The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-01
DEATH OF RACING
Is NEAR 1T HAND
Sport to End When CalifOr-
MIA Meetings Close.
OPPOSITION Has SUCCEEDED
Country Is swept with Wave of Re-
form, and Little Hope for Future
Is Left-The Situation at BenninS.
Louisiana Is Already in q Bad
Wsy-Tracks Covered with Weeds.

With the death kneil OF racing sounded
in California, it looks as II the sport is
playing its farewell engagement in the
United States. Horsemen throughout The
country have been looking for the drop
ping Of the curtain on the sport OF
kings" for quite while now, and are
not looking for any encores from those
manipulating it.
The drama now being played out in
California may spell finish for the sport in
few DAYS. The Pacific Coast has been
considered the bulwark of the running
turf for several years. and with that car
ried. little seems 10 remain for the turf
men, Kentucky Is still holding the fort.
but it lookss a little rocky even in the
blue grass region Florida IS boasting Of
meeting, but the EvergIade State is
hardly likely 10 be able to conserve the
sport and keep the bargtsHs in feed dur
ing the lean period which looms Up ahead
New York has hopes. but that is about
al, with Gov. Hughes sitting on the lid
for the next Two years
Small HSSe for BenninE.
Promoters around Washington have jol-
lied themselves all winter and any num-
Der Of pipe dreams as 10 racing have
been fed 10 the gUllible, but the odds
seem TO be against any resurrection OF
the sport with any degree Of success.
Arkansas jumped in with a claim that
the anti-race bill OF that State would be
repealed for the benefit Of Hot Springs.
but there seems 20 be little doing down
in that neck OF woods.
Farther South they have succeeded r.
landing the bettors in Jail. but the law
yers are now busy telling the promoters
in Louisiana that before they get through
with the Locke law they will be able to
drive a coach and four through the meas
ure- The ''touts- seem TO be the ONLY
+ ones who are taking any stock IN the
arguments.
7 NDOWn in Texas they seem 20 ove-de
( the thing. which has always been the
case In the past. and the legislators and
! reform bodies are sitting I'D and taking
notice Of the dOinEs IN san Antonio. =
/ PasO. and other points and so all along
/ the line Michigan has also tabooed the
.-bookiesr
Savannah pulled OF its advertised meet
/ ing. but before II closed rumblings -vers
thesrd. and IL looks as T Georgia has en-
/ tered the lists. From there 10 Texas no
/ hoof beats are heard. and, jumping North.
/ il looks as II ree-and-easy Montana
I doesn't ike the company IL has kept n
! the past Then. across the Rockies. Wash
+ ngtOT has come 20 bat with an anti-rac-
I ing bin. the assembly in session q Ofvm-
/ pia being unanimous against betting and
/ pooIrOoms. Colorado grew tired OF the
/ game last year. and that about lets out
the available points, not taking into con
/ sideration those States which IN the din
and distant past banished the bangteils.
OppOsitiOH's steady March.
Taking stock around the circuit ever
since the first blow against the sport was
( struck which killed racing in the State OF
Illinois, the followers Of the game are
wondering how it all happened I'D &c
date no one has been able 20 give the
answer, but. Just the same, the feed bills
are accommodating al every track where
the stables are stiH standing right side up.
and the breeding industry is certainly
getting its jolts.
Regardless Of the real or imagina-y
evils the horsemen are unquestionably
/ facing a financial crisis Millions are in
volved: there Is no question Of that TAX
/ ings into consideration the value Of the
I track property. horses. and other para
phernalia. the losses with the sport killed
VIII run I'd into the millions. Those who
( have feathered their nests in the past
viii be able 10 stand e. but there are
/ thousands who have always been on the
ragged edge. and nothing remains for
these but 70 so 70 work or ''hit" the ties
or blind baggage.
That the purely commercial and gam
bling end has killed the sport can hardly
Dc disputed When tracks are oveTgTown
WITH weeds. the stables cTUmbling 20 de-
cay. and the cry OF come on. yeu." has
! been heard for the last time, the verdict
is likely 20 be-iust or unjust-''they had
II coming 70 en- Had there been less
scramble for the Percentage and more
Of the real sport OF horse racing. the
legislators now probably would not be
holding night sessions in order to put the
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