The Washington times., 1938-03-03

ficplt to deny, If not impossible.
That goes whether the request
is for a mere chunk of costume
jewelry or the moon itself.
Possibly that is why the
gaunt, gray Malcolm McConihe,
chairman Of the D. C. Demo
cratic Committee, sought out
Mrs. Jock Whitney and Mrs.
Dodge Sloan during the four
months Of fence building which
he has done preparatory to engi-
reering the SackS-Reynolds twin
proposals to their present stage.
Stand Together
Mrs. whitney is probably vir-
ginia's best known horse fancier
and rider and Mrs. Sloan is none
other; than the New York, New
port and South Carolina lady
whose Cavalcade romped home
with the Kentucky Derby in
1884 and ran second in the
Preakness the same year when a
stable mate, High Quest, noSed
in ahead Of him.
McConihe, a horse fancier
from away back, and q frequent
visitor at the nearby Maryland
ovalS, importuned both of these
ladies for support for favorable
Washington race track legiSla-
tion before either of them went
to the coast this winter, and
their answer was as one.
Mrs. Whitney, knowing that
Virginia bill was in the making,
declared her first allegiance was
to the Old Dominion, but that
If the measure failed, she would
accept and encourage the next
nearest location-Washington.
Way Is Cleared
And Mrs. Sloan's story was al
most identical. Her lot was cast
with Mrs. Whitney, McConihe
was saying at the Capitol today,
the Virginia and District of Co.
lumbia being her first and Sec
ond choices for new racing thor
oughfares.
Well, the Virginia measure
has been defeated, which is tan
tamount to having these famed
sportswomer4 solidly behind
WaShington'S bid for the sport
Of kings.
Other factors lead me to be-
ieve they are not fooling this
time. The bill has not been
tossed into the legislative hop
per to shift for itself. I am
told on the Hill that in so far as
the House and Senate District
Committees are concerned the
way is paved. The fight. of
course, will come when the open
floor Of Congress is reached.
u
They're Enthusiastic
Meanwhile it is learned that
some important names in the
sporting and financial phases
Of. Washington life are linked
with the enterprise should legal
ization be achieved.
Men such as Breckenridge
Long, Major Harry Leonard, H.
Rozier Dulany, jr., DR.. Thomas
A. Clayton, Arthur Brodie, Alex
Gordon, Col. William Lahaver,
who. races horses in France, and
George A. Garrett are enthuSi-
astS who are reported to be
friendly toward thoroughbred
racing here.
Some of the specifications of
the measure may interest you,
an outstanding one providing no
purse in the District of Columbia
shall be for less than $1,000.
While something more than
50. days Of weekday racing are
sought, Mr.. McConihe, prime
mover of the measure, believes
a 30-day spring session and a Is.
day fall meet would be a we'll
balanced diet, which would
probably not bring too much op-
position from our neighborS over
In Maryland.
$4,000 Spectators
Benning. on which the option
held for years by Walter O'Hara
has expired, is reported to be
available. There are some 1856
acres and a plan is underfoot
for grandStand and clubhouse
capable Of accommodating 50,-
900 spectators.
Between three-quarters and
million dollars is involved in the
cost.
Proponents are claiming IS
days of racing here will inspire
spending in seven figures. At
least that seems to be the polit-
ical wedge on which the meas
ure Is riding.
But I am not being deceived
by any momentary hysteria or
toboggan which seems to have
Seen created back of the newest
horse legislation.
Recalling some Of the brick
bats which have been heaved
In previous attempts here to do
: the same thing, the bills
chances for success are even
money-no more.