Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-29
-Y,n- nnnH
JCRF DOHY
IS NEEDED
WESTERN JOCKEY CLUB is NOW
THING OF PAST
Matt Winn Spoken Of as Leader in
Southern and Middle Western
Racing CircIes-Too Much
Scandal

NEW ORLEANS. Dec 2s-Now that
the Western Jockey club. once the most
powerful racing organization in the west,
has tottered into decay, turfmen express
the belief hat the time is at hand for
the formation of a new body to safeguard
the sport in the west and south.
The Western Jockey club made long
and determined fight against great odds.
Adverse legislation and the refusal of the
eastern turf powers to honor it has for
quite a while made 1t apparent that 1t
could not survive. Revenue derived from
the Crescent City track kept life in the
Western Jockey club for the last two
years. Then the track withdrew its sup
port when Charles Bush was informed
that there was nothing at the Fair
grounds course to be represented by the
old organization 1t was the final kick
from the American Turf association to
the rival body. Mr., Bush has made n
long and defiant stand. and then he went
down to defeat without a murmur, and
probably without a full realization OF
what 1t all meant.
The only track in the southwest, or
anywhere. over which the Western Jockey
club had control is the new course at
Hot Springs. Unless the Amis anti-rac-
ing law is repealed racing will be out of
there Is soon to be special session of
the Arkansas legislature at Little Rock,
and the turf magnates feel that a meas
ure will be passed exempting Hot Springs,
which is in Garland county, from the
provisions of the Amis law
New Rules Proposed
1t is possible that the Western Jockey
club rules will not govern. although John
Condor, the blind turfman of Chicago
and ancient enemy of Edward Corrigan
one OF the prime movers of the American
Turf association, is one of the principal
owners of Oaklawn.r Indications are that
at this late day the light is dawning;
that the warning elements on both sides
Is ready to withdraw from the zone of
criticism and join hands in an effort to
put vitality back into the game, which
has suffered too long from animosity on
the part Of true sportsmanship, and not
solely for the purpose of deriving revenue
from the betting ring.
That the gambling feature must be
eradlcated is just as sure as it is that
certain undesirables must be forced Off
the turf There is too much talk OF run
ming horses hot" and "cold;" too much
scandal about the giving of drugs to
horses; In fact, too much ugly talk in
general about the running of -aces
brawls and feuds over bidding up racers.
otahulns Iortn as the one man able to
drive the germs of malignancy from the
turf body is Col Matt j. Winn. president
of the American Turf association, gen
eral manager of City park and Fair
Grounds Churchill Downs at Louisville.
and Empire track at Yonkers. N Y. He
is equipped with clean hands. a diplomatic
conception of his duties and fearless
ness to execute them. He has the re-
spect of the Jockey club officials in New
York. As the manager of the Empire
meeting he was an unqualified success.
He accomplished almost the impossible
and he demonstrated to the fasteners
that the west had a man of exceptional
administrative ability. asking for and do
ing only the right thing.
1t is because of this that the men who
want to restore racing to its high stand
ard turn to Col. Winn as the head and
front of a new turf body. which is as GER
tain to be born as it is sure the sun will
rise.