Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-02
IOWA SPORTS TALK
Outlook For the Horse Racing
Game In Iowa During the
Coming Season
MASON CITY FOR THE CIRCUIT.
csrro eordo County Seat Wants a
place With Other Cities in Cedar
Valley circuit-Would Begin Season
Latereood Suggestion as to Open
ina Point of Central Location.
MASON CITY FOR THE CIRCUIT.

later-Cood Suggestion as 10 wv"
ina Point of Central Location.
With reference to the racing outlook
in Iowa the Horse Review is authority
for the following:
Recently there has been more or less
favorable talk among active harness
.horsemen. mostly members of the biz
matinee club at Mason City. with 4
view of reviving regular racing at tha'
point. If this current gossip should
finally result in effecting an organiza-
ton that would father the movement
as now seems likely, the meetings
would undoubtedly be given over the
old half mile track, which is kept II
good shape by the Driving Club, whiie
the mile track. which was quite prom
inent a dozen years ago and Is wlthiat
the same enclosure as the half-mi.e
co, Sc. has not been kept in repair for
several seasons.
Another reason for attempting reg
ular race meeting over the hali-miie
track is, that a majority of the meet
ings In that section are over mar -Hli.e
tracks; hence horses that are cam
paigned over, that class of tracks are
more available. The only chances for
giving a meeting at Mason City over
the mile track would be If compact
In the way of dates, etc, could pc
made with Davenport. Freeport. III.
and Hamline, Mimi, which are about
the only mile tracks in the same gen
eral section that give annual meet
ings of mile track caliber. This re-
suit is, however, quite improbable Tor
the Immediate future.
In this connection it may also be
we'll to state that there is not the
slightest likelihood of racing being re-
vived at Mason City, even over the
half mile track, unless membership
and dates could be secured in the &C.
dar Valley Circuit. The location Of
Mason City is practically in the center
of the group of towns and cities in that
circuit, and shipping to and from Ma
son City from several of the points ~
that well-established chain of meet
ings would be short and cheap. IT IS
currently reported IN northern 1owa
harness horse circles that the sub
stantial Mineral City Park Association.
AT Fort Dodge. desires to secure menu
bership in the Cedar Valley Circuit
and if Mason City and Fort Dodge
could be added to that circuit the cham
L. H.. NOD
Among the present membership nj
the Cedar Valley Circuit there is u
favorable feeling that the opening
should not be quite so early as 1t has
been of late years, the last week N
May. but about the second week II
June or even the third. Another poins
in the direction OF rearrangement Of
that popular circuit. which has at
least some strong adherents among the
members, IL it is not unanimously IA
vored lis to practically reverse the
opening and closing ends. This looks
g very plausible contention: in fact.
seems perfectly natural. and should.
if 1t could be brought about. prove of
much practical value TO all concerned.
Instead of beginning as has be=n
the practice to begin. at the farthes.
northern points located more remote
for the horses that are most likely To
be ready for early racing, the beginning
point should certainly be at one of the
southern points, Oskaloosa being the
most natural from n geographical point
of view. If this change could be brought
about at the forthcoming annual mee,-
ing of the members. and then either
n late enough opening date agreed up
on or sufficient membership enrollei
TO fill all the weeks from the opening,
till the Iowa state fair at Dies Moines.
which comes the last week in August.
the best half-mile track circuit in the
entire country would be the result.
Then to further clinch the claim of the
proposed new Cedar Valley Circuit on
campaigning owners and horses, the
circuit managers and Iowa state far
PEOPLE should get together and the las-
ter become member of the Cedar Val
ley Circuit. which would certainly he
for their mutual good. Alta. where
good association annually gives a
fine meeting prior to the state fair.
might be easily included in the cir
cult.
Following the example of the Central
Missouri Circuit, 1t might also be of
marked advantage to enlarge the
purses from the 5000 notch to at least
$500, If not even better. $500 size, anu
thus by offering the increased purses
easily get more horses and stimulate
new interest.
Saved From Terrible Death.
The family of Mrs. NJ. l.. Bobbitt. of
Bargerton, Tenn say her dying and