The Washington herald., 1913-08-31
TROTTER
and PAGER
By L. ID. SALE.

ment made In The Washington Herald OF
Sunday last that the Laurel (Afd) track
has passed into the hands OF James
Butler, Of New York city.
-
Quite as important Is the statement that
former secretary of the course, Brown,
will have no part In the new deal Mr..
Butler is not alone a man OF considerable
wealth. He represents something OF equal,
\ il not more Importance. he Is a man Of
high character and OF high executive abil-
L ity. We have a right to expect that he
will conduct racing at Laurel on a high
plane-a very necessary asset, II running
racing in Maryland is to survive.
In the interest OF the pupIic who sup
port racing, II is to be hoped that the
pari-mutuel system of betting will be in
stalled at Laurel II has been tried with
satisfaction to all concerned in France,
where it originated. and in parts OF this
country-notably at Louisville, KY, and
at Pimlico track, Baltimore. The pari-
mutuel is not merely the fairest mode of
speculation for those who wish to wager
something on racing results. 1t goes
further; il does not offend public taste as
does bookmaking: nor is II the parent Of
scandals, as bookmaking has proved itself
to be.
The elimination of public betting in
New York State and New Jersey nat
urally makes the State OF Maryland the
most important racing field in the popu-
lous East. To preserve that field, great
care must be observed on the part of the
Maryland authorities. and the men inter-
ested in running racing. not to make IL
appear that the State is becoming one OF
merry-go-rounds, as was the case In the
section contiguous to New York City
before the anti-betting crusade began.
Maryland is a small State in area and
population, as compared with New York.
and II will be easy to excite the moral
sentiment OF communities against all
forms Of betting and all kinds OF racing
sport
Public sentiment. when expressed. must
he respected. Three big tracks devoted
to running racing already exist in Mary
land-Pimlico, Laurel, and Havre de
Grace-quite enough for a State so small
and which. probably, would not exist
at all. but for the fact that betting. in
one form or another. is permitted. The
two greatest forces of civilization are
church and school. and they are solidly
arrayed against all forms of gambling.
He who excites their hostility must. ulti-
mately go down to defeat.
The CoIesviIIe horse and colt show Of
1913 has passed into history. By univer-
sal consent it was a great triumph for Its
founder. Benton G. Ray. a man Of great
moral and physical courage and OF re-
uarkable executive ability. 1t Is doubt
full II any other kind of a man could
have accomplished what he did Monday
last-attract so many thousands of peo-
pie and so many excellent examples OF
scientific breeding. Men who succeed in
large enterprises possess the gift OF Sc
lecting the right kind of men to carry
out their plans. This was forcibly illus
trated on Monday. Mr.. Rays lleutenants
were wisely selected. Every man thor
oughly understood his part and, when
the machine was set in notion II ran
without a jar. and every event in the
schedule came on on time. Mr.. Ray Is
so much encouraged over the support
rendered his enterprise on the part of the
public that he cOntemplates building
handsome Grandstand on his show
grounds in the spring.
washinetonians Jared well at the show,
especially Thomas Bones. Harry Hesser.
Gavins brothers. Ross Sellman. and 7.
W. Dunworth. The latter's yearling har-
ness-bred filly, Mary AXworthy, was the
cynosure of all eyes. She is red bay
In color, of good size. has excellent feet
and legs, and is of almost perfect con-
formation. She captured the blue rib
bon in every class in which she was
shown, and trottel away with the grand
cup for general utility
yearlings Mary Axworthy is by the
noted sire. Bale Axworthy. and her dam
has already produced the fast pacing
mare, Miss Hobson, 2:17 IA. The filly is
entered in the Washington Times Trot-
ting Stake of 1914. and goes into the
hands Of a trainer in October. II Is re-
yretted that the District of Columbia
was not more fully represented in the colt
classes, as there is a number Of harness.
bred yearlings owned here that II en-
tered. would have made the Axworthy
lilly look TO her laurels. very excellent
specimen of the trotting breed entered
was a black colt by Director Hannis, and
which, we believe, is the only foal he has
sired. It was entered by oliver Clark, OF
Sligo, Montgomery County.
II appears on looking over the official
returns that the Washington-oWned
horses Berka and Koroni. made bet |
ter showing at the Monroe. n. Y, meet |
ing, August Is, than the daily press re-
ports furnished. Berka, in the 2:l2 trot'
won by Harry ], s., was placed at the
send-off by Mccarthy right at the black
staIlion's wheel In the second heat she
was right up with him at the three-quar-l
ters' pole in fast time. At this point she
vent to a bad break. and all Mccarthy /
lid was to get her within the distance
lag. In the third heat he was fast, but
unsteady. and had to be contented with
third money. The time. for a half-mile
rack. was fast, as Harry ]. ]. s. trotted
The first heat in 2:141-4, the second heat
n 2:1s IA. and the third heat In 2:ll.
In the 2:24 trot. in which there were
nine trotters, the brown mare Notice B.
won the first heat in 2:17 Ia, with Ko-
,oni in seventh place. In the second
-ound Peter Sims took command at the
Vord and looked like a winner at the
;ix-furlong pole, when McGrath made
irive with Farmer Gentry and nipped the
leat in 2:15 IA. Koroni and Notice B.
,assed Sims and finished like a double
cam. The finish between Gentry, Ko-
'oni, and Notice B. was very close, and
he time was 2:15 3-4. In the third heat,
he report says, Roroni was coming very
asst around the outside of the field, from
he three-quarters post, as in the initial
ound. when he made a mistake early.
he account further SAYS that he was al
Tays at the front at the finish without
xtra exertion. In one heat Koroni was
eparately timed In PIG fiat In the fifth
eat. the last, which was in 2:16 3-4, fin
he'd second under wraps" The last
Teek the Washington horses named had
o engagements, owing to the bank
uptcy Of the Empire City tract manage
tent. This week Berka and Koroni
ace at orangeburg. N. Y.
Tomorrow. Labor Day, DR.. John z.