The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-21
The Legislature.
A RETURN TO POOLS
Why Bill to Encourage the Breed
ing Of Thoroughbred Horses
Is Opposed.
The Measure Provides for Running
Races and Pool-selling at
Hamline Tracks.

IL & 4
Under the euphonious title of "a bill
to encourage the breeding of thoroughbred
horses and to proYidet2for and regulate
tho holding of race meetings bill has
been introduced in the legisla turc to legal
ize pool selling and toHcompel the state
agricultural society to turn over the fair
grounds for several weeks each summer
Tor a series OF running races with all the
gambling attachments
The bill is III. F.. $751; by Mr.. Hanaford
1t sets forth the advantage that will come
from state encouragement Of the horse
breeding industry, and purports to be a
measure Tor the benefit of the fine stock
ra1sers OF the state. The bill is strongly
opposed, however, by the board of man
ayers OF the state fair, and it's supporters
at the capitol are not the leading horse
men of the state. They are reported to
represent a syndicate of Minnesota men
prominent in the sporting world, whose
representatives some time ago waited on
the state fair managers with a PROPOSE
t1on. They wanted the board to lease
them the fair grounds from June l to
about the middle of August, for a rental
OF $500, for the purpose of conducting
running races. They also wanted the
board to favor the repeal of the law which
prohibits pool selling. Of course, the
members of the board do not favor such
repeal. and refused the $500 earnest
money. They did not believe the history
OF the state fair encouraged a return to
the days OF running races and pool SELL
ing, and pointed out the fact that in 1898,
when the fair was conducted on this plan,
the receipts were only $4,000 while since
the fair has been conducted on a different
basis 1t has increased until last season
$lSO,O0O were taken in. Even if these
races were kept out of the regular fair
week program. the use of the grounds for
such purpose would discredit the fair
and cause falling off in attendance, so
the $500 was no inducement to them
The Representatives of the racing men in
bred horses were as much entitled to con-
sideration by the state fair, which is a
state institution, as the raisers of cat
tie or pumpkins.
This argument also failed, and they
then reversed it, threatening to knock out
the appropriation for the fair grounds on
the ground that the fair was not public
but private institution. The managers
held to their position, however, and neEp
| tiat1ons ceased. The bill introduced the
other day is an attempt to force the man
ayers to comply. s.... ~ -
No Runners Bred Here.
"The bill is against the interests of the
horse breeders of the state,' said prom
| inent breeder to T h Journal. "Pool
selling will not hurt them, but the bill
contemp,ates turning over to the run
ming horses the states valuable plant at
Hamline, which is doing great educational
work in the interests of high-bred trot-
! ting horses. There are no running horses
bred in Minnesota, and the horse breeders
| of the state do not care to handle them
The ~bill attempts to crowd something
down the state fair management that
they do not want, and do not believe il
! will pass
1t might be added that the races, as
conducted at the fair, without any book
making and pool-selling attachments, an6
strictly on the square, have given to Ham.
| line: track such a reputation for fair deal
Fins and legitimate contests of speedath
u the best horses come TO that track iron
Ian parts of the country, and record made
there is now worth something to- any
breeder. No record made on pool-sell
ing track Is worth anything.
1t IS morally certain that, the bill viii