The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-21
/ ALKING
IT OVER
: BY Joe WILLIAMS

NHIAMI BEACH, Fla, Feb. IL
1Vl The campaign to make this
state the center Of winter racing is
not wholly without general interest.
A few days ago the Turf Writers
Association gave its annual dinner
In honor Of the racing officials and
at this dinner we're a number Of
interesting and influential persons,
possessing. of course. that one
quality which directly breeds in
terest and influence. namely, plenty
Of that old sugar
The FIRST speaker was Joseph Widener
the foremost turfman In the country.
gentleman to whom fast bosses are just
as much mental relaxation as crashing
gates Is to One-Eyed Connolly. Widener
IS tall, long faced gentleman. sparse Of
hair, precise in speech and regal as to
manner. Widener heads the socially I'M
portant group which controls racing in the
Miami region and he spoks at some
length on his plans. #, and when the
state legislature formally approves an sc-
eeptable form Of betting.
Among othe. things widener pointed out
Is mat he and his associates are inter-
ested in racing strictly as speci nhsts In
breeding and as fun loving sportsmen who
Ike to see the bosses galiop around the
Track But unfortunately II appears that
tnl5 me sort OF interest isn't sufficient
20 keep the racing business in a healthy
state and that some definite means OF
wagering must be effected before a pro-
moter whether he be professional or q
mtillionaire sportsman. can be persuaded
70 make extensive Investments.
n
WTHILE I trust this will not
w destroy anybody's illusions
about the sport of kings, it APP
pears more or less obvious that the
improvement of the breed depends
chiefly on whether the two-dollar
bettor can get any action for his
dough. Widener also stated he was
IN position to know that the legis-
lature is kindly disposed to the
proposition Of legalizjng betting.
n IT
At the speakers table we're several other
gentlemen whose nan1es appear in various
social ledgers along with their civic &C
oomnlishments, the number of clubs they
arc members of and Che dates Of their
college graduation, these ehasteIy as
sombled facts serving to remind the
bourgeOise that TO historians at least the
Improvement of the human breed also rs
matter of some Importance.
n
One Of these gentlemen VINO nodded
assent 20 Widenefs remarks was an able
scion Of q family which rose TO affiue &c
social nlEffnnWnn n
through its ,expertness IN perfecting and
aSdiStriDuting before the ,V9lsteadiap era a
very eXceEent grade of bourbon whisky
which occasionally carry me into SPEAK
e4sies l still see bottles bearing the labels
Course S t6 PatF t5ess know
the labels are merely the work of a
Vandalizing counterfaiter, ....~
Il
NAlDENER does not control all
w the racing in Florida. Some
several hundred miles up the line
there is another track called st.
Johns 1t basks dangerously amid
the palms about half way between
Jacksonville and st. Augustine. This
track is controlled by William
Dryer.
Now you wouldn't call Dryer a blue
blood. There isn't much about him that
suggests drawing room. As he sat at the
turf writer's dinner fiddling around with
FORK while Widener spoke. he looked
unimpOrtant and a bit i'll at ease sup
pose this Is because the Bill Dryers and
the Joseph Wideners are not seen together
much Dryer doesn't 90 in much for
social carrying-On. Th fact Is he is
something of a mystery.
At intervals you read in newspapers
where some municipal scow is taken in
Tow by the coast guard a big liquor
seizure is made and the raiders SUSPECT
the cargo was consigned to a Mr.. William
DWyer. You hear things that make YOU
sure that if .Dwyer had been operating
back in the old days he would have been
very important and respectable citizen
most likely civic leader.