Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-04
THE RACING GAME,
August Belmont Gives Interesting In.
terview on the bject.

New York. oct. 3-In an interview
August Belmont, chairman of the
Jockey Club. gave the following in
teresting views OF the racing game:
What is that YOU want 10 know
from mc2' he at once asked; end the
interviewer said that he wanted to
know his view Of the responsibility at
.tributcd to him as one of the great
racing promoters and mana gcrs in the
world. He took but q moment 70 think
it over. and then he set himself a-going
in a direction ana at 4 pace Uhict left
the interviewer only the role Of listner
Mr.. Belmont cares for horses. and for
racing rs an improver Of horsellesh
ard as a sport Of long pedigree and1
much renown: he has thought upon
the subject, and has formulated post
tive ideas on it. Since he is also MAJ
of brains. his remarks could not
otherwise than Interesting.
Soma Of US seem to think he satJ
that it belongs To us To modifys or ex-
tripate qualities and tendencies which
God mas put into men and animals,
while others thinl, it cannot be done,
and that if it could be done. it would
not be worth while. Horse racing IS
4 natural means toward the -evolutl"h
% fine horses: the thoroughbred is the
best kind of horse. and racing is the
way to bring out his best QUALITIES.
1t is the same with dogs: TO get good
dog YOU must breed him. AMI lflnci-
dentalIy the horse or the dog is the &C.
casiOn of trouble or moral INJURY ~
men connected with them. that Is NOT
,.l, Oh
attitude in the matter
I'VE want good horses and dogs-anh
good fighting cocks. too. perhaps;
have myself felt interest in the hrecn-
ing of cocks. as i'll the evolution OF Inc
best Of anything in its kinds. But III
tho smotter of horses, there IS aiso
commercial feature which is worth con,
sidera lion: Nnd I have advocated III
public this side of the argument.
have suggested that the government
establish ont West farms for the hree1-
ING Of thorouchbreds: for the thorough
bred is not only the horse which moa'
quickly natures, and is consequently
valuable to the farmer-to whom J.
makes difference whether his stock
at its best in four years or in i've
enduring animal: he outlasts the un.
bred horse. There is great commercial
value in these facts. but the govern
ment has not as yet taken slich az
ton as would show that it appreciates
them"
Are racers. then. 1ong-lived?' ne
was asked.
Not, perhaps. as racers. which are
continually on the track" Mr. bel'
mont replied: "any animal viii wear
out if constantly pushed to its limit
but in quality they are more endur'
ing, and if handled with proper care
they will show it. The same is true
of trotting horses as of racers; they
arc better animals in every respect
and better repay raising. And we ID
this county would never have producer
the trotter had not the English previ'
ously produced the racer. If wee were
to cease raising thoroughhreds for rae
ing we should suffer greatly in inc
of the breed. and the only
way to raise thoroughbreds is to race
them"
But what is your opinion about Der
ting on horse racing?"
Mr. Belmont smiled: he has smlN
that is by no means broad, hut con-
tainS meanings, more or less or
humorous and satirical sort.
"'Thcrc has always been betting anu
always will be-" he said. So far as INC
Continued Oh Page Twelve)