The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-29
Cyrus Garnsey, Jf, Here to Con- suit Local SpOTtsmen About
 Plans for Racing
CONFINED ID AMATEURS,
 THEREFORE NOT ILLEGAL
Trottlng Races Are Conducted Purely for Sport and Trophies Are Given
 Instead of Cash Prizes.
 No Betting Allowed.

A man with mission of great interest to horse owners of Birmingham is Cyrus Garnsey. Jr., of Memphis, who was in
 the city last night as a guest at the ban-
 quest given to an official of the Frisco
 orr Garnsey is one of the most enthu-
 siostic borsemen in Tennessee and Is one
 of the prieipal promoters of matinee rae
 ing which affords such great sport and
 pleasure for owners of trotting and pac-
 ing horses in Memphis.
 Mr. Garnsey talked Interestingly of
 racing last night at the Hillman, and
 said that he hoped to interest Birmingham
 people in the subject of matinee racing
 and desired above all things that this
 city should become member of the
 League of American Drivers and take an active part in the semi-annual racing pro- grammes
 Running Races Stopped.
 Running races have been effectually stopped in Tennessee by the new racing
 law" said MT. Garnsey, "and this should give greater impetus to the trottinS and pacing matnees which are in vogue in various large cities. Memphis among the number, and We want Birmingham as a member of our circuit. Our racing is strictly for amateurs of a high class and
 is not tained by the gambling feature that
 brought destruction upon the professional
 running races.
 "The League of American Drivers is composed of owners of high class trotters | and pacers, whose horses are not even | driven by professional racing men and 1 who are in the game purely for the love | of the sport and for the promotion o' the breeding of thoroughbred horses. Oui | membership includes the cities of Shicago Cleveland, Boston, Plttsburg and Mem phis, and we want Birmingham as an
 other representative sonthern city t' round out the circuit. There are mum Der of enthusiastic norsemen here tha | | want to inte. est in this matter, and am sure we can form the circuit an'
 make the racing matinees here 8 perm
 anent institution.
 Form Intercity Circuit. "Our proposition is to form an inter I city circuit with valuable trophies for thu | various events, Which are to pc perm anently retained by the owners who VII them. say lthree consecutive times. "Thls spoft is perfectly free from th' taint of professionalism, no betting is al 1 lowed and all owners or hght harness horses are invited to enter the lists, be-
 come members of the organization and aid in encouraging and building up thls the true sport of ardent horsemen. q shall take up the matter actively with the Birrnlngham people at an early date and urge, the early completion of the
 proposed circ hit by the addition of this
 city to the premiership already estba' lished."
 MT. Garnseyj declared that his organlza- ton took no part Tn the leSlslatlon tha killed running races in tennessee, as th' membership dad no interest whatever il that question. tie would venture no opln ion as to theg ultimate future of running ranos in the Tinted States. but declared
 that the agitation against such tracks ap
 peared to cdme in waves, so he would
 not predict tue result or adverse leslsia ton.