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THE CHARLESTON MEETING P Regarding preparations for winter racing at Charleston, 8. C, the following from a Charleston newspaper is interesting. The report that the Jockey Club will probably outlaw owners taking part may scare some away who had intended to race their horses there, bat that report may not ba well founded, and if this article is correct onough horses are already at the track to provide good fields. It says: "On the left wing of the historic race course where blooded animals kicked up whirlwinds of dust one hundred and fifty years ago for prizes, of no greater value than a whip or a tankard of silver the Charleston Racing Association will renaw the sport in a mors dazzling fashion. Instead of the old style meetings, which were not much more than Bocial functions, where the horse was the host, there will lie prof assional races with all the modern sporting accessories. Whips and tankards of silver will not be offered, but the daily ,000 will be sought by the horsemen, who are now shipping thoroughbred animals from the east and the wsBt. The meeting, which will begin here on Monday, December 16, will continuo for 150 days and will be better than anything ever attempted in the south, with the exception of tha meetings in New Orleans. "The association, of which Mr. Arthur Wall, of Baltimore, is president, has secured the exclusive racing privileges from the Exposition Company, and paid liberally for the concession. The consideration was 7,500, which is only a small part of the money to be expended this winter. For every days racing there will be a total of ,000 for the five running events, and, with 500 horeos to start on, the association is in a position to guarantee nothing but high-class sport. While the Exposition Company haB made provision for only 500 stables, the capacity will have to be increased and may have to be doubled. At no time during the meeting will there be less than 500 animals on the grounds, and out of this great bunch the average sporting man can see that good programs can be put forth. "The track here is half a mile long and is known to the later generation as Wagoners Park. This will be inclosed with an oight-foot fence. The grand stand, which has already been erected, but which will be changed in many particulars, will have a seating capacity for 2,000 persons and there will be room for as many more in paddock and field. There will be a paddock office, a stand for the judges, a press stand and bookmaking quarters. The grounds and buildings will be arranged after the manner of all up-to-date tracks. "Although the track is only one-half mile, races at all distances, from three-eighthB of a mile to a mile and a half, have been announced. The track is thirty-five feet wide, there are no Eharp turns and by cutting down eight inches a Bplendid surface will be obtained. "The managers of the association have not finished the program for the two weeks of De-comber, but this will be done within the noxt :few days. A program for the opening day has been prepared, whicn gives some idea of what is contemplated for the entire meeting. The opening card is as f oIIowb : "Monday, December 16, 1901: "First race, puree 00, of which 5 to second and 5 to third, for three-year-olds and upward ; non-winnerB of 00 since October 1, 1901, allowed five pounds, of 00 Beven pounds, maidens that have started tenpoundB; six furlongs. "Second race, purse 00, of which 5 to second and 5 to third, for three-year-olds; horses entered to be Bold for 00 to carry 100 pound b, then two pounds added for each 00 up to ,000; six and a half furlongs. "Third race, purse 00, of which 5 to second and 5 to third, for all ages ; non-winners since November 18 allowed threo pounds, maidens ten pounds; seven furlongs. "Fourth race, purse 00, of which 5 to second and 5 to third, for two-year-olds; bbrBes entered not to be sold to carry full weight, if entered to be sold for ,000 allowed five pounds, if fcr loss then two pounds for each 00 down to 00, then three pounds down to 00; no sex allowance; five and a half furlongs. "Fifth race, purse 00, of which 5 to second and 5 to third ; ten pounds above the scale; for three-year-olds and upwards; horses entered to be sold for 00 to carry full weight, then three pounds allowed for each 00 down to 00, then four pounds allowed for each 00 down to 00; one mile. "Mr.- Arthur Wall, who is president of the Charleston Racing Association, is well known to horsemen throughput the country. He is a member of the firm of Lynn, Wall and Co., and some years ago paid out purses from his own .pocket when the association with which he was connected was unable financially to make good. The fact that Lynn, Wall and Co. is backing the association has been sufficient to bring the horse owners to Charleston. "Associated with Mr. Wall is Mr. Charles F. Gondolf, the treasurer, and one of the moving spirits in the syndicate. He has looked after the detail work, has completed all arrangements for the opening and has visited horsemen oast and west in the intorest of the meat. Mr. Gondolf was connected with the Worth track, near Chicago, for several years, and was the busineBB associate of Henry Ferry, of the Chicago firm of Smith and Perry, bookmakers. He is a thorough horseman and enjoys the confidence and respect of the turf world. Henry Bchultze, the secretary, waB formerly with the Gutten-barg track and was afterwards with the St. Asaph track, which flourished a few years ago. Robert Graham, of Charleston, is manager for the Exposition Company. "It is the intention of tha Racing Association to rcake the meeting tho strong feature of the Exposition. The track is within tho Exposition grounds and all events will be under the sanction of this company. During the winter tho. only tracks open are at Now Orloans and San Francisco, and with an absence of racing in the east and elsewhere in the south there ia the good assurance that the meeting here will bo woll patronizad. There will be no difficulty about getting plenty of horses here. Nearly two hundred animals are already in the city and other strings will ba shipped as soon as the stables aro erected. By the end of the first week in December the stables, grand stand and fences will have been whipped into place and nothing will delay the formal opening on December 16. "So many years have passed since racing was held in Charleston, that the staid old city is eager for the fray. The older generation still have a vivid memory of the great days that are gone. Before the Jockey Club ended its existence in smoke, the meetings were conducted without the professional and sporting element and this winter the bookmakers ten of them will have stands and books will be made on all raceB, Charleston people who are opposed to giddy things like this will not be forced to take cognizance of it, nor will they become separated from their wealth except by choice. The association will not be run on the Moody and San-key plan. There are men who are opposed to racing, but they are entitled to their opinion a cat has that privilege but the enterprising element in Charleston approves the sport. "While the rush of closing the exposition work is in progress tho racing association has not been unmindful of its duties, but there aro two weeks in which the track can be prepared for the meeting. By that time tho Ivory City will be trimmed and clear cut and thero will be an added polish. Tho big crowds will be swarming in, and the sporting element, which will scatter tho dollars and feed the bookmakers, will be waiting to get in. "President Wall, who has arrived in the city for the winter, haB announced that John Cava-naugh, one of the best known bookmakers in the United States, would come here from New York and take charge of the betting ring. Mr. Cavanaugh will furnish all supplies from the big track."
