Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-18
OPTION TAKEN ON
A CHICAGO TRACK
Historic Hawthorne Course
Passes to Syndicate Head
ed by Thompson.

NnlCdSO. a Eli io.-JOhn K. IhOmD-
son has obtained an option on the
Hawthorne race track from Tom Car
ey, who has owned the property at
Cicero since Richard Fitzgeral retired
a year ago Added importance was
lent to the transaction by the stimuli
taneous Introduction in the legislature
at Springfield of a bill. for a state
racing commission. None could be
reached who would say that the bill
had any relation TO the promised trans
fer Of the track.
Mr.. Thmpson did not act for him
self. but if the option should be ex-
ercised. several prominent business
men Of Chicago will be associated with
him in the venture. Mr.. Thompson
has never been identified with the
running end Of the sport. always hav-
ing shown a preference for harness
horses, but should the Springfield bill
go through the chances are more in
favor of running meet at he historic
course than trbtJiHg matinees.
With the exception of a few days
OF miscellaneous sport there has been
nothing of racing nature at the Cicero
track since the sport was closed in
Cook county Ed Corrigan. Master
Of Hawthorne" was practically in con
trcl of the track. although Richard
Fitzgerald held Cne-fourth interest.
For the final two years of racing
Tom Carey was really the financial
hacker Of COrrigan. as he had loaned
the hOrseman large sums of money.
and it was in this way that Mr.. Carey
came into control Of the property. The
track has been a dead loss to the
South side politician, as with the ex-
ceptiOn Of a few running matinees and
auto races there has been nothing
on the program which has produced
any revenue.
Tha- racing vii. not be confined to
hawthorne. should the bill pass. is
certain. Harlem and Worth tracks,
both Of which have been kept in fair
Up coed repairs. viii undoubtedly cut
in" This would. of course. mark the
death knell of racing ventures in In
diana.
Springfield. H., April 1S.-Control of
horse racing by a state racing com
mission consisting of three members
appointed by he governor is provided
in a bill. introduced in the senate by
Senator John T. Denvir of Chicago.
The bill is somewhat similar 10 the
pending boxing bills. The racing com
mission is given power to license cor
porations organized for the purpose
of conducting running or harness
races. Licenses may be revoked and
penalties imposed when the races are
not conducted in accordance with the
regulations. Sunday racing is prohib-
tied
The members Of the racing commits
sion are 10 be selected from the mem
bers of the state public highways and
roads commission. Authority is given
for the establishment Of a race course
in each county. with its direct super
vision intrus-ed 70 the local highways
commissioners. Senator Denvir said
he intends to push the bill
While ] did not draft the bill. no
organizations are back of the measure
so far as know" said Senator Denvir
There is nc such movement back Of
the racing bill as is back Of the box
ing measure. | intend 10 make a per
sonal fight for the bill. l. comes to
me that racing could be revived under
the same sort Of regulations as would
safeguard boxing. Since ! introduced
the bill many members of the legis-
lature have told ne they thought it
was q good thing"