Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-02
AMATEURS To
SAVE RACING
Gentlemen's Events VIII Be q
Big Factor in Turf Meets
of Season.
MOVEMENT is STARTED
Object 20 Give Moro sportsmAnliks
TOne-ATIes Drawn Up 90
Govern Events.

When the eastern Thoroughbred
horse racing season starts on It's ca
reer April Is the sport OF kings viii
have an important factor In the per-
son OF an amateur. And he has come
to stay. When the game was rolling
on the crest OF the wave OF prosperity
the amateur was seldom heard OF. In
fact, when his name was mentioned
1t was treated as a joke. There was
no room for the simon pure turfmen-
The man who rode q thoroughbred for
the simple pleasure of the chase was
showed aside to make room for the
professional jockey. The lightning
changes in the racing game during the
past few years have been nothing less
than starting. The anti-racing legis-
Iation, which cut down the attendance
from many thousands 70 simply tho
regulars, reduced the game TO almost
ashes. And the amateur has now
come forth In the character Of tho
phoenix The evolution OF the sporfhas
brought about many changes. And
the most important one is that sport
for sports sake" win be tho slogan OF
the future.
sionaI rider II to be cast into the dis
card. On the contrary, he viii be an
prominent as ever. But the man on
whom the revival OF the sport VIII
fall is the man who IN going 10 devote
his time and services to try to re-
store racing to its former high stand,
ard.
The Inception OF this scheme started
last year, when a call was issued 70
all the hunt clubs IN the country to
attend q conference and draw I'D rules
which would govern at all amateur
meets. The success OF the plan was
greater than anticipated By the pro-
moters. Representatives from all the
big hunt clubs attended the meettngi
and willingly agreed to do all in their
power to foster the sport In conse-l
Quence there were more amateur
meets held last year than ever before.
At the end Of the season the returns
were so gratifying that Il was re-
solved to enlarge the scope this year.
Frank ]. Bryan was selected az the
proper manager to handle the move
ment this season and was elected sec
rotary of the hunts committee OF the
ISOLATION. Under his capable manage
ment there are forty-nine hunt clubs
on the roster Of the n. s. II. A. These
clubs are situated all over the country,
and their membership rolls contain the
names Of some OF the most represents
tive men in the United States,
Ryan Valued Addition
One of the most valuable additions
to this new body is Thomas f. Ryan,
the former traction king. who retired
from active life last year. Down at
his vast Oak Ridge farm, in Virginia.
Mr. Ryan has constructed one of the
most up to date race courses In the
His intention is to hold meets
there during the year for the pleasure
they will afford his friends and him
self At the same time Mr.. Ryan has
a number OF blue blooded stations and
mares on his farm and intends to
Join the ranks of breeders.
In addition TO Mr.. Ryan's establish.
ment in Virginia. there are some of the
greatest hunt clubs situated below the
Mason and Dixon line. In New Bng-
land the Brookline meet is famous In
turf history. The racing there is at
tended by crowds running up TO the
thousands. The Brookline meet IN in
a part of the country where there is
no real race track within a hundred
miles. The enthusiasm shown by the
spectators at the many affairs held
there is indisputable evidence that
where sport predominates in racing II
Is bound to be a great success. On
Long Island the Cedarhurst and Mead
Of folk who never visit the regular
tracks. Again, there are any number
Of private meets given by wealthy peo-
pie which furnish more excitement
han at any Of the large courses.
To show the real interest taken by
Continued on Page Twelve.)