The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-27

EASTERN JOCKEY CLUB AIMS
TO ANNEX CANADIAN TRACKS
In the Future Buffalo Association VIII Ask TO OPEN Spring
Meeting on Memorial Day.

NEW YORK, Dec pa story re-
Gently published in this city of what looked
to be a vast Belmontane scheme of turf
conquest. 1t was assumed 20 have national
limitations, but it appears TO possess
larger horizon. Not merely is the turf OF
the United States to be merged into one vast
trust, 10 be controlled and ruled, like the
political aggregations of the States. from
Washington, but the enterprise is to include
the continent. The Jockey Club will exert
controlling influence. through one vast
merger, from Panama TO the pole. This
much only has recently been disclosed.
through what may have been an inadver-
tency committed by one of the high turf
magnates of the New York Jockey Club.
The idea is sublime, and, doubtless, will
meet with obstacles more formidable. per
haps, through a premature accidental dis
closure, but nevertheless must succeed, un-
less there should be a radical upheaval,
widely extending revolution of the noncon-
forming conscience. which certainly is not
in sight at present.
After becoming firmly established, legally,
in this State. the turf octopus stretched its
arms first toward the capital. Other private
turf enterprises there were crushed through
. ence inspired by Bennings influence. and
then Bennings quietly proceeded to establish
itself, soon becoming not merely tolerated
but strong and fashionable and patronized
by government officials of all branches
New Orleans occupies a peculiar strategic
turf position, as ii always has commercial
ly. Successive private or proprietary at
tempts to establish winter racing there had
Deen written of failures. Then Bush,
once the boss gambler of the Southwest,
TOOK hold. Jockey Club influence went to
MIN from the first and success became as
sured The Crescent City Jockey Club from
the hrst took a unique position among the
racing associations of the Mississippi valley.
NomlnaIly under the authority of the West
ern Jockey Club it was really jockey club
OF Its own, taking such dates as il pleased,
racing more than one hundred days each
winter and conducted by the most important
onclals OF the New York Jockey Club.
mus, practically. il was an annex of the
New York Jockey Club, and. from its geo
graphical location, controlled the race
tracks of the entire middle West The
Western Jockey Club could not outlaw il
no matter what it might do in its relation to
other Western tracks
Next came Buffalo With this strategic
point occupied and properly fortified turf
expansion would possess the "elboWs of the
Mlneio, about which Hurlbert wrote so
lucldly IN connection with the sweet in
nuences OF spring" and the East and Mid
ole west might be regarded as New York
Jockey Clu5 territory the mythical eighty
/
Louis XIV thought he had disposed of the
Pyrenees. Other private and proprietary
enterprises, as at Washington, and in one
instance by the same parties. had at
tempted turf establishment at Buffalo and
falled The Engemans lost $4,000 there in
one season. A track was started across
the river at Fort Erie, on Canadian ground
and this enterprise dragged out a miserable
existence, half or quite outlaw, not paying
It's obligations to the horsemen even for
purses won. Then George " Hankins of
Chicago, appeared He had been a practical
horseman, interested pecuniarily in race
tracks. was hustler and a talker, and
through his exertions Kenilworth Park
took its inception. The Buffalo appetite for
racing had been fleshed, Buffalo had seen
the increase of business brought into the
city through the Engeman meeting, and it
required little argument to induce people
10 put up the capital for a new, first-class
racing plant.
NEW TRACK OPENED.
With formidable array of first citizens
officials and Hankins as manager. the
new track was opened. The Jockey Club
looked coldly upon it, and the enterprise
failed. The property went into the hands
| Of receiver, not even all the horsemeu
having been paid the purses they had won.
| and the plant was sold at auction. the
| Jockey Club turning up as the purchaser
and assuming all obligations unnet to date
Of acquisition. Thus the cuckoo found an
other nest ready made. All the Jockey
CLUBS influences, pecuniary and moral,
were brought to bear to make the meeting
| that followed success from the start-big
| stakes, wholesome overnight events and
| the horses of the magnates and fashionable
| owners of the New York track drafted 10
make the fields inpOsingly first-class. How
| land, the head man of Bennings, was put
| in charge and whether the balance has
| been on the right side of the ledger or not
| thus far makes no difference. The Kenil-
worth track is part of the Jockey Club
and is at Buffalo to stay. Belmont is the
Bismarck of the extension of racing
| empire, and Rowland is Mis- Won Motke
| Nobody but the most far-seeing persons
| thought, while KeniwOrth was being reha-
| bilitated and made part of the extension OF
| racing in the State, that the Belmontane
| regime had any designs on the racing integ-
| rity of the Dominion itself. Strategists
| noted, thoughtfully and suggestively thai
/ I'D Il AZ Il U 10 u L L I. u l. l.