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COL COLE qLARKS LARKS SENSIBLE IDEAS Col Cool Lewis M Clark who is in New York talked most wisely of the western racing situa situ ¬ tion ion in a recent issue of the Daily Telegraph Here is Col Cool Clarks idea in yords yards yordsRacing forsaking Racing affairs in the yes6 said he as everyone knows have not been in a flourishing condition for several years although the season at Chicago last year was remarkably good and healthful all things considered The troubles of Chicago in a racing way are matters of his ¬ tory and they are rapidly being forgotten in the new and successful era which last seasons racing gave promise of There was friction and misunderstanding which I do not care to dis dais ¬ cuss and while it left our field fallow for a time it has but served to show how strong a hold the sport has on the Chicago people peopleI people I have been especially interested in the Chi ¬ cago cargo end of the business for some time and I believe that no city in the country takes such u thorough and genuine interest in racing as does Chicago It seems to me that the whole Chi ¬ cago cargo public likes racing likes to go and likes to bet on the horses and nowhere outside of Eng ¬ land have I seen so much general interest in the sport You know the Chicago people do things on a big scale when they do them they are dempcratic democratic live and want what they want and will come pretty near getting it if it is reasonable healthy and above board I must say that I consider Chicago people better sup ¬ porters of racing than those of New York or any other city cityEven intervene Even last year when we had no big stakes by reason of our inability to provide for them under the laws we had in Illinois the hundred days racing was a big success We had five to six thousand people daily and running from this to ten thousand on special days With the favorable legislation which we expect Wash ¬ ington Kingston Park Harlem and Hawthorne will prob probe ¬ ably divide up the racing season in an impartial way as to dates and the old stakes be revived This should give an impetus to the sport and make the season a grand one All our tracks are easy of access too which undoubtedly has much to do with the attendance attendanceWith attendance With regard to a reduction in the price of admission I do not favor the plan as I believe it cheapens racing in a way and if made a fea fear ¬ ture turret is liable to attract an undesirable element to its ultimate detriment Those people who are really interested in the sport will pay a dollar or a dollar and a half as quick as they will pay fifty cents They would really prefer to keep up a standard of excellence rather than to see any deterioration Of course the sport js for the public and they are first to be consid consider ¬ ered erred as I have always strongly stood out for But I can see no good in making the public cheap so to speak speakThe speak The other Western tracks I believe are in good condition although I have only been closely allied with Chicago racing of late years The dates for the Louisville circuit have been announced I see making a total of seventy four days Lexington will have a short meet ¬ ing King undoubtedly as usual I will be at Memphis for the Spring meeting going from there to Louisville and then to Chicago for the balance of the season Little Rock will have a Spring meeting and may clash with Nashville and Memphis but not I think to any great degree degreeI degree I am not hero representing the Turf Congress with regard to any lines of reciprocal relations but I hope to have a talk with Mr Belmont and other members of the Jockey Club in a general way on the subject I do not think there is any need for misunderstandings or quarrels between the two bodies although a conference might bring about a little more harmonious working of affairs This will be accomplished doubt ¬ less This is a big country of liberal and broad minded people and the turf is too much a part of the whole to become infected with any spirit of narrowness and bigotry As you know I was instrumental in the founding of the Western Turf Congress and IJbelieve Jubilee thoroughly in its ability to carry out its intentions intentionsWestern intentions Western racing is of course different from that of the East but mainly in the details of speculation I have always believed in the idea of ruling with an iron hand in the judges stand irrespective of persons and I have car ¬ ried reid out this principle in the twentyfive twenty years that I have acted as judge I do not believe in a racing judge leaving the stand and do not like my associate judges to do so The public looks upon a judge as its safeguard and friend against many things that are possible on race ¬ track and likes to see the judge in his place of business I have records of betting and every ¬ thing for the control of the track right at my side Many tracks have abolished the wire across the track and the hanging of purses but I find the wire a most important thing in judg judge ¬ ing King a close race You dont don't shoot at squirrels without taking a sight do you Well the wire from board to board is your sight in judging a race and the judges stand should always be fifteen feet away from the rail railI rail I am more and more interested in racing as I grow older and hope to see a lot of it yet Mr August Belmont Sr Mr Withers and Mr Jerome who were all my friends have gone and I find myself growing more conservative as time passes but the most important thing to keep in view for the success of the turf I still believe as I have always is the welfare of the public which loves the sport and supports it
