Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-01-21

ana id Fnathing 20 avoid the day
OF ~rAth that was appro sching nv
warning the pluneers Warning
did Mt pr've effective. AMI as last
the axe OF public indignation fell.
Whep it descended. 10 was not the
running bred interest alone which
suffered The light harness indus
try felt the impact OF the blow deli
vered. although less speculation, aud
more OF sentiment is displayed by pa
irons Of the trotting game than by
those of running tracks.
Be this as 1t may. the important
question to be settled is aud now,
or what prop shall both interests
lean in future 10 order to meet ex-
peuse accounts? Their interests
are so interviewed that they must
hang together or hang separately.
How then shall their community OF
interests be best promoted? The
logical answer is, In the creation Of
public sentiment by strictly comply
ing with the laws in force; by stimu-
lating patronage by giving clean
sport all along the line; by adding
attractions. new and novel, which
may tend to draw men. women and
their sons and daughters. q large
part Of whom in the past have not
been 10 the habit Of patronizing the
race course. unless IL was at the an
nual county fair.
The fever OF speculation, that
seems TO run in the blood OF the
average American. can still be in
dulged by word betting-a way least
offensive to public taste than the
old method.
And in the final analysis of the
subject, whether one views it close
at hand or in the perspective. when
one digs down deep TO the taproot OF
breeding and racing sport. senti-
ment and love for the horses, more
than speculation, is the very life and
soul Of the business. IL has sus-
tanned it through the centuries, and
has brought the thorough bred and
the light harness horses to their
present high stage OF development.
II racing sport is to survive for long,
IL must sustain il in the future. Il
was sentiment. and not pure com-
mercialism, that led the late August
Belmont into breeding and racing
horses. The same kind OF sentiment
ruled the activities OF the late W. G.
Whitney. It has stimu ated the
efforts OF bis son, who has worthily
taken bis place, and 10 has carried
Keene and Hagin to phenomenal
victories.
It is sentiment and love for the
horse. more than the winning Of
dollars, that have actuated Thomas
Ryan in his present efforts to create
q stud that will produce winners.
In spite Of the money Keene. Hagin
and Whitney have won in their turf
enterprises. IL is doubtful, when
they have balanced sheir legers. 10
they do not End themselves on the
wrong side.
The same might be said OF the late
Leland Stanford, OF California, who
in his lifetime did more for the up
liftof the lie BIT harness breed than any
other breeder. He expended many
thousands Of dollars in various ways
In his breeding ventures. without
adequate returns for his toll and ex-
enditure. His reward was in the
breeding Of world 3 champions, and
no man in his day or since bred as
many. or sold the output OF his breed
ing stud for higher prices. The
same may be said Of the late Cicero
]. Hamlin, ia measure. for although
he loved his dollars passing we'll he
was wise and successful breeder
OF extreme speed. IL was not the
purely commercial end of the bust
ness that appealed to Henry N.
Smith. OF Fashion Farm, N. J., nor
to Charles Backman. Of Stony Ford,
N. Y. tits not the Do rely commerce
ial end OF the business that appeals
10 William Russell Allen, OF Allen
Farm. Pittsfeld. Mass, to Senator
Joseph Weldon Bailey, of Texas.
Nor did il appeal to many others.
living aud dead, who have centribut-
cd so many brilliant and glorious
pages to American turf history.
In the illustrious GALAXY OF names
mentioned OF men devoted to the
thoroughbred aud the light harness
horse, the hope Of sometime breed
ing q stake winner or o worlds
champion was what buoyed them,
exc tied their ambition and imaRina-
ton, and caused them to plan and
toll and expeud money without stint,
Thus placing the entire industry on
a plane so lofty as 10 appeal to every
broad and right minded person.
1t will, indeed. be strange ifthoss
engaged IN breeding nd racing can
not adjust themselves TO the laws in
force, and. q, The same time. invent
legitimate means N excite enough
public interest 70 drew TO running