Heaslip Discusses Pact: Best Thing That Could Possibly Have Happened, Says He, Daily Racing Form, 1906-07-28

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HEASLIP DISCUSSES PACT. BEST THING THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE HAPPENED, SAYS HE. Everything Will Be Harmonious Racing Will Take the High Standard That New Orleans Justi- fl.es Sees Bright Future. New Orleans, La., July 27. President S. F. Heas-lip, of the New Orleans Jockey Club, while discussing the details of the peace agreement between the Crescent City Jockey Club and the New Orleans Jockey Club, expressed the belief that this agreement would give to New Orleans the greatest winter racing in the history of the city. In place of each track having about 1,200 horses each to draw from, they would each draw from about 3,000 horses. The every-day card would be of a higher quality, and the stake races should be the greatest the city could have ever dreamed of attracting. There would be a much larger attendance, and all the disagreeable features would be completely and permanently removed. There will no longer be the constant danger of legislation which would spoil racing In Louisiana, and there will no longer be . the free gates, with their accompanying evils. The. New Orleans Jockey Club was always bitterly opposed to a free- gate. During the last winter meeting Louis Cella, the leading spirit of the Crescent City Jockey Club, showed a willingness to settle the differences, and last May he came forward with a proposition. This was at the time the troubles over Douglas Park, Churchill Downs and Latonia were being discussed. The New Orleans Jockey Club never wanted more than an equal division. It was this division which was asked for originally, and the refusal to grant this request was the real cause for the organization of the American Turf Association. During the time the Churchill Downs-Douglas Park discussion was on and Mr. Cella- made his offer, .the matter was taken up by Joe Rhinock, Ed Corrlgan and Mr. Heaslip. It was very promptly agreed that there should be no conflicting dates at Louisville, and Mr. Heaslip insisted that this should be extended to cover New Orleans. Mr. Cella gladly agreed, and that really settled the question as far as the future racing at this city was concerned. Since then Mr. neasllp, as president of the New Orleans Jockey Club, has urged that the dates be settled and all details of the agreement completed as rapidly as possible. With Messrs. Rhinock and Corrlgan representing the City Park, he handled the dates for that Institution, while Mr. Cella looked after the Interests of the Fair Grounds. The schedule as ratified in New York, was agreed upon by letter some weeks ago, and a request was sent for Mr. Heaslip to come on to New York to sign up. He did not see where his presence was necessary. He had been one of those who drew up the division of dates, and as Dave Barnes Is tho official head of the City Park Jockey Club, which institution really manages the meeting at the New Orleans Jockey Clubs track, he suggested that Mr. Barnes should go north. Mr. Barnes signed for the City Park, while Louis Cella, who controls a great part of the stock of the Fair Grounds, had Mr. Renaud sign for that track, while Joe Rhinock, representing the American Turf Association, and Louis Cella, of the Western; Jockey Club, signed the document as witnesses. Mr. Heaslip added that he was greatly pleased with the settlement. The very best thing that could possibly happen for winter racing in New Orleans has been accomplished. The sport will take the high standard the city justifies. The absence of opposition will advance the standard of management of the tracks, beyond a doubt, for thero will not be the general and Indiscriminate distribution of free transportation. In this way the meeting will he wonderfully Improved, and In the classes oC horses there should be no comparison between the coming winter and any previous years. The big stake races at both tracks this winter should compare most favorably with any races in the country, with possibly the exception of the great national events. He looks for a wonderfully successful season in every respect, a race meeting o which any city In the country might be proud. A year ago It looked very much as if the racing; troubles in this city would become a thing of tha past. Alei Brewster, on that occasion, was appointed a committee of one to meet a committee from the New Orleans Jockey Club and draw up an agreement based upon an equal division of racing dates. Owing to the absence from the city of the attorney who was to actually draw up the document, there was a delay. Pending his return instructions came to Mr. Brewster to hold off. Louis Cella then became a large stockholder in the Crescent City Jockey Club and the Fair Grounds raced another season in opposition to the City Park. Now, through the willingness of Mr. Cella to coma half-way, all the racetrack war has been burled, and. on a basis of harmony and equal shares, New Orleans racing will start fresh in the fall.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1906072801/drf1906072801_1_8
Local Identifier: drf1906072801_1_8
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800