Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-17
To BOOM RACES
IN MARYLAND
Jockey Club Ready to Grant
Fav0rs to Promoters.

NEW YORK, December 17.-William NJ
Manly, representing the Elkridge Hunt
Club of Maryland; Frank A. Bonsal. rep
resenting the Green Spring Valley Hunt
Club, and Dorsey Williams, representing
the Patapsco Hunt Club and the United
Hunts of Maryland. attended yesterday
afternoon the meeting of the National
Steeplechase and Hunt Association, Of
which August Belmont. president of the
Jockey Club, Is president.
The meeting took place in the rooms Of
the Jockey Club and continued for more
than two hours. Representatives of all
the leading steeplechase and hunt clubs
Of the east were present. and there was a
general discussion of the racing situation
in the east.
Mr.. Manly said after the meeting, that
while great many questions were dis
cussed, the most important action taken
was the appointment of a committee to
draft the rules governing future meetings
Of the steeplechase and hunt associations.
The significance Of the meeting lies In
the fact that the Jockey Club. which has
controlled running races in the east. Is
giving its full support to these steeple-
chase and hunt associations in their pro-
gram for next years events, and in the
additional fact that because of the aban-
donment of running races in New York
state, greater attention will be paid IN
future to the performances of the crack
timber-toppers.
To Outline Program.
Mr. Manly said that another meeting
of those interested in steeplechases will
be held here In a few weeks when a
definite program will be outlined, based
upon the report of the committee named
this afternoon.
Flat racing having been killed practi-
cally in New York state by Gov. Hughes,
it is proposed by the all-powerful inter-
ests of the Jockey Club to lend their en-
couragement to the steeplechase and hunt
associations for the coming year.
Incidentally. although the fact was not
announced as an outcome of yesterday s
conference of the Steeplechase men, the
Jockey Club will henceforth hold out the
welcoming hand to the racing men of
Maryland in any effort they may make
to further prolong the racing period at
the Pimlico track. In former conferences
of the kind here the attitude Of the
Jockey Club has been that Of one be-
grudgingly granting boon to the Mary
land applicants for racing dates. Yester-
day the attitude of the Jockey Club was
that of one seeking to grant favors be-
fore they were asked and actually want
ing to know what can be done for racing
In Maryland under existing statutes in
that state-not only jumping, but fat
races, for the Jockey Club hopes to re-
habiltate fiat racing on grand and
profitable scale in Maryland the coming
season.
Maryland Not Hostile.
1t was said that the officials Of the
Jockey Club yesterday afternoon were
told that no legislation hostile to racing
interests in Maryland was likely by the
next session Of the legislature, or by any
near future sessions, there being no pop
ular sentiment in the state favoring q
change In the law.
Mr.. Manly will talk over the situation
representative.
The Jockey Club has not only taken
under its wing the Maryland Steeple-
chase and Hunt associations, but is look
ing to Maryland to help continue the
Jockey Clubs work of improving the
breed Of horses in America.
committee was appointed to confer
with the stewards of the National Steeple
chase Association as to the best methods
by which amateur racing can be pro-
NOTED and strengthened. The COMMITTEES
New Jersey. Redmond Stewart Of Mary
land. A. j. A. Devereaux Of Pennsyl-
vania, Westmoreland Davis of Virginia,
Fletcher Harper of New York
Among the hunts represented at the
meeting were the Grafton Hounds and
| the Piedmont Hunt. Virginia: the Shell
burne Hounds, Vermont; the Maryland
United Hunt. the Chevy Chase Hunt
District of Columbia: the Middlesex Hunt
4 h. lfr,A Sp,,A