Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-09-20
Now That Thoroughbred Rum
ming Is Curtailed Sulky Sport
Should Go Ahead.
BY WALTER E. ERLER.


KTEVER has there been a time in
~ the history of the light harness
horse game that presented as
many opportunities to establish firmly
the sport in the very best element of
sportsmen as right now. Legislation
has produced circumstances that have,
to say the least, curtailed racing the
thoroughbred in the East to such an
extent that it is no longer the chief
pastime of the masses. In the Middle
West Kentucky alone furnishes a field
for the operations of men engaged in
racing the running horse. By reason
of this condition of affairs in the East,
thousands of people who are fond of a
contest between horses could be at
tracted to light harness horse racing if
the proper steps were taken to make
the sport an interesting n to those
other thar breeders, trainers and dyed
in-the-wool enthusiasts. To the lay
mar who does not know n horse
from another and is interested solely
in the exhibition OF speed and racing
ability the small details of a meeting
play a very important part. While the
keen enthusiast concentrates his
thoughts upon the various happenings
on the track itself and pay little or
no attention to the surroundings, the
casual visitor takes time to observe
the details and is many times bored to
a point of evaporation by man. things
he or she is called upon to witness
at too many race meetings.
Harness Horse Racing Intact.
Harness horse racing has not been
destroyed by the adverse legislation
that has been directed against every
form of betting nor has it beer injured
NATURALLY as has the sport of racing the
thoroughbred, an equine type that has
become nothing more or less h a
gamblers tool in all hat the express
sion implies. 1t is possible that sue
cessful harness horse meetings can be
given at which betting is not permit
ted and thousands of, spectators at
tracted by frst-class trotting and pac-
ing races.
In order to accomplish this end 1t is
absolutely essential that all undesir-
able features be eliminated; that pro-
tracted scoring be done away with, that
the starting should be promptly and
skillfully done by men of known abil-
ity and integrity. n that the judges
be able to qualify as experts. Only
well-balanced fields of w-ell-mannered
fast horses of considerable racing abil-
ity can be of material interest to the
average spectator. Even though an
event may furnish d sensational per-
Torrance in regard TO the time made,
unless the finish is a close one and
productive of some contest lone but
the dyed-in-the-wool element is en-
Unused.
There is no denying the fact that
there is much that Is commonplace
about racing the light harness horse
and while the game furnishes pleasure
and delight to the student of breeding
and blood lines. and to one who
watches closely the performance of the
various horses in training, yet 1t lacks
the thrill and excitement that is found
In many other pastimes to a casual
visitor.
This, however, is not the fault of the
horse himself, for he is possessed OF
SO many good qualities that he is
capable of better things than he is
permitted to accomplish under the
tremendous handicaps that are heaped
upon him.
The American trotter when seen a.
his best is little short of perfection; ht
possesses beauty of form; his gait |:
indeed the poetry of motion, and wher
al speed he furnishes a picture tha'
can scarcely be equaled. When pittet
against a foeman worthy of his metlt
he presents a thrilling spectacle ant
his gameness, courage and intelligence,
arouse the enthusiasm Of the entire
world.
How rare are the occasions when on