The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
CANADA PREPARES
 FOR GREAT RAGING
By BERT E. coLLYER.

Los Angeles, January S1-The visit of James Carruthers to Santa Anita during the past week was one of the bright lights that filled the eye MT. Carruthers. one of the best known turf men Canada boasts of and a director of the Montreal Jockey club, which has a palatial course at Blue Bonnets, is exceedingly optimistic regarding the future of racing in the land of the maple leaf
 "of course" said MT. Carruthers, Canada has felt the effect of the ad- verse legislation enacted in New York, but we hope to avert the threatening trouble by instituting reforms that, like our brother tracks across the line, were much needed. The first step in this direction was made some time ago when the representative turfmen of Canada gathered and formed what Is now known as the Canada Racing as- sociation. The primary object Of the association was to prevent an innux of the undesirable element legislated from out the several states across the border. Then, too, we were threatened
 
 the outlanders or bull rings" as you Americans call them, and which were financed by a band of highbinders who subordinated everything to the gam bling end of the game. Sport with these people is a second consideration, with the flag unfurled to the wind, "get yours while the getting is good" quite paramount. Racing in Canada has always been looked upon as sport and we that are well identified q believe that l am speaking authori- tatively for my conferees) intend that it shall always remain such. Our first move in this direction will be to regu- late the sport, that is the number of racing days. To this end a compact has or will be entered into within the next 10 days whereby every racing association in Canada. that is the "bis tracks" will have agreed to the propo- sition of racing not more than 1S days twice each year. This will give every plant a chance to profit, yet prevent pending evil of recurrence of what hap pened in several states across our bor- der. It is further our purpose to call in the aid of legislation relative to the number of racing days. This will then put the quietus on any jumper
 Asked as to whether he thought the sport of kings" would be revived. Mir Carruthers was a trihe pessimistic.
 There is too much money invested in the thoroughbred world continued the genial Canadian. "to successfully eradicate it. as the so-called reforming element would have it, but on the oth . CT hand the day of the tremendous-I might say appalling profits of the met ropolitan tracks is gone. It was the enormity of the revenue that these tracks earned that first called the at tention of the reforms to the situa- ton. Like a piece of finder 1t soon grew to a flaming heat with the re- suit 1t was found to be lucrative plank and much capital was made out of 1t. When these people, have ref erence to the race track owners-feel content filth a fair margin of profit, just so soon will the sport be reha- bflftated; not before. Canada Is in a prosperous condition and we are look ing forward to some excellent spring racing The proposed plant at Ottawa looks like a winner. and is fathered by people of the right calibre. We will have IS days racing at Toronto and a like number at Blue Bonnets. The ex- act dates for these, as well as the bal ance of the Canadian tracks. will be announced at the next meeting of the Canadian Racing association.'
 Mir. Carruthers before entering into active participation as a racing solon, was better known as a member of the Queen City stable, and partner of the late Alex Shields. One of the best cam paigners to bear the Carruthers color was the "iron horse" Advance Guard. MT. Carruthers sails on the next steam CT for the Orient.