The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-24
RICH PURSES AND STAKES
OFFERED FOR THE RUNNERS
Scores of Stakes Handicap Erents Ranging Value from
$4,000 TO 100000 for Coming Season

riders by ''plungers'' got a severe check
when the Jockey Clubs stewards ruled OF
two three famous horsemen ana sus-
pended as many prominent jockeys for
giving and receiving presents.
The reform is here to stay. and the char
acter Of the men at the head of affairs has
caused many a man 10 invest i'm racers
who would never have done SO under the
old regime.
The owning of race horses has come TO
be recognized as a legitimate investment
and men to whom the sport has a fascina-
ton no longer have 20 hide their identity
In this respect as they formerly did.
The purifying OF the turf has caused more
rich men 10 engage in the spot. more racers
are being bred annually, more races are be-
ing held and more rsuple are attending the
meetings The result Is That there is
steady increase from ar TO year In the
value OF the purses and the stakes and
handicap events are growing in value an
nually.
The result of all this IS that there is
scarcely a week day rom che end OF the
year to another Whrn ruanjng horses are
not competing In geaae. section OF the coun-
try. From about ADrii IT. 'ec /. tracks
In New York State and IL Illinois, Ken
lucky and Tennessee and IN the District
Of Columbia have the call During the
winter months the climate II the South and
in California is such that races are held
during December, January, February ana
March at New Orleans and near San Fran
cisco and Los Angeles.
Many rich stakes. are decided In THIS
country every year Soma-of them are
hold words
For instance there are the BROOKLYN
handicap. the Suburban handicap, the Fp-
turity and the Brighton handicap, IN New
York State, each of which Is worth 10 me
winners from $4,000 10 10000 besides the
GRAND Republic, worth $4,000, which IS
competed for at Saratoga.
The richest event OF all Is decided IN
the middle West. This Is the Chicago
Derby. The value of this event last year
was $4,000. 1t will be worth more this
year and the aim OF the jockey club which
haa- Ia -. Ha 10 = q
valuable as the worldwide famous Eng
lish Derby. which is worth 10000
Then. too. there is the Worlds Fair
handicap. $4,000 event which viii be
decided at St. Louis this year.
Down in Kentucky, where every man
loves horse, some well-known events are
run annually. These are the KENTUCKY
Derby. the Oaks, the Clark stakes. the
Louisville cup and the Great American
stallion stakes.
The name derby" appears to have
fascination for horsemen. Latonia has It's
Derby. Tennessee DERBY Is well known and
California has instituted a classic event
which bears the same name.
In addition 10 all these. there are scores
OF events decided which are worth 10 the
winners from 5000 10 5000 while hum
dreds OF stakes and handicaps have guar
anteed value Of from ST. 500 TO SEQ.
With about 300 racing days IN the Unised
States, with six races 5sfng held daily on
from one TO four tracks. where the average
purse is worth from 800 to So. u can De
seen that the horse racing industry, II IN
H. AeuStI OF dying out.
IN idea OF the growth of the sport can
be gathered from the report Of the State
supervisor OF racing accounts OF New York
State for the year 1903 The various racing
associations in that State paid the New
York treasury last year $50. f4t.6s.
The report shows that New Workers paid
81 600 0gi lust TO see the sport of kings dur
ing the past seasoa. Sine iAQ5. when the
amount paid into tae Sfafe-va- s17.210.7t.
the amount IN tarcs ha ye 'y Increased.
The sum paid last year - So more than
IN 1902
This H. only a SAMPLE OK IL = with Of the
turf hfa tie past ten id IN -
every indication ti.st -isss~Wlll establish
another high water mark IN the point OF
attendance. and the value OF stakes. handi-
cap and purses.