The Washington herald., 1908-02-26
Mertz and Mertz Co., 900 F Str
RACING ASSOCIATIONS
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

cessful trainer, and a money cleaning
owner, tells OF him. Rowland had an old
horse named Nance. A harGer-lOoking
specimen Of horsefiesh one could not find
When a country fair was or hand How
land would drive a hundred miles TO it.
Besides Nance he had a little mare called
Beauty-and a beauty she was He
would 90 to the track and banter the
farmers for race with Beauty They
would not accept proposition with such
likely looking little mare Then he
would say good naturedly that he'd he
blamed II he wouldn't try old Nance Just
Tor the fun Of it." Usually he could get
some bets to start with, and about as
much guying as a hayseed on a race
course ever got He would start down the
course with all sorts OF patched-up har-
ness, old rope for reins. and z sassafras
bush for a whip. The first heat was
usually run so slow that Nance would
become q 10-tO-1 shot. for she never be-
trayed a sign OF her real speed. II was
easy 70 get money after this, and a con-
federate IL the crowd would take bets in
Ike bookmaker az the Brooklyn Han
dicap. Then old Nance would reveal her
true self and the other two heats were
alS|ays won Only a prompt execution
Of the disappearing act saved Rowland.
his confederate, and old Nance from be-
ing the rope-wearing participants Of
lynching bee.
one Of the great difficulties with Amer
lean thoroughbred racing Is that the cir
cula- track tends to develop a Iopsided
horse. and some effort has recently been
made 10 introduce the straight course
In running on a circular track a horse
always hugs the inside rail. He is thus
always leaning 20 the near side. and the
strain falls more heavily on his of side.
The result Is an abnormal DEVELOPMENT
Of the of side. II is said that this shows
up very strongly IN horses. and that a
horse which has been winner on a cir
cuiar track cannot hold his own on a
straight track.
In England. thoroughbred racing IS the
next thing 70 being under government
patronage. King Edward himself is one
Of the leaders Of the sport in that coun-
Try, and his stables are among the best
IN the world. But three times he and his
English associates have had 10 lower
their racing cOlors before the American
thoroughbred. Pierre I.orillard was the
hrst American 10 win the hOnOrs OF the
English turf. with Iroouois IN ISL Will
in 1901 with VolodyOski. Last year an
American horse. owned by an American
gentleman, and ridden BY an American
jockey, carried or the honors at the
Derby Il was Orby, owned by Richard
Croker
Nearly all Of the greatest thorough
bred races in the United Stats now take
place on the metropolitan circuit. under
the auspices Of the Jockey Club. And
nearly al OF the big winners are owned
by the muld-nilliOnaireS OF New York.
The list OF owners looks Ike a roster OF
the big fnanciers Of the metropolis.
James p keene is at the head OF the
list bis winnings during the 1907 season
amounted 20 more than 500. 900. the iarE-
est amount ever won by any one owner
in the world Colin. alone, brought him
in $4,000.
II is probable that the war between the
moralists Of the country and the race
course people viii continue Tor many a
year TO come. Tie moralists declare that
racing is carried on with gambling as the
prime purpose. and that it is immoral
The friends OF the thoroughbred hold that
racing IS carried on essentially for the
Development OF the horse. and that gam
bling & only tolerated as e necessary evil
in connection Herewith. They hold that
the good that comes out OF racing out
weighs the evil The eyes OF the country
will be en- the New York fight. and every
racing association IN the land is praying
for the continuation OF the present law
TO-morrOw-Our Consular Service.