The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-11-06
WILL have RACES
At CHARLESTON DECLARES PONS,
The MANAGER
OUR LAWS TO Be DEF|ED
Pons is Quoted as Saying That Efforts
Will be Made to Have the Laws
Against Racing Modified, but Even
if Effort Fails, Races Will be
Held

According to an interview with
Francis J. Pons, Manager OF the AS
ISOLATION, published in the Cincin-
natl Enquirer, the horse racing in
terests plan to open winter meet
ing at the track OF the Charleston
Fair and Racing Association on Sat
urday, January 25. The News and
Courier says that reports that the
promoters OF the racing game in
Charleston would take action Of some
sort towards holding a meeting there
this winter have been current TOR
some time.
4 law passed at the last session Of
the Legislature, prohibits race track
betting in this State, and, according
TO MIR. Po1s, who is general manager
of the Association, an effort VIII be
r.ade to secure a modification OF this
Act. Mr.. Pons is quoted as saying
that even if this effort ais the races
will, nevertheless, be President
John Marshall, CT ie Association,
has as yet made no statement Of the
course that will be pursued, though
he has said that such statement
will be made in the near future. The
interview with Mr.. Pons, printed IN
the Enquirer, is as follows:
Francis J. Pons, general manager
Of the Charleston track, arrived to-
day from New York, ard confirmed
the report that the Charleston track
would be operated this winter. Re-
garding the contemplated meeting,
Mr.. Pons said: We will begin Sat
urday, January 25, and race sixty
one days. There need not be the
slightest fear on the part Of the
horsemen that there will be any in
reference with the sport. We are
going to try, through legislative
means, to secure modification of
the recently enacted laws against
betting, but, failing In this, there
need not be any fear entertained that
the racing will suffer.
"Charlestonians, that is the major
ity OF the citizens Of Charleston. Al.
tl-is inclu lag some Of the most repre-
s.rt.t,.r or es, want the racing. and
-, :. nd their best support 'rw;>d
tEt success of the me-. Char'ss
ton differs in many rasoec:s from
o:ber cities, and its 1Hcpl, resent
Outside interference with its Man
{: r2nenr. There are rniay p:oDibl-
tory laws in South Carolina, that the
Charlestonians differ with, and don't
observe, because they think the meas
ures should not apply to taem. This
by no means signifies that Charles
tonians are law-breakers. They are
as law-abiding as anywhere, but they
want the racing, and will, therefore.
welcome the horsemen, and can
positively assure owners, trainers,
Jockeys and others that there will
rot be any interference with our
plans. We will again race under the
Jockey Club sanction and conform to
It's rules.
CT have assurances from many OF
the best horsemen in the country
that they will send representation
60 our track, and I look for a high
class and successful session. Our
officials will be the best that can be
obtained. Twenty stakes, ranging in
value from 81 900 to $4,000, are now
being compiled, and entries for these
events will be distributed among the
horsemen in about week Mr.
Pons will remain here for about a
week before going to Charleston to
begin active preparations for the IL
tended racing" So the gamblers
from the North are to come down
here and run rough skod over us. II
old Pen Tillman was Governor he
would show these sharpers trick or
two. He would make them obey the
laws or lock them up. But he is not
Governor.