The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21
HOT SPRINGS WILL
OPEN THURSDAY
NEW TRACK WILL BE OPENED.
BARNS ARE CROWDED WIFE
HORSES AND MORE WANT ROOM.

Great Resort Is Filling Up With
HOrsemen and Sporting Men-Indi-
cations Are That the Meeting VIII
he a Great Success-POoI Rooms
VIII Close During the Time the
Track Is Operating-Great Gather
ing of Sports Promises to Make
Betting ON the Runners Lively.
Hot Springs, Ark. Feb. 2O.-The first
racing meet ever conducted by the Hot
Springs Jockey Club will offer its initial
card to the public Thursday afternoon.
In anticipation of this event the hotels
and boarding houses of the city are
filled, and the track is crowded with
thoroughbredS. Others unable to secure
stable room at the plant are clamoring
for a chance, notwithstanding the fact
that more than 100 extra stalls had to
be erected this past week to provide for
those who had been promised room.
Every indication now points to the
meeting being an actual success. The
racing will be conducted under the SUI
pervision of Judge Joseph A. Murphy,
presiding in the stand; Walter O. Par
mer, associate judge, and Mars Cassidy
starter.
The betting ring of New Orleans will
be rivalled, as conducted with the pres
ence of the numerous get-rich-quick
men at the opening last season. John
]. Ryan, who made things so lively
then and later in the East, will head the
procession with two books. Kid Weller.
of the 1902 big store fame in the East.
will be in line with his usual liberal
prices and extravagant nerve. Leo
Mayer, known throughout the East and
West, will have board up, along with
those of Chambers & Walker, John
Carney, Billy Walsh, Frank Ianter-
man, Joe Yaeger and Others from the
coast, and such other locals as will be
in line.
The closing of the pool rooms will
throw the 500 to 1000 patrons of these
places to the track. The majority of
the number will be heavy bettors. The
class OF owners are men who are able
to bet, for the most part, and bet lib
orally.
In addition to conducting the Ken
lucky Club pool room, which he re-
oSn'AJ tooh charge Oh, hld" Weller
| VIII make big feature, play or nav
book on the Montgomery Handicap,
the American Derby, Harlem Ma
| tlonal, Suburban and Brooklyn Handi-
caps and other big events, from here.
Later he will move his HEADQUARTERS
| to Chicago. His liberality in these
books last year was marked, and in
duced large play. On one bet to E.
II. Smathers he lost $780, and holds
| a TQPpi Mad ri En-.
Charley Ellison, the blonde plunger.
was an arrival of the week He comes
| from New Orleans, where he has been
| racing during the season. His horses
have been shipped to Montgomery
| Park, and will be prepared for the
Memphis meeting by ]. p. Mayberry,
his trainer. Ellison will remain here
until that meet opens, when he will
| go over and watch his horses try for
| stakes and purses.
| Bat Masterson of Wild West fame
arrived early in the week. The old
| sport is in fine spirits and was busy
for two days receiving welcomes from
| the many friends he has at the Springs.
With all the good words were mixed
not a few gatherings as to his visit
at the White House.
| In the matter of sheltering baseball
| players Hot Springs is making even
a new record this season. John j. Nc
! Graw, long since began his winter
work here and has announced he will
| remain until time to meet his men in
| Savannah. Mike Donlin of the Gin
| cinnati Reds has been here a few
weeks. Eagle Eye Beckley formerly
of this team; Dan Mccain of New
York, Jack O'Connor, Jimmie Burke,
Jack Taylor, Otto Kruger and Weldon
Henley-all major leaguers-are in the
bunch. Chris Chic. a former Southern
League umpire, is also here. Weldon
Henley, the former Southern star now
with Connie Mack, had his bride with
him. He will return the coming week
to Atlanta, Ga, and coach the Tech
School team. The Pittsburg Nationals
will come down next month for three
paak,s training