view raw text
LATONIA CLOSES SATURDAY. KENTUCKY STATE RACING COMMISSION REFUSES TO EXTEND MEETING. Horsemen at the Crowded Track Are at Sea as to the Future Majority Must Remain Idle Until Fall. Lexington, Ky., July 10. The meeting at Latonia will close Saturday, as originally scheduled. The State Kacing Commission, at its meeting here today, refused the application of the Latonia Jockey Club for an extension of thirty days. There was in the refusal an intimation by the commissioners to Harvey Meyers, who represented the Latonia Club and presented the application, that an extension of ten days might be granted, but Mr. Meyers, did not ask for it. He left for Cincinnati tonight saying that racing would cease at the Kenton County track Saturday and that he would make application for thirty days for the Latonia Jockey Club in October and November. Cincinnati, O., July 10. The news from Lexington that the State Kacing Commission bad declined to extend the Latonia meeting was something of a surprise to the horsemen. While this action had been considered possible, the horsemen belieyed that there would be an extension of at least two weeks, and most of them had made their plans accordingly. As matters stand now they are all at sea. After Saturday New York and "Buffalo will be the only cities east of the Kocky Mountains affording racing. Buffalo will close a week from Saturday and Fort Erie will open, but the northern, circjiit Has all .the horses.it can stand, and there-would be little chance for the majority here to earn their keep in the east, even if they could find stable room. So they must remain idle until the opening of the fall season in this section, some time iu September. Several days ago the horsemen drafted a petition to the State Kacing Commission, but, at the request of the Latonia Jockey Club, It was not presented. Talk today was to the effect that many of tin; owners who have failed to win purses are iu a bad way financially and another petition may be circulated and sent on to the commission. While most of the horsemen took the matter philosophically, there was no disguising dissatisfaction. Owners felt that they had been let down with a hard thump. While having faith in the good intentions of the Kacing Commission, they say that their interests have not been duly considered. The officials here could offer little in the way of encouragement. Secretary Dillon said he had not seen any of the directors of the club today, but ho was satisfied that the action of the commission would he accepted as final and that the meeting would end Saturday. He did not think that the club would make any further effort to secure an extension. General manager Harvey Meyers represented Latonia before the Commission and is quoted as having said that Latonia would not request a second consideration, but would apply for thirty days racing iu the fall.