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GOSSIP OF THE TURF Last Monday the Board of Appeals of the Western Turf Congress restored to good stand ¬ ing King all turfmen Turkmen and jockeys outlawed by reason of participation in racing over unrecognized tracks west of the 81st meridian The persons thus benefited were those who took part in various capacities some years back in racing over the St Louis winter tracks The amnesty was timely and proper The tracks in question were in active operation before the rule against winter racing was adopted and those conduct ¬ ing King them as well as owners trainers and jockeys taking part in the racing held that their acquired and well established rights and standing were equal in racing law with those appertaining to other race tracks Hence their outlawry was naturally resented and now that the tracks in question have long since closed their gates the restoration of quite a consider ¬ able body of men to good turf standing is decid decide ¬ edly ely good policy The Jockey Club will probably be called upon to consider the same question before many months pass It is deemed almost certain that the Maryland legislature now in session will pass a measure that will wipe out the outlawed tracks at Elkton Elton Barksdale Barks and other points in Maryland This will leave a large number of turfmen Turkmen and horses high and dry That they will appeal to the Jockey Club for mercy and restoration to turf privileges can be taken for granted That they will gain their point for some time to come may very well be doubted doubtedTheir doubted Their case is not in ail respects that of the western outlawed turfmen Turkmen They went into outlawry deliberately and with full knowledge of the penalties to bo incurred The rule against winter racing was in force before the Maryland tracks were established The stew ¬ ards bards of the jockey club are strict construction ists fists of racing law have a plentiful endowment of backbone and judging from their attitude toward such of the Maryland outlaws as in the past have sought pardon will be very likely to keep the whole body of men and horses out in the cold for a long time to come
