view raw text
HOW IT STANDS AT LATONIA Jacksonville Fla February 19 In discussing the recent transfer of control at Latonia Captain C A Tilles made an interesting statement upon his ar ¬ rival here from the north northI I went to Cincinnati to sell said Mr Tilles but I found the other members of the club dis ¬ satisfied with the outlook for racing at the Miildale course and finding that I could not dispose of my stock to advantage made an offer and secured the stock of Messrs Hhlnock Cox and Bespess I am now the dominant factor in the club It has been erroneously stated that 1400 shares were transferred at tho recent sale Tlie fact of the matter is there are not more than 1500 shares all told The balance of tlie stock is now held by John Condon Harvey Myers and two or three residents of Covington CovingtonThough Though not generally known I vurchased the stock of L A Cclla late last fall at the time over ¬ tures were made by the Cincinnati faction but not entertained These people wanted to either buy or sell sellI I have been out of active racing for nearly five years In fact I had endeavored to sell ail my racing holdings When I found that I either bad to sacrifice my stock In tho Latonia club or get back in the game I decided to stick stickI I have not had an opportunity as yet to talk matters over with Mr Myers or Mr Condon and will not until wir meeting which is scheduled for March i At this meeting the advisability of re ¬ habilitating the plant will bo considered I feel safe in saying that tlie whole establishment will be completely overhauled Manv Improvements are needed the chief of which is a new grandstand If tho outlook warrants it I shall advocate a new steel structure structureOne One thing I would like thoroughly understood and that Is we do not intend to harass the State Hacing Commission nor infringe upon any laws of the land We will try to build up racing at Latonia with tho parimutuels as the method of betting I intend to have an ironclad rule that no official nor shareholder In the club shall race or own horses This was something that produced friction between Mr Cclla and myself You sec it matters not bow honest or how painstaking tho race track owner may be if he races horses over his own course the finger of suspicion is bound to be pointed in his direction Mr Cclla always contended that he raced his horses honestly and I believe that he did But you see there were always so many who were more ready to knock than boost that they easily found or elicited sympathy in some of the papers The piess is the one thing aside from good healthful sport that must bo with you if you are going to have successful racing
