The Washington herald., 1918-10-15
HOPE
TO RACE SOON
Followers of Thorough
breds Look for Renew
al Of Sport at Laurel.

hOTSeflen ana IOllOWers OF me
thoroughbred in general are encour-
aged b. reports that the Spanish flu
epidemic is on the wane and that
racing may be resumed in q few
days at Laurel Park, where the
Maryland State Fair has been eou-
Quoting its most brilliant session of
racing; in fact, the most interest
ing ever staged in Maryland. The
decree of the State Health Board
in closing the gates Of the picturesque
Anne Arundel County racetrack was
certainly a stunning blow, particu-
larly to those financially interested
in the sport, but realizing the seri-
BUSINESS of the flu in these parts,
they have taken the order with an
optimistic trend of mind and are con-
fident that the State Health Commits
sioners will allow the sport to pro-
ceed at the earliest possible moment
Hardest hit, Of course. is the Mary
land State Fair: that is, if the sus-
pension of racing lasts any length
Of time. Thousands OF dollars has
been expended by Col. Matt winn
and his associates for the promo
ton of the meeting. which gave
every indication of surprising the
one of last October. which marked
an enoch in the history of the game
in Maryland.
Every effort had been extended by
the management of the Maryland
State Fair to prevent the disease
from sDreading among the racegoers
and among those actively associated
with racing
surprisingly little illness. For the
protection OF the public General Man
ager Winn had notices posted in
structing those who made the trip
by railroad to leave the windows OF
the coaches open in order that the
air might sweep through. Hundreds
Of Washingtonians making~the trip
TO the course by auto derived con-
siderable pleasure in travelling in the
open country on delightful October
afternoons the weather having been
remarkably favorable since the OPEN
ing of the meeting two weeks ago.
One unfortunate feature from a
horseman's point OF view is that the
epidemic should be considered so
much more serious here than in New
York. The Empire City meeting at
honkers was ushered in yesterday.
ana had the owners and trainers had
an mixing that the sport would be
curtalled here, they could have saved
the cost OF shipment of their thor
oushOreds to Maryland and continued
10 nniSh out the extended season on
the Metropolitan circuit. BY its lib
eraIty in the distribution of stake
ana purse money the Maryland State
r air had been successful in enticing
the leading stables away from New
YORK and as the result Marylanders
We're getting the very best variety
or the sport among the smartest
equine hiers now in training.
The New York authorities, because
the encouragement of the thorough
pred industry as means of obtain
ing suitable Temounts for the army
Is more necessary at this time than
ever and that healthful open-air di-
version az such trying times is abso-
lutely essential, have refused to in
terfere with racing. The Gothanite
authorities, with the windows of the
cars that carry racing patrons to the
track left open, do not believe that
the sport has resulted in the spread
ing of the Influenza
Ar attractive stake program had
oeen arranged for this week, the stel-
lar events including the MARYLAND
handicap, of 5000 added, for 2-year-
olds. at six furlonEs; the Anne Arun-
del stakes, OF $500 added, for S-year-
olds and upward, at a mile and a
furlongs; the Georgetown handicap. a
$500 added, a lightweight handicap
for all ages, at six furlongs; the Roy
al Blue steeplechase handicap, of 81
900 added, for S-year-olds and upward,
at about two miles, and the Prince
George handicap, Of $500 added, for
all ages. at a mile. However, il is
the plan of the Maryland State fair
to run these more important contests
lust as soon as 1t receives notice that
the meeting can he contipuad