we are carrying on the
same class of racing as is being given in
the big cities. where they take in $4,000
day for admissions alone. II we could
have even $1,000 or $4,000 in gate receipts
each day we would get along swimmingly
and could carry on the best racing for all
indefinite number of years, even if the
poolrooms TIP town did run.
"Qf course, 1t is the uptown poolrooms
which have done US as much harm as any
thing else. With the poolrooms running
consider that we have been too heavily
handicapped The play that went into the
poolrooms belonged to the track. especially
when we were charging no admission prac-
ticaly, so that we lost much that really
belongs TO the track and which other tracks
over the country secure
For Love OF Sport.
81 took hold Of the racing this year
again. not with the idea of making any
money but more because | am fond of the
sport and love horses. love horse racing
and wanted to see Butte have frst-class
meeting, believing as I did that the best
support would be given us. But | was mis-
takeii and when this meeting is over, l
am through with that sort of racing.
No, we are not going to lose anything
to speak Of on this meeting We will get
through all right think. Considering the
conditions of the town and the further
fact that the poolrooms were running up-
town we have got along splendidly.
There are many OF the horsemen who
are anxious that the racing be continued
for two or three weeks after our announced
date of closing. We have given no answer
as yet and the continuance will depend
upon the patronage between now and Sep,
ten'ber !. II the patronage warrants it,
we will extend the meeting a couple of
weeks i'll order to satisfy the horsemen.
The Anaconda meeting has been aban-
doncd.
viii Fulfill Obligation.
AS | have SAID before, the class of
racing has been of the best and will
compare with the racing on any track
in the country We have with us one
OF the best track officials in America
and we are paying them just as much
as any track in the country is paying.
Way up here in Butte we have given just
as much as the tracks in large cities
with no gate receipts. Anybody can fig
IRE that out for themselves.
There is no member of the associa-
ton who is complaining and we will
carry out every agreement made. We
VIII carry out the program we promised
the horsemen and will pay all purses
III inll just exactly as we agreed to do,
but it is the final action with us so far
as Montana is concerned.
After we have closed this meeting
we will go out of the public racing meet
,ngs and hereafter | think they will run
IN the brush for Butte"