The Washington herald., 1915-01-24
Mild Wintry Weather Causing
Veteran Harness Men to
Seek Tracks.
CORBN AT LAUREL, MD,
By L. d. SALE.

BY l.. Id. SALE.
The mild winter days that have pre-,
vailed. to such a large extent, In this lati.
tude have awakened local horse interest
Local trainers are selecting the tracks
on which they are to train during the
spring and early summer months. AlonZC
Corbin is seriously thinking OF locating
soon at the Laurel track. II. S. Croy is
inclined toward the Rockville track, il
the managers of the track present the
proper inducements. 1t would be vel
for the Rockville folk to take Mr.. Croy
into serious consideration.
He is no fly-by-night trainer of horses
He has had large experience in his line
OF trade, is sober and Industrious. knows
how to put and keep a track in order,
and would very likely draw to Rockville
other trainers The Rockville fair people
have too long hidden the advantages OF
their track as training camp from the
public. A little more enterprise on their
part would place the track in the lime
light, where it belongs.
As a purely business proposition. il
would pay the Rockville fair folk to OfTer
special inducements to trainers to locate
at their track. For years past It has been
their policy to neglect their track. until
few days before the beginning Of fair
week. and then give the surface Of the
course a hasty preparation. What the
course really needs is to be placed IN the
hands of a competent person early in the
season. and whose business it shall be to
keep the course at razor's edge.
After a track has once been put IN
racing shape it is an easy task to keep
il in condition with proper implements
and with plenty OF water during dry
spells. We are glad to observe that thus
far this year active members Of the fair
association show an inclination to get
out OF some of the badly worn ruts in
which the fair has been run for upward
of a quarter OF a century past. With
up-to-date methods and good weather.
the Montgomery County Fair Association
can be made one of the best paying in
stitutions in Maryland. Economy Of the
right sort is wise. but there Ia no econ
Omy in holding on at the faucet md
allowing the fluid to run out at the bung
hole.
At the risk of giving offense to some
very excellent and weIl-meaning persons
we would suggest that the board Of direc-
tors this year take particular pains to
be as liberal as possible with horse own
ers and trainers. These men are neces-
sary to their business. They are men
who appreciate a kindly attitude. and an
expression OF interest in their affairs will
prove to be an excellent investment No
horse owner or trainer should be per
mitted to leave the Rockville Fair track
this year with the conviction that he has
been unfairly treated.
It is a difficult task to every horseman
where there are so many conflicting in
terests, but every fair association that
consults its future and not its mere pres
ent win see to il that the men who con-
tribute to the success of the fair are
treated so well that they will be anxious
to return the following year. They are
sure to spread the good tidings among
their fellows. and thus the bread cast
upon the waters will return after many
days. The citizens of the District OF
Columbia hold n kindly feeling toward
the Rockville Fair. They wish il well.
and they annually contribute to its sue
cess. This year their interest in the fair
will be greatly enlarged.
1t is expected that four events. in
which District folk are interested. will
be decided over the Rockville track
and IL the board of directors are wise
they will arrange to have at least one
Other event decided over their track in
which District horses will be repre-
sented. One or two events for Mont
gomeTy County horses, a fast trot or
4 fast pace. and a running race each
lay should comprise a card that ought
10 hll the grandstand and the infield
of the track to overfowing. The colt
Itake5 this year promise to Be OF spe-