The Washington herald., 1916-12-24
RACING THRIVED IN
This VICINITY IN 1916
Laurel, Bowie and Pimhco Stage Sue
cessful Meets During Past
Spring and Fall.

The departure Of the Thoroughbred
from local race courses for new worlds
to conquer brings TO our mind the
fact that a resume Of racing conducted
by the various racing associations on
the Maryland tracks this fall would
be timely and not entirely out Of place.
The sporting fraternity witnessed q
sport this fall that brought "reminiscences
OF those good old days at BenninE.
and game that brought home thS
TACT that thoroughbred racing h here
TO stay. Never before had that fact
struck home as forcibly. Those among
US who remember when -racing in the
District was in it's hey-day. remember
the noise, hustle and confusion that
accompanied the sport on tracks where
men would scarcely II ever take their
families, when the track frequenters
mostly consisted of gamblers for gam
bling's sake. and where the now myth
ical ''bookie" ruled with an iron rod
and often controlled the pulse Of the
entire system. And yet they are called
the good old days" Undoubtedly
they were for a few Of the Gforemen-
toned gentlemen with fat purses and
slack morals But those days are Eons
and the present is now to be deaif
with. And with the present comes .
new realization. that racing now "a
not the racing of the so-caIled '-palmy-
days; that the sport now is one that
even the most discriminating OF per
sons without hesitancy welcome unto
their bosOms. and take their wives
and children TO as they would a Sun
day school picnic.
To the present high plane OF racing
is the credit due TO those actively con-
nected with the sport in these pArta
and to the racing associations under
whose banner the game has prospered-
In justice to them. is this article in
tended and TO those who are the least
bit skeptical that tn. sport is not in
good hands.
Local racing was ushered in at HAvre
&c Grace this fall and was conducted
in these parts for nearly three months
Until the final curtain fell at Bowie. The
sleepy little village on the Chesapeake
Was willing and waiting. and received the
game with open arms The opening of
that track is a holiday event to those
villagers. who only get a short glimpse
al the horses twice a year. much to their
regret. And so when the thoroughbred
III upon their town the entire populace
put on their glad regalia' and took 70
unto their own
Here was the sport sent of TO a fiytns
start more prosperous or sucosssfA
season was never Witnessed. The assooi-
alton provided a sport that equAIed. ~ nOt
eXcelled, anything seen before. Its stakes
were sufficiently large enough to induce
the owners TO repair TO that course afteI
the closing OF the fall meeting at Bel.
mont and such thoroughbreds as The
Finn, Roamer Strombol. Boots and the
cream OF turfdom participated in thu
handicap events. The attendance through
out the entire meeting was up to the rec
ord mark.
Laurel followed upon the heels OF that
delightful affair In the little village and
with as much success. Outside Of the
. kH
was the installation OF many new feA-
lures on this beautiful course. The prime
movers Of the meeting, Mr.. Harry Brie-
vogle and Mr.. Matt winn, had seen TO ~
: that their course was up TO the standard
OF any course in the country and thess
successful promoters Of the Ihoroughbred
sport outdid themselves
And then to Pimlico for the banner
meeting OF hilltop tracks long existence
: ANY doubt that the two previous msets
Lngs had been iukes as TO the prosperity
side was promptly dispelled after tbs
Baltimore track had BEEN under way out
a few days II was then TO be seen that
the management was to be hard pressed
to accommodate the crowds whioA
swarmed their gates. In addition TO thf
excellent fat racing which was provided
daily steeplechsse events were TO be VIII
messed which drew to that track an ex.
+ cellent delegation OF hurdlers. This va
riety of sport has grown immensely popu-
lar with the frequenters OF race courses
and the absence Of these numbers are
always to be regretted.
Bowie came next and last. and lIos its
three predecessors hsrhored the most
. successful meeting Of its career within
I that wonderful inClosure. To the pros
prritv oC this association is credit due
to Mr.. James F. O'Hara, its general man.
ager whose insight into the pubhc's
whins has made this course the most
, popular or the local tracks. Mr.. O'Hara
knew Just exactly what was needed az
Bowie TO bring that track near perfeo-
ton and when the gates opened this fall
dreams became realities. The installa<
tons OF new mutUels and the inclosurs
Of the stand and the ''Ting'' with glass
were the two most noticeable changes.
Excellent sport on the calendar at
this track and local supporters Of the
game were none too slow in reRliEing &c
rs attested by the gate receipts whioh
, were entirely satisfactory to those on tho
upper hand Of the game there
/ GEORGE p. MORRIS.