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GOOD CHANCE FOR A BILL IN VIRGINIA Folks in the Old Dominion Want to Regain Old-time Prestige in Racing. Saratoga, N. Y., August 14. Virginians at Saratoga say that if the breeders of the Old Dominion will make a fight for a racing bill uuder the leadership of men like Henry T. Oxnard, Rozier Dulany, Hunter G. Breckenridge, Captain R. J. Hancock and Dr. James Kerr they will have no trouble In getting one through the coming legislature at Richmond. Virginia was the original home of the American thoroughbred. The great stock farms which used to supply American tracks with the fleetest runners were broken up during the war, but Virginia has recovered from the war and is waxing wealthy once more. With returnlng.wealth there Is a growing desire to revive the oldtime glories of the Old Dominion in a breeding and racing way among her patriotic sons. The establishment by Mr. Oxnard of Blue Ridge Stud, witli Its highly bred stallions and mares, in Fauquier County, has opened the eyes of people of, all parts of the state to the importance of encouraging other breeders to invest, as the retired major lias, in land and stock. It is generally agreed that the best -method of encouraging breeders to Invest in Virginia land is to give race meetings at the most Important towns in the state Richmond, Norfolk, Alexandria and Roanoke. The building of a first-class race-course at Alex-andrla to take the place of the antiquated and poorly equipped Bennlng plant, would be a great boon to horsemen. The Bennlng course is poorly situated, the stables unhealthy, the track is smajl, and the going is so deep a man does not care to train and race a first-class horse through It. There is plenty of waste land about Alexandria which could be bought cheaply to build a great track upon. And Alexandria Is as easy of access to the people of Washington as Is Bennlng itself.
