The Washington times., 1906-11-13
BENNING IN DANGER
AS RACING CENTER
Adverse Decision in Davis
Case May Cause New
Track to Be Built.
COMING MEETING is SAFE
Washington Jockey Club Officials Say
Events Win Be Run OF Ire
spective of BOokmaking.

Wih racing at Benning be a thing OF
the past if the courts decide in the
Davis case, which comes up today,
that bOOkmaking. as il is carried on
there now. is Illegal?
This question is agitating the horse
men and bettOrs around Washington
10 an unusual degree. and many freely
predict that the famous course will
never see another meeting after that
which Is scheduled TO begin next Fri
day. There were some who predicted
that even the coming meeting would
not be finished. but that If betting were
suppressed the dates could be trans
ferred TO the Pimlico track. outside Of
Baltimore.
The officials OF the washington Jockey
Club deny emphaucalIy that there is
any danger of the comi-g racing not
being held. and say that the Jockey
Club, which refuses to take official cog
nizance OF bookmaking, viii order the
program 10 be run or each day, ire
spectiVe of what may happen 10 those
who are daring enough 10 lay odds.
Danger Is Serious.
That bookmakIng is in serious danger
here is well understood. The sad fate Of
the handbook men, who We're jaCked up
some months ago and sent to jail, is
still in mind, and martyrs 10 the Cod
dess Chance, while willing To pay any
thing reasonable in the way OF fines in
order 70 give tine law a thorough test
are not anxious TO monkey with the
clause in the statute which the District
Attorney thinks applicable To Benning
and which sets forth in siCltening detail
how the daring peuciler may be given
job TOR as Ions as five years at MAX
ing big stones into Nttle ones. Some
Of the bookmakers assert with great heat
that before submitting to such an inCig-
nifty they viii go TO work for weekly
wages instead OF yearly board
The Washington Jockey Club officials
will not say what steps they will take
about racing here next spring if book
making is summarily crushed. That
racing without booking is not profitable
and can hardly expect 70 live was con-
CiusiVely shown IN and around Chicago,
and in 81. Louis 10 say nothing OF call
ing of the big harness races N New
England this summer because the pool
sellers were chased 10 the woods by the
reformers.
Maryland the Hope.
Maryland is the hope of the racing
contingent in this section. The game is
fourishinE in that state. and no serious
attacks have been made upon 1t recent
". The Maryland Jockey Club is now
preparing to build a splendid plant at
Halethorpe. to take the place of the
PimIicO track, upon which the lease
has expired and which viii soon be cut
up into building lots.
There has been much talk about the
possibility OF the Washington Jockey
Club Joining with the Maryland jockey
Club at HalethoTpe, sharing the cost
and the dates. and, by taking the scene
of action far enough from the city Of
Washington, remove many OF the oh
1ecti0ns To the game which are now
urged here by merchants and others,
who claim that their business suffers
while the bargtails are pranCing- This
scheme s. considered a good one by
those who have not penny invested in
hind the finances In the two clubs VIII
not say what is gCing 10 happen.