New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-23
RACING In AMERICA.
The Groscth of the Turf from Early
Colonial DaUS.

Although horse racing is the sport of kings Of
late It has fallen in evil lines. In most of the
states OF the Union 10 IS unlawful to bet races,
and therefore races are not run, Tennessee Is the
last state to Put up the legal bars but IN that
case an attempt will be made to have meets with
out betting. Missouri, Illinois and Indiana had a
hard fight to enforce the anti-racetrack gambling
laws. but they enforced. and in those states
racing Is no more.
In only eight states is racing carried on
this refers 20 running races of course-but there
are few others where racing is legal and may
be instituted AT any time In New York. Ken
lucky Louisiana, California, Oregon. Montana
Maryland and the District Of Columbia ara now
the cities of refuge for the ponies the jockeys
and the touJs. In Massachusetts there are the
steeplechases WHICH great annual events IN
Pennsylvania and Delaware there is an effort be-
ing made to get laws which will permit racing On
an easy basis In Georgia the laws are favorable.
but there has heen little racing
South Carolina and ViTgiuia were the early homes
Of the Thoroughbred. and Charleston was the site
OF the first regular racecourse in this country.
proposition 10 construct course at Charleston ana
10 Fehablitate racing thera is now being consid-
cred. Virginia has put up the legal barriers Ken
lucky Is the only OF the odtme breeding states
which still permits racing, and the Blue Grass
State IS now the home OF the best horses In the
world.
The decadence of racing IS probably chargeable
20 the two things that have done more than any
thing else aid the progress Of other sports end
endeaVoFsv-ths newspaper and the telegraph these
two made the poolFoom possible, and the poolToqm
has proved an unmixed evil. 1t has ruined thou
sands by its attractions for gambling. II has in
jured racing and it has brought genuine sportsmen
into disrepute II IL had not been for the evils OF
the poolroom IS little doubt that racing would
have high standing now il Had forty years
ago. The poolreems net only brought public opinion
20 bear against the racetrack, but its effect on
racing itself was pernicious. The all-the-year
racing. the interminabe number Of cheap races and
the almost incredible multiplication OF scandals
may he traced. in large part TO the poolroom, the
handbook and all tie other devices Of the ge-rich
quick gamblers
The development Of the thoroughbred in the
United States makes story Of absorbing interest
Rulle Rock was the first booded horse brought to
America. as far as autheptlc records establish. lie
was sired bY the barley Arabian first dam by
Byerly Turk. was foaled In England in his aud
imported into Virginia IN 1880 By Samuel Patton
and Samuel Gist. For many years Virginia and
the Csrolinas We're the only colonies which inter
ested themselves in horses for sport. Their eiti-
sprung from the gay Cavaliers and they
inherited their love OF sport from their fathers
In New England the stern Puritan blood frowned
upon almost every kind Of diversion. In New York
the Dutch content to sit on the stoop. with
pipe and mus. The first horses Of any kind
brought 20 America with Columbus his
second voyage in 1893 The first horses landed In
what is the United States put of the
coast Of Florida in 1897 by Cabeza de Vaca. These
became the founders Of the race OF wild horses In
America. Jamestown received a stallion and six
marca IN 1909, the New Netherlands had work
horses from Amsterdam sixteen years later. and
in 1929 there cargo of utility horses landed
at Boston.
But the jamestown colony was TO be the one to
foster the blooded horse The name Of every mem
Der Of the Original Kings Council of jamestown
appears in the American Stud Book, their descend
ants being owners Of thoroughbred stations
mares, so general VAS the breeding industry gone
into by the sons Of the original Nirginiaus. Lath
and Wildair were two thoroughbreds imported into
New York about l765 by Mir, Delaney but later
they also went 10 Virginia, Regular racing meet
ipgS were held in Virginia as early as 100 and
George WashingtQns name appears a judge at
race meeting before he won his Iaurels in the
French and Indian War. in 1853
The first actual racing organization was formed
In Charleston, 8 C.. on February 49, 1890 a club
was organized aud course laid out and named
Newmarket Course" This followed In 1891.
Immediately after the formation of the government
under the Constitution, by the brilliant South
Carolina Jockey club. This club had n wonderful
career, and ITS house was the capitol of the sport
iEg fraternity Of America for many years. The
war between the states ended II all When Wash
iugtQn was President there were crowds Of thou
sands Of richly dressed persons at the Charleston
greetings. Respectable strangers from abroad or
from other states, We're not allowed to pay any
entrance fee, and were Immediately made guests OF
the club and RECEIVED ribbon TO Indicate that for
pitalty which would require a pretty penny to foot
the bills in these twentieth century times
The first racehorse 10 attract national attention
probably Colonel William Washlngtons shark
Being raced by the nephew of the President and
having developed n wonderful speed. Shark was
the IDOL Of the Caroiinas He the first Amer-
can horse 90 be honored with monument to
mark hts burial place The marble slab sets forth
his glorious record the turf and stands at
the site OF the old GAINESVILLE racecourse at Ciaren
don. the home OF James B. Richardson OF
South Carolina.
The first real racing around New York began in
1870 A had been laid out in Washington
CITY IN la2. ana racing began in the District of
Columbia only two years after government began
there. In 1923 the AFst OF the great North and
South match II was the result of
the defeat Of Sir Charles by American Eclipse, at
Washington in the fall OF 1874. Colonel William r.
johnson. of Virginia. the Napoleon OF the Turf"
then challenged the New Workers 20 national
race at New York. John C. Stevens kinsman
OF Walter Livingston, who was racing American
Eclipse. accepted the gage. 4 purse of s2o.orO
side was put up. and the race was practically
ECLIPSE against the world''the Long Island horse
thus proving q worthy successor 70 the great Eng
lish Eclipse. whose owner, on q wager, placed
ECLIPSE first the rest nowhere.