Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-02

even Benning, near Washington, once
the gathering place for senator's. repre-
sentatives, and other high government Of
ficials, has an unused track on account OF
an anti-betting law.
In some states the war on racing has
been most dramatic. Next to Governor
; Hughes the man who was principally re-
sponsible for the outcome in New York
was Senator Voelker. On the day the
vote was to be taken on the Hart-Agnew
bill those opposing its passage were con-
fident because of the fact that Senator
Voelker was seriously liz. In violation
of the orders of his physician this leg
islator was carried on a cot into the
senate chamber at Albany and cast the
ballot that decided the issue. In Louisiana
| a senator. so i'll that he was hardly
able to stand, arose from his seat at
Baton Rouge and virtually closed the
tracks in that state by his vote. In
Missouri the question was deciced by
Senator Hicks, of Sedala. He first vo-
| ted against the reform legislation and ex-
planned that he did so in order to make
good his promise to the state fair peo-
pie. This seemed to assure the racing
, element a victory by the narrowest of
margins, but on the deciding ballot the
senator changed his vote. He explained
that he had voted for the fair people
on the first test but on the second he
voted for himself
The recent decisions of the New York
courts that personal wagers would be
lawful has not helped the race tracks
much, as that sort of betting cannot be
safely INDUCED in except between friends.
But at the same time 1t has served to
give people of means who visit the tracks
in parties ali the excitement of the old
regime, the while eliminating the 'pi-
ker." The tracks around New York are
making a tremendous effort to pull
through in spite of the heavy handicap
under which they labor, and even If they
fail to meet expenses this year, the sea-
son will not be counted an entire failure.
The plight of the thoroughbred does
not apply to harness racers. They have
a value outside the race track, for fast
drivers are wanted on every speedway
in the country. The indications are that
light harness racing viii, be more popu-
lar than" ever since the eclipse of the
thoroughbred. The forthcoming season
promises many speedy youngsters. and
some of the seasoned trotters and PAGERS
are showing remarkable speed in the
spring training
The thoroughbred may we'll feel that 1t
TO the time when Thothmes l. of the
eighteenth Egyptian dynasty, wrote in his
papyrus diary how he had acquired the
fastest race horse in the world, or to the
time when King Solomon, wisest of men,
acquired a racing stable, paying $500 for
acquiring a racing stable, paying $1,000
for a single horse; without going back
even to England and her kings devoted
to racing, one can find George Washing
ton a lover of the turf and judge of the
races.
Virginia is the mother of American
thoroughbred Bulle Rock was first
brought here from England in 1870, and a
great sire heproved to be. The race horse
was the associate of the cavalier and his
home on American soil wax yirginia and
the Carolinas. Charleston, South Carroll
single horse: without going back
best horses of the south were there After
South Carolina came Maryland. and it is
related that even the church looked with
kindly eyes upon the sport.