Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-03-29

CURTAIN ON RACING,
Thoroughbred Game In This Coun-
try Probably on Its Last Legs.
MANY STATES AGAINST SPORT
With Stringent Laws In Vogue Against
Betting In New York, California and
New Orleans, Outlook For Sport Of
Kings 10 Very Gloomy.

Ntn0S 10 very lioomy.
Is this country about to say farewell
to the thoroughbred horse racine
game? 1t begins to look that way. al
though 1t hardly carries much of Il
shock with it. Turfmen throughout
the United States have been looking
for the dropping Of the curtain on the
"sport of kings" for quite awhile anG
are not looking for any encores from
those manipulating 1t.
The climax was reached when the
bill prohibiting betting on the race
was recently passed in California. Cal
ifornia has been considered one of tho
bulwarks Of the running turf for many
years. and with the law In vogue it'll
seems to remain for the horsemen
Kentucky still holds the fort. but l.
looks a little rocky even in the Blu
Grass region. Florida boasts of ii meet
ing, but the Everglade State IS hardl,
likely to be able to conserve the spor
and keep the bangtails in feed durin'
the lean period which looms up ahead
New York has hopes. but that is about
all with Governor Hughes sitting oil
the lid for the next two years.
Chicago promoters have jollied
themselves all winter, and any num-
Der of pipe dreams" as to racing on
the Windy City tracks have been fed
to the gullible. The odds seem to be
against any resumption Of the sport.
With the change Of administration In
Indianapolis hopes began to rise, only
to have a setback, and so practically
all around the circuit.
Arkansas jumped in with claim
that the anti-race bill would be re-
pealed for the benefit of Hot Springs,
but there seems to be little chance Of
it. In New Orleans, once IN the lead
Of thoroughbred horse racing, the
game Is now dead In Texas they
seem to overdo the thing, which has
been the case in the past. Michigan
has tabooed the "bookies." and every
eastern state is closed to the pencilers.
Savannah pulled off its advertised
meeting. Before it closed rumblings
were heard, and 1t looks as IL Georgia
has entered the lists. From Texas to
Georgia no hoof beats are heard, and,
jumping north, 1t looks as If Montana
hasn't much use for the ponies. Then
across the Rockies, Washington has
come to bat with the anti-racing bill.
Colorado grew tired Of the game last
year, and that let out about all the
valuable points, not taking into con-
sideration those states which in the
dim past banished the "bangtails."
Taking stock around the circuit, ev-
erybody seems to be asking how it
happened. Up to date no one has been
able to give the answer, but just the
same the feed bills are accommodating
at every race track where the stables
are standing right side up. and the
breeding industry" is certainly get
ting its jolts.
Regardless Of the real or imaginary
evils, the turfmen are unQuestionably
facing a financial crisis. Millions are
involved. There is no question of
that. Taking into consideration the
value Of property, horses and other
paraphernalia, the losses with the
sport killed will run up into the mil
lions.
Those who have feathered their nests
in the past will be able to stand it. but
there are thousands who. have always
been on the ragged edge, and nothing
remains for these but to go to work or
hit the railroad ties or blind baggage
That the purely commercial and
gambling end has killed the sport can
hardly be disputed. When tracks are
overgrown with weeds. the stables
crumbling to decay and the cry of
"Come on. you" has been heard for
the last time the verdict is likely to be
just or unjust-"They had it coming
RI 'am -