The Washington herald., 1920-05-26
Bill Abolishing
Racing Recalls
Ollie James Bet

The recent agitation in Congress
for abolition of horse racing in the
United States through the means of
preventing race results, odds ana
entries from being transmitted in
interstate commerce brings to the
minds of some members of the
House and Senate the famous story
of the late Ollie James, Senator
from Kentucky, and the late Tom
Pence. secretary Of the Democratic
National Committee, two of the
most ardent race fans that ever hit
Washington.
One day James and Pence were
going to the races at Laurel, near
Washington, but an impending vote
in the Senate kept Senator James
from going with Pence for the first
race.
Make a bet for me on the first
race on whatever horse you bet on"
said James to Pence. Il will be
there later"
The Senate vote was taken some
what earlier than had been expected
and James hurriedly caught train
and got to Laurel just as the horses
were going to the post for the first
race. - He spied Pence and asked
him what horse they were playing.
II had a hot tip on this race"
said Pence. II bet $50 on the nose
for you on Athena"
You must have thought well of
him." said James. what did he
ever do?"
He is a 3-year-old maiden" an
swered Pence. He never did any
thing"
AS the horses trailed past the
grand stand going to the post.
Senator James got a look at AL
hc.a. Tom" he said. that horse
looks like he ought to be hitched
to an ash wagon. No wonder he
is a maiden"
The race was a mile and a quar-
ter, and after the horses had
started they came back past the
grandstand. Athena running a good
last with ten lengths of daylight
between him and the next horse.
You certainly are a misguided
fool" said Senator James to Pence.
Il wish 1 had that fifty back. Who
gave you that tip anyway"
AS the horses went around the
turn Athena had gone back consid-
erably and was about fifteen
lengths in the rear.
You know we are a terrible pair
of suckers" said Senator James.
we ought to be protected against
ourselves for giving our money
away like that"
On the back stretch Athena was
holding his own, about fifteen
lengths in the rear.
II am going to introduce a bill
in the Senate to abolish race
tracks," said Senator James sadly.
This certainly is awful"
Hitting the last turn Athena had
begun to come up and had caught
though he was still running seventh.
race that plug of ours might have
a chance" said Senator James.
But it isn't Goodby fifty"
Coming into the homestretch
Athena was running like a house
afire and had passed three more
horses.
Il believe that doeEone horsSh has
got a chance. Tom" shouted SEN
ator James. Come on. Athena.
Come on. you nag! Give i'm the
whip. jock! Now he's second. Come
on. you Athena. Come on, boy.
Ride i'm in! Come on, Athena;
come on
Then followed a spectacular drive
in the last sixteenth and Athena
just got up to win by a nose. The
face of Ollie James lit up with joy.
Forgetting all about abolishing race
tracks and all his imprecations
against Tom Pence's foolishness IN
betting on Athena; forgetting ev-
erything for the moment but his
happiness over his horses winning
race, Senator James turned to Tom
Pence. slapped him on the back
with a ponderous hand and shouted
Amt 1t grand. Tom? Amt it the
Of 1t