The Washington herald., 1912-09-15

TROTTER AND PACER|
A Few Words About the Peril that Now Confronts
Light Harness Sport in the State
.of Maryland.
BY L. ID. SALE.

Prospect Park
Has been the center
OF local interest
During the week that just passed. on
account of the fact that local horses
were represented in the several events
Like other baltimore tracks the present
season, Prospect Park gave each day the
runner his innings. The scheme has
been adopted by the Baltimore track
managers because the runner promotes
active betting and draws lot of per-
sons 10 the track who would be absent
were conditions different.
It is evident to those who follow the
racing sport closely that Baltimore is
becoming more and more each year de-
voted to running rather than TO light
harness sport. Running races present
special attractions TO the speculator that
light-harness sport does not Those VINO
like to put bet down get quicker action
in running race. and the betting fever
d mounts to a higher mark In the blood OF
the average American. At one period IN
American turf history-a period only just
ended-it amounted to such a frenzy that
the moral sentiment of communities rose
high against it, as it is liable TO do again
soon. and restrictive laws passed; since
which time the running fraternity nave
occupied all of their leisure time con-
cocting schemes whereby the law might
be evaded.
The present law permitting racing In
Maryland only so many days in each
year is a most wholesome one. Under II
light-harness and running sport have
alike fiourished, and it is most strange
that any person or persons should be so
mad as to raze the temple of sport oy
doing what the Havre de Grace turf
authorities are, it is alleged, about to do.
We are told that the Hartford County
racing commission has already sounded
the alarm. and has decided to curtail
racing in that county. It appears that
the Havre de Grace promoters have be-
gun work on the grounds adjacent to-
those of the Hartford Agricultural and
Breeders Association for the purpose OF
giving running meeting. With the track
at Havre de Grace in operation on GER
tain days of the year, with one In Har-
ford on certain days in the year, with one
at Laurel, another at Upper Marlboro
claiming dates. and another one still in
Baltimore County in line, how long viii
it take to make Maryland a State OF
merTy-go-rounds. such as>have disgraced
other States in the Union? II the run
ming horse fanatics and gamblers intend
to kill all decent harness sport in Mary
land, including their own. they are on
the right road. They don't know where
they are going, but they are on the way.
Whether the owners and managers of
the light-harness tracks in and around
Baltimore know il or not. or care, as for
that matter, certain it is that they are
putting Hght-harness interests in peril
in Maryland by the mixing of running
racing with light-harness events. Through |
the activities of men who can see moth |
ing in racing sport but a gambling propo- |
stion. the noble thoroughbred has be-
come the tool of wild and reckless specu-
lation, corrupting public morals and caus- 4
ing sorrow and distress in thousands of !
American homes. The business done by |
The bookmakers in running races at
the GentIemen's Driving Park, Prospect |
Park, and Timonium during the spring /
and summer months bears witness to the |
fact that the chance to gamble on run
ming events is what attracts the crowd |
to those tracks.
Light-harness events at these points I
have been to the public of mere minor |
importance. In most cases there have
been at these tracks almost double the
number of running races as compared |
with harness events. The men who write
turf stories for the Baltimore dailies have
been swift TO recognize conditions, and
have given the running events the greater
space in their write-ups. Thus conjoined, |
the entire racing fabric of Maryland
must, sooner or later, receive a severe
shock, and, perhaps, go down in total
ruin. Already the country press of
Maryland is stirring up public sentiment
against existing conditions, and when |
the ak falls, as il surely will, the last
end of Hght-harness sport in Maryland
will be worse than its first Unsuitable
greed has caused the downfall of run
ming sport in the United States in the
past, and II initiated by trotting associa-
tions can only end in their certain and
speedy dissolution. The Baltimore trot-
ting track managers will do well to read
the handwriting on the wall while II is I
yet time. For as certain as death when
the Maryland Legislature convenes there
will be something doing. And while on
this subject, what course will be pur-
sued by the Laurel track management
in the near future? At Laurel is mag
nificent plant, constructed at a cost of
upward of 100000 1t was chartered, as
We understand, for fair and racing pur-
poses. 1t was opened to the public in the
fall of 1911, and running and trotting i
races were given, and an agricultural
exhibit. Il is rumored that a running
meeting will be given in October, with
fair attachment, but not word have We
heard relative to 1ight-harness events.
Was It the intention Of the Legislature
to make it optional with the Laurel d.
rectorate as to the kind of racing which
SnOulO De Htlu oNeT lHe OF Is the
charter granted a cunning device to pro-
mote bookmaking and of catching of
suckers in Washington, Baltimore Phila-
delphia, and New York. who think them
selves cute enough. to- beat the men with
the slate? Il
News reaches US from the fashionable
seashore resort, Newport. that my lady
and her friends have issued a decree that
the horse in all fashionable functions Is
to be restored to popular favor and the
automobile to long-distance tours. With l.
out any intention OF trying to discredit
the untility OF the machine, We have rea-
son TO believe that the statement Is
based on truth. Whatever the car can
do in the way of demolishing space, it
can never hope to outstyle a handsomely
equipped carriage TO which is hitched a
dashiag pair of well-bred horses ac-
-outered with the latest word In harness.
and the tiger on the box, and the proud
with aristocratfc hateur, {,
holding the reins. One who has recently
been in Newport says that 'for nearby
riding and driving in that fashionable
resort the horse has the call. Once
again is the jingle of silver chains heard,
once again the thud. thud of quick-mov-
Ing hoofs on the roads and streets beat
a giadsome song TO the ears OF the lovers
- harSaAaeb pd uyift tl,o y,or7v, opdt