The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-03
Anti Horse Racing Bill
Dying a Natural Death
Arkansas General Assembly
Will Never Pass Bill Pro-
hibiting Ponies PranCing.


ROT SPRINGS, March at appears
a %foregune conclusion, based on reports
received from Little Rock, that the
Doyle Rntihorse racing hill, which was
taken to the legislature by Rev, G. J.
+, Tate, local Baptist minister, viii new
err he passed by the general assembly,
Presumably introduced to stop horse
racing in the state, 1t soon became APP
parent the measure was aimed directly
at this noted health and pleasure re-
sort. Any doubt on that point was
cleared when the supporters OF the bill
permitted an amendment to be incor-
porated in its provisions which exempt
| ed county fairs that arc held for a pc
riod of ten days, Under the original
features Of the hill 1t would have Killed
every county fair in the state, and the
very drastic provisions Will be respon-
sible. opponents OF the bill contend,
for It's failure to pass
There have been bills Of the same ma
ture offered in Arkansas legislative
halls in the past, but this particular
! product takes the blue ribbon II
provides there shall be no horse racing
within three miles Of any church or
schoolhouse in the state, whether an
admission is charged or whether the
races are free. No one Is permitted to
even train horses. All tracks and rae
ing establishments are subject TO con-
fiscation, being declared a public nut
sance. Sweeping rights through inJunc-
ton proceedings are granted and the
trial by jury is denied.
Representatives OF various counties
in the state holding fairs Immediately
jumped with both feet on the bill. What
Is IA county fair without rNres, anyway,
they asked. They were not interested
so much In Hot Springs, but their own
home town, and they wanted their fairs
and their racing, 80 representative
Doyle and the Rev, Or. Tate consented
to the amendment aforementioned. Now
the friends OF Hot Springs in the leg
islature-and this bill has proved the
city has influential and loyal support
ers-assert that those who want the bill
passed would actually legaliBe for some
counties what they would prevent In
other sections of the state,
Fire on Supporters.
Additional fire was poured on the
supporters of the bill by members Of the
Arkansas StoCkmen's association, which
contemplates meeting In this city next
month at the Oaklawn track, AS 1t Ia
about the only place In the state with
facilities large enough TO care for the
stock to be exhibited. Were the anti
racing measure to become u law, tho
property at Oaklawn, which represents
an investment Of several hundred thou
sand dollars, would have to be dlBman'
NlNtt AAN lt' Ahfi " NF NNf'AN W AAtNA
was responsible for the numhSr OF coun'
ty fairs, and the intense campaign fvl
better stock Is due to the fact that The
movement originated in the Oaklawr
grounds, The bill would deprive the
sAockinen Of meeting here, and in the
event any brought horses the owners
could not, under the provisions OF the
bill, exercise their horses, for that Is
training horses" and that feature is
a violation of the law, states his anti
racing nightmare"
Aside from taking from the city the
right to conduct Its annual race meet,
the bill also strikes "A deadly blow where
the recognized turfmen OF the country
are concerned and would erect "A bar.
rier that would prevent them from com
ing into the state. Some Of the big
gest stables In the country have been
wintering here. Among them are those
of j. II, McClelland, Willis Sharpe XII
mer, Il, c. Mickelwait, the latter an Ar
kansan, while arrangements are now
being made to quarter In the near fu-
ture the best in the whitney and Bel
mont string.
Such horses as Eternal, known as the
Red Cross horse, because Of his victory
over Billy Kelly oct. IS, on the Laurel
Md, track. for a stake Of $50, 900, which
was turned into Liberty bonds and the
bonds presented to the American Red
Cross; ExtermlnatOr, winner OF two
Kentucky classics last year, the derby
and the Latonia cup event; The Wan
derer. the most likely contender for tht
next derby, and some 200 others Of
equal or less note. have received theti
winter training on the Oaklawn oval
The Doyle-Tate bill prohibits suct
horses being trained here, even though
they never raced In the state.