Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08
THE RUNNING TURF

The owners of the Fort Erie track in
Canada have decided upon two reforms.
One is an open betting ring, instead of
syndicate one, while the other Is a rule
which will prevent an owner or trainer
of race horses from making or having
any financial interest in book. 1t would
not be bad idea II the Jockey Club
framed a rule which would cut out book
making owners There are several OF
them who have raced horses in a way
that has never caused adverse criticism.
but there are Others notably western OPP
orators, whose business methods have
excited more or less unfavorable COM
ment
Syndicate methods I'm the betting rings
of the New York tracks We're abolished
several years ago, with results that were
of undoubted benefit to the sport. With
bookmakers entirely cut out OF the horse
owning and of racing it is believed that
further benefits would be attained The
Fort Erie track will undergo improve
ments at an outlay of so 900. The con-
tract calls for new stables, grand stand,
fences. track kitchens and d new top
dressing The owners say they will make
an attempt to give a summer meeting on
the same high plane as that maintained
at Montreal and Toronto. 1t is generally
understood that Fort Erie will be the
leading stronghold in future of the Amer
lean Turf Association which has sup
planted the old Western Jockey Club.
FREQ Cook, the western horse owner,
whose colors have been seen in the east
for many years, will again campaign a
stable in the east the coming season He
has announced that he will not race any
or his horses on the western turf this
year. but will ship thirty-five thorough
breds, Which are now quartered at Nash
vile, to the New York and Canadian
tracks. In his stable he has nineteen
two year-olds. These are in training at
Nashville, under the care of Bill Phillips
who developed the crack racers George
{. Bennett. Lawrence p. Daley Johnnie
Blake and several other good two-year-
olds which have raced in Cooks colors
for the past few years.
The Jockey Club will interpose no OBJ
lection to Joe MarroneS racing horses
around New York next season because
his entries were suspended and he was
barred from Washington track last fall
at the instance of S. S. Rowland presid-
ing steward of the Benning meeting II
is unlikely. however. that a trainers IL
cense will be granted to Marrone Mar
rome is not considered a practical horse
man by the license committee OF the
Jockey Club. which would prefer that he
employ to manage his stable man of
good standing and known ability The 4,
stewards of the Jockey Club did not an
prove or the extreme measures to which
their Wears at Benning resorted In the
handling of the Marrone case When tho
report of the Washington stewards was
submitted 1t was ordered spread upon the
minutes without comment
trainers who have not already shipped
to Benning are busy each day shaping
their charges for the coming season of the
Washington Jockey Club. There will he
considerable of shipment from both
Gravesend and Sheepshead Bay. and it is
probable that the horses will be far
enough advanced to have good chance
against those that will come up from New
Orleans hardened by season of racing.
Jockey Milton Henry. who has been rid
ing with rare success in France for Baron
successes. the riding of the winners of
the Grand Prx and the French Derby,
may again be seen in the saddle in this
country. Negotiations are under way
contemplating the return to America of
Henry for the purpose Of riding one of
the top weights in the classic Suburban.
The owner of one of the big stables. who
Is having his entry pointed for the event
solely. and whose ambition is to place the
glory of winning a Suburban to the credit
of his stable. has asked Jockey Henry to
come to this country for that one mount
Henry. according to a letter received from
France, is anxious to again sport the pig
skin in America. and is endeavoring to Sc
cure leave of absence.
There is a movement afoot among the
horsemen of Baltimore and PHILADELPHIA
TO establish tirst-class race track in the
state of Maryland. thirty-fiye minutes bv
rail from Baltimore, and one hour and
five minutes from Philadelphia The
movement has acquired such headwav
that a site for the proposed course has
been chosen and an option on nearly 300
acres of land obtained. The site of the
proposed track is reached by both the
Baltimore and Ohio and the PENNSYLVANIA
railroads. and. In addition to the towns of
Philadelphia and Baltimore. it will be
easy of access to Wilmington.
Senator Rayner is counsel for the pro-
jectors Of the enterprise. The country in
which it is proposed to build the track is
generally level. which means that the
cost of grading. etc. would not be ex-
cessive. They do not anticipate trouble
in securing the consent of the Maryland
authorities to the building and operation
of the track. With the exception of Tex
as. Maryland is claimed to have the most
liberal racing law of any state in the
Union. Betting is carried on freely.