Outlaw Racing at Newport, Daily Racing Form, 1902-12-05

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OUTLAW RACING AT NEWPORT. The Cincinnati Commercial-Tribune of December 4 has this to say about the prospective opening of the Newport track for winter racing: "Tho winter racing meeting of the Newport track will open Christmas Day, according to plans of the new owners. John J. Ryan, the St. Louis bookmaker, yesterday purchased a large interest in the track, and after some necsssary improvements are made it will be opened. This will probably be on Christmas Day. " Frank F. Fowler will retin the sole management. Fowler managed the Newport track under the most discouraging conditions imaginable and the very fact that he will again be at the head of tho track assures its being conducted on straight- , forward lines. "In conjunction with tho race meeting a foreign book will be opened at Newport. This will be under the supervision of John J. Ryan. " One of the improvements contemplated is the building of a bridge over the Licking River, over which the trolley cars can be run to the gates of the track. Plans for such a bridgo have been inexifjB ence for some years, but have never been flMHH out, These plans have been turned over to Ryan, who will start in at once to have bids made on the work. "It is the intention of the now racing club to give a race meeting, independent of the Western Jockey Club, and it will be run the year around. The uninitiated have had some doubts about a track so conducted being able to get horses, but on this point Messrs. Fowler and Ryan givo the greatest assurance. They say that within two weeks 500 horses, will be stabled at Newport, and these will be of as good class as have been running at New Orleans. "One of the first steps to be taken is to enclose the betting shed with glass, and a portion of the grandstand, too, is to be sheltered from the cold. The track itself is in good condition, and men will be put to work on it immediately to get it in shape for the opening day. "Manager Fowler and John Ryan had a long conference at the Gibson House last night. Whej seen there Manager Fowler said : " We will open on Christmas day with a high clasB race meeting. Newport has always been conducted on high lines, and this will not be an exception to the rule. We will have all the horses we can care for. Our reputation with the horsemen has long been established. I feel confident that we will gafc the patronage of the race loving public, for we pro-poso to conduct a fair and square high class meeting. The officials have not yet bsen selected, but they will be men who have been identified with the game for years. "In this connection it may be said that Judge Burke, one of the best known racing officials of the country will in all probability be the presiding judge. John J. Ryan, who is behind the movement to open the track, was most enthusiastic over the prospects. " Newport will run a meeting independent of any turf body, he said, but it will be a first-class meeting. We will have men in the stand whose reputations aro known the country over as capable officials; our betting ring will be open and we will have good horses here. I know that there is no doubt about that. Mr. Fowler will manage the track, while I will be in charge of the foreign book and the betting ring. We believe that we have a rtehttorace in Kentucky duringtho month of Do-comber and other months as well as other people have a right to race in Louisiana. " The Western Jockey Club has no right to control raciag in this section. Horsemen, under existing conditions, do not have a possible chance unless they are fortunate enough ta have nothing but winners in thoir !tnhl. Wf Ipnu nn the CONTINUED ON SECOND PAGE. OUTLAW RACING AT NEWPORT. Continued from First Page. purses, and they will be bigger than wore hung up around hero during the recent meeting. To assure horsemen that their money will be paid we will deposit CO, 000 with a bank to guarantee the payment of all persons. What right has any body of men to dictate to a man who has a fortune invested in a racing plant when he shall do business and when he shall not. Newport will not be under the dictation of any turf body, bnt Ill wager that Ub meeting will be run as cloan, if not cloaner, than that of any track which has bien under that organization. We propose to show them that it is possible to run a race track, even though it is not sanctioned by a lot of Chicago gentlemen. " Newport is the first track of a new circuit to open. I will have othor tracks operating next year. I have an option On two racing plants now, and before long I will be in a position to say something about my plans in this direction. We propose to spend money in improvements at Newport, which, in my opinion, is the greatest spot for winter racing irie country. "


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1902120501/drf1902120501_1_5
Local Identifier: drf1902120501_1_5
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800