The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-04-08
AMATEUR RIDERS
TO SAVE RACING
GGntIemGR'S Events TO Be Big
Factor on Turf This Season.
MOVEMENT HAS BEEN STARTED
Many Men Connected With the Sport
Of Kings Say That the Amateur
Events win Give More Sportsman
like Tone to Horse Racing.

Events win Give More Sportsman
like Tone to Horse Racing.
When the eastern thoroughbret
horse racing season starts on its ca
reer April ~ The sport Of kings vii
have an important factor IN The per
son Of an amatcaf. And he has com,
to stay. When the game was rolling
On the crest Of tile wave of prospefit,
the amateur was seldom heard Oh II
fact when his name was mentioned
1t was treated as a joke There was
40 room for The simon pure tuffmen
The man who rode a thoroughbred foi
the simple pleasure OF the chase was
showed aside to make room for the
professional jockey The lightning
changes ia the racing game during the
past FEW years have been nothing less
than starting. The anti-racing legls-
laiion, which cut down the attendance
from many thousands to simply the
regulars, reduced the game TO almost
ashes. And the amateur has now
come forth in the character of the
phoenix. The evolution Of the sport has
brought about many changes. And
the most important one Is that sport
for sports sake" win be the slogan or
the future
This does not mean that the profess
slonal rider is 70 be cast into the dis
card. on the contrary, he will be as
prominent as ever But the man on
whom the revival Of the sport will
fail is the man who is going to devote
his time ana services 10 try to re-
store racing to its former high stand
ard
The inception of this scheme started
last year, when a call was issued TO
al the hunt clubs IN the country to
attend a conference and draw up rules
which would govern at all amateur
meets. The success Of the plan was
greater than anticipated By the pro-
moters Representatives from iii the
big hunt clubs attended the meeting
and Willingly agreed to do all in their
power to foster the sport. In conse-
quence there We're more amateur
meets held last year than ever before.
At the end of the season the returns
were 50 gratifying that it was re-
solved TO enlarge the scope this year.
Frank J. Bryan was selected as the
proper manager to handle the move
ment this season and was elected sec-
rotary Of the hunts committee of the
National Steeplechase and Hunts as
sociation Under his capable manage
ment there are forty-nlne hunt clubs
on the roster of the ~ S. II A These
clubs are situated all over the country,
and their membership rolls contain the
names Of some Of the most representa-
tive men ia the United states
One Of the most valuable additions
10 this new body is Thomas II. Ryan.
the former traction king. who retired
from active life last year Down nc
his vast Oak Ridge farm, in Virginia.
Mr.. Ryan has constructed one Of the I
most up TO date race courses in the (
country. His intention is TO hold meets
there during the year for the pleasure (
they will afford his friends and him I
self. AZ the same time Mr.. Ryan hats
4 number Of blue blooded stations and /
mares on his farm and intends 10
join the ranks Of breeders.
In addition TO Mr. Ryan's establish 4
nent ia Virginia there are some Of the
greatest hunt clubs situated below the
Mason ana Dixon line. IN New Eng
and the Brookline meet IS famous in
.nrf history The racing there IS az
ended by crowds running up to the
housands. The Brooklne meet Is ia
j part OF the coifntiy where there Is
40 real race traclg within hundred
niles. The enthusiasm shown bv the
pectators at the many affairs held
here is indisputable evidence that
where sport predominates ia racing ii
S bound to be great success. on
.ong Island the Cedarhurst ana Mead
wbrook hunts bring out any number
i folk who never visit the regular
racks Again, there are any number
4 private meets given by wealthy peo-
lie which furnish more excitement
han at any Of the large courses.
70 show the real interest taken by
he amateurs 1t Is only necessary 70
oint out the course Of tile United
lunts adjoining Belmont park. This
curse is laid out on the plan ~
eguar track, with courses for Nat
lnners and a steeplechase field. There
no revenue in this organization and
one is looked for A good days sport
all that IS asked A glance over the
vt Of some Of the main supporters of
le amateur sport proves that they are
acessary 20 help in the rekindlmg OF
le popular pastime. With August
elmont are his two sons, Raymond
ld August junior, both Of whom are
bic horsemeu. H. Ambrose Clark,
imes Butler, Jr., Malcolm Stephen
IN. David Cows and +. II. earle are
50 few others ia this state who are
syoied amateurs
1t is the intention Of the hunts com
ittee 70 have the various local rac-
& associations put at least one anna
ur race on the weekly program It
axes no difference whether IL Is ON
q frst course or over the steeple
ase course. The 'nnoyaton Is sure
can out any nnmber Of friends Of