The Washington herald., 1910-01-02
By l.. ID. SALE.

harness hOrSemen OF the DlStftCl OF W
lumbia is. Shall an entirely new trotting
association be formed, and an attempt
be made TO lease the old st. Asaph track.
or a location for new course be sought
outside of the District?
As far as leasing st. Asaph track is
concerned, 1t is pretty well settled that
its owner viii give his consent 10 the
proposition, but asks that. the matter be
held In allegiance for a brief period. II is
understood that he has been offered $4,000
for the property by real estate specu-
lators, for the purpose of subdivision.
The writer of this column held brief
conversation with the owner Of the track
last Thursday. and went over the subject
with him thoroughly.
All of the buildings at the track are,
practically. intact II is not true, as
stated by an evening contemporary, that
the grandstand OF the course was de-
stroyed by fire some time since.
The amieble and witty gentleman who
penned those lines COMPOUNDED the St
Asaph track with the old Alexander
Island track. which is located. or was
once located, a few rods south of Long
Bridge. The grandstand OF the Alexander
Island track was some months ago de-
stroyed by fire. In the same article
referred to was advanced plea for the
selection OF the running track at Bennins
for training and trOtting purposes. The
objection to the Benning proposition Is
that the soil is not fitted for trotung
purposes.
The course was originally a trott!ng
track but the nature Of the SOIL was such
(fne sanO that fast time could not be
made over it. The sand cupped under the
feet OF horses going over it, and in Ger
tain portions Of the course the sand was
50 deep that in ploughing through it
horses labored SO much as 10 become
muscle sore 4 track fitted for trotung
and pacing horses viii not do for run
ners. and vice versa. To make fast time,
trotters and PAGERS require q rather firm
footing. over which must he spread a
light cushion. which latter is intended 10
break the conclusion Of the feet Of the
horses going over II at a high rate of
speed.
A brief period before racing was dis
continued at Benning the course at that
point was plowed Up and a certain quality
Of dirt mixed with the original soil in
order To give the track bed q frmer con-
sistency. A model running track was the
result. but the nearer one gets TO a model
TGnniug track the farther one gets away
from model trOtting course. The re-
quirements for each are as opposite as
the gait Of the two breeds Aside from
the track. Benning. with MS fine buildings
location. SC. would be an ideal spot FOR
tr0tting meetings.
TO resoH the course and make it nit for
trotting and pacing races would cost
thousands of dollars, and. in addition, II
is not likely that the owners of the track
would consent to have the thing done
il view Of the great cost they were com
PEELED TO undergo in order TO place the
course In the condition It now is, unles;
the plant was purchased outright.
And right here It IS pertinent to re-
mark that young and middle-aged men
no have been trained to write on base
hal topics and other excellent Out-of-
door sports usually tread on dangerous
ground when they attempt to write or
light harness horse topics. The techni-
Calities of the game are sure to get then
in trouble, and sooner or later make
themselves and the papers for which
they write ridiculous in the eye of the
public Had the sporting editor OF oul
esteemed evening contemporary beer
wise to his job. he would not have es
saved to rldicule the ST. Asaph PROPOSE
ton and favor the track at Benning
BY reason Of its soil. the st. Asaph tract
can be made fast one at minimum
cost
tt is easy Of access. The buildings anC
track can be put in order at a cost o
a few hundred dollars. The best train
erS in Washington have looked the tract
over, and have pronounced in favor o
!t It now remains for the horsemen o
the District of Columbia who are cage
for a trotting track to say whether the,
approve of a proposition TO lease tn
track for a number Of years or not. !
meeting should be called in the near fu
ture to discuss the subject.
With the reform wave mounting hig
in every other direction and gaining i'm
petus as it travels. It does not seem pos
sible that the gamesters who hav
brought such disrepute in racing in a
sections of the country, can long hol
their ground IN Florida and California
Under the plea Of improving the bree
OF the horse, the gamesters were enable
10 gain their precarious foothold in Flol
ida The legislature of the State ma
take action against the merry-g o-round
located at Jacksonville and Tampa som
time this winter. But. bad as condition
are at the two last points named. the
are as Young Mems Christian Assoeia
tons as compared with what is going o
at JUarez. Mexico.
Under the present laws Of Virginl
and the District of Columbia, betting
not permitted. There are persons VIII
hold TO the belief that in the near futur
public sentiment VIII change in regard I
bookmaklng. From what direction the
derive their comfort is hard TO under
stand On the other hand. at every poir
Of the compass the tide is rising highe
and higher against gambling and gan
blers. The anti-gambling crusade ha
even spread into Canada. and as we writ
these lines there is bill before the Ca
hadian House of Commons to prohib
gambling on Dominion race tracks. Dui
ms a recent debate on the measure i
was stated by Mr.. Carroll. OF New Bruins
wick, that in his province half of III
starters in the trotting and pacing race
were. according TO his belief. sold OF
Al "a