New-York tribune., 1918-03-03
Horse Trains Will Be Permit
ted-Hope for Races
Near New York
By Frank S. Cooke

Now that w'-d has beSp passed that
horse trains viii be permitted to fit
about the country this year there is
a lot more optimism among those who
think that trotting and pacing are the
real sport. One by one announcements
are coming of the completion of the
various circuits. and if the Metropoli-
tan resumes activities it Will be a case
of business as usual.
When all has been said about the
organizations of half-mile tracks there
IS mono that is in the same class as
that which is known as the Metropoli-
tan. The annual meetings at Goshen,
Monroe and Mid1letown have come to
he known Us ,he best anywhere They
have been sporting propositions and
not founded on the angles OF racing
which have brought down the mailed
fist of the law in certain sections OF
the country.
Definite announcement that Monroe
will hold n meeting and give ten $1,000
carly closing events is expected to. be
followed by like word from Middle
meetings IN sight to make circuit
of Il.
Have Kept Up Interest
These half-mile tracks have served
TO keen up interest in New York and
to reestablsh the sport. which seemed
to backslide with the end of the old
Fleetwood track and the Indifference
which marked the revivals at the EN-
pire City track.
sipilar condition prevails in the
New England States. The Grand Cir-
cult meetings ut Readvlle and Nara
gansett Park were among the best any
where. Iheir passing put damper on
the sport for a short time, but interest
has been revived through the medium
of the Bay State circuit, which is one
OF the most compact anywhere What
thls little association of tracks has
cone for The sport is made plain by
the coming back OF Readville in the
Grand Circuit and the plans for a big
state fair in that connection.
Distances are so short in the Ra,
State circuit that motor trucks are
used to haul the horses and sulkies
and In some instances the steeds %
from town 10 town on the highways
Dates III this circuit are as follows:
Woonsocket, week of June "a;
Windsor. Conn. July |; Springfield
July s; Northampton, July Is,
Greenfield, July %: Worcester Jul,
~; South Weymouth. August 5; Bos
ton. August 10: Hillsgrove, Angus
~; Readville, August %; Worcester
september =.
One of the circuits which has beer
powerful in spots and at times threat
.ned to give the Grand Circuit race
FOR first hOnorS is the Great UoStor,
The schedule this year is somewha
shorter than usual and is a combina
ton of mile and half-mile tracks. al
but the first meeting being held in con
ncction with fairs. The Great West
ern opens at La Harpe, ILL.,, on Jul,
%. and stops follow in this order
burlington. Iowa, August G; Sedalia
Mo. August 13; Springfield, ILL.,, Au
gust 19; Des Moines, Iowa, August 26
Hamiine, Mimi. September 9; Milwau
kee September 8; Peoria, Septem
Der II.
Hamline Meeting Big Affair
The Hamline meeting is the big af
fair in the Great Western, Will
Springfield. Milwaukee and Peoria ais
are the scenes of fast time. The In
diana state fair is not included, tn
meeting ct indianapolis taking plac
September 9 week, which serves as
wonderful feeder for the return of th
Grand Circuit to Columbus the weel
following
The only absentee among circuit
that have come to be generally know
IS that of the Ohio. which Is not oper
ating this year. With the exception
OF two or three of the cities all O
the tracks are in the Lake Erie cir
cult, so that there will be plenty doin