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CONTESTS ARE NECESSARY JOHN E. MADDEN WRITES FORCEFUL REPLY TO EASTERN REFORMER. Points Out That Racing Affords Only Means of Determining: What Horses Are Worth Breeding; and That Gittins Bill Moans Much to Industry. Xmv York, August US. Rev. Abbott, of Clifton Park, X. Y., lias hail many answers to his attacks on racing, and for the most part these answers contained sound arguments, either legal or otherwise, setting forth why the Gittins bill should be passed. These answers have come from business men, lawyers, merchants and others, while, of course, the turfmen have had a word to say iu reply. John K. Madden is among the latest to answer Mr. Abbott, and his answer is both instructive and convincing. Mr. Madden is well qualified to speak, not only for turfmen by reason of the magnificent horses he has campaigned, but for the breeders as well. There are few breeders of cither the thoroughbred or the trotter who have made as careful a study of the industry as has been shown by results obtained both on the running and harness turf. Mr. Maddcu has this to say in answer to Rev. Abbott: "Lexington, Ky., Aug. -0, 1011. "Rev. I. C. Abbott. Clifton Park, X. Y. "Mr Dear Sir It has been my good fortune to read your letter of .Tulv 20. addressed to the Hon. Edgar T. Bracket t, of Saratoga. Touching the Gittins bill, before the Legislature of New York. Mr. Brackotts statement does him credit, as your protest is a credit to you. Fully agreeing with Mr. Brackett, as I do, I may protest in all sincerity that 1 am as earnestly opposed to bookmaking, as you can possibly be. The success of the useful and fascinating sport, of racing does not depend upon book-making; indeed, the latter vice has been its most serious menace. As a gentleman of fair intentions, if you have not intended to destroy the innocent and wholesome amusement of racing, has not your mistaken course effectually done so? And if you have not desired this result, is it not manly and moral to viido -that, which has had an unintended .fatal xc-r "Again, it mav be that you do not realize that iu seeking to suppress an evil you strike down a vast and honorable industry which affords employment to an armv of worthy men and in which is embarked millions of dollars, the Investment of which vour laws have invited and encouraged. Should not some measure of caution bo Indulged in these times when crowding competition is every day making It more difficult to keep the pot boiling and find bread for the ever increasing mouths that hunger? , , , "There are literally thousands and thousands of men, young and old, who have entered into the technical and really scientific business of developing the light harness and thoroughbred horse. It is a calling to which they have devoted patient years, that the homo might be provided for, demanding intelligence and conscientious discharge of duty, lrue it is that requiring no especial advantages derived at least to the greater number from the schools thev arc as a class wanting in scholarship, and forall this less fitted to find remunerative employment when the avocation of a lifetime is taken from them. Close the race course and you close this school. Are these worthy laborers to be relegated to idleness in middle or old age? I am sure you will say not. "You will say that the prohibition of racing, harmless in itself, does not put an end to the breeding and development of the horse, but in that you sire mistaken. The two prime qualities in a horse are speed and endurance. Neither of them can be expected in the absence of soundness absolute " soundness. These qualities can lie demonstrated only by competition open, public competition, conducted Impartially; by actual contest ou the public, course. In this way. and this way only, can sueriority be demonstrated. In no other way can the public be satisfied and assured. "Thus a particular strain is built up. demonstrated as superior: iu this way alone is the standard of excellence made sure. The public will be satislied with nothing less than the record itself, not with assertion. Were it otherwise the wise and foolish breeder would stand equal in the absence of proof. Then. too. it must not for a moment be sun-posed that the mere performance on the open course is the ultimate use of tiie horse. They are demanded bv thousands to carry on all the works of civilization. Thev do the worlds drudgery; and in every sphere of their limitless uses the best of its class is always demanded. Without open contest no best can be determined or achieved. "American trainers and jockeys have demonstrated and are demonstrating all over Europe their superiority. They arc in demand everywhere. Even England has drawn on us for her jockeys. I have known of some who have earned as much as 0,000 a year, and trainers from 0,000 to 5,000. Many of these from the state of New York. No industry in America can show a larger percentage of sobriety among their workingmen than can the care takers of the blooded horse. "Is this great American university for the development of trainers and jockeys to be closed because, perchance, a few bets are made? Betting will go on as long as human nature is susceptible to the charm aud temptation of contest and ex citement. "Your own state, New York, whence came the wonderful sire, llainbletonian. the founder in-Amer- ica of the only tribe of trotters that has continued to breed on from generation, to generation and given to the world very many of the greatest trotters ever foaled. Among them Lady Suffolk, the first to enter the 2:30 class; Flora Temple, the first to lieat the 2:30; Dexter, a champion of champions; American Girl. Lucy. George Wilkes, Rams and St. Tulicn, while Major Delmar. the first trotter to Imat the two minutes, was bred almost within calling distance of Saratoga. New York founded a distinct breed of useful horses. They gave employment to thousands, they added to the values of millions j of acres, they lent prestige to her name, and became Xn school for trainers and handlers of horses, a new avocation. "Through the influence of this breed of horses and the consequent strife for speed the Empire State derived the incentive to her present system of good roads; it was the trotter that made the modern road all it is, and the desire for a race and pleasure that brought into being the superb speedway of New York city. "No. my dear sir, it is contest, contest alone, that demonstrates superiority. Mr. Belmont. .Mr. Harkness, .Mr. Allen and Mr. Stokes may have the best horses In the world and yet they could not claim it until they established the fact in open contest, and then if they should have a Sysonby. a Hamburg Belle. Henry or Navarre. .Miss Stokes. Beldame or a Hamburg, the world would recognize the fact, and the pleasure and triumph would not alone be- for the owners, as the American sportsman would join in celebrating, as they did when the American-bred horse, Iroquois, Won the English Derby, and Sir Martin, had he won it. Mind you, not sporting men, for there is a vast difference. "I quoto"Lord North to his grandchildren: " I now dedicate this book to you, my dear grandchildren, because I want you to grow up Rood country gentlemen, doing your duty to your country and your neighbor, rich and poor, and fulfilling all the obligations of your station, and versed In all those pursuits and occupations which make a country life so pleasant and happy. I want you to. grow up sportsmen not. riiiiiU. you, sporting men Tor their is a Vast difference between a sportsman and a sporting man. "The public course, with its attendant thousands as witnesses, is the only place and the only means ,by which a horses greatness, and value can lie proven. Harry Payne -Whitney. Larry AVaterbury and their associates went to England and captured the cup for America. Their ability and their supremacy would never have been known had not tfie opportunity to display their skill on the field and polo courses been offered. "The reformers ofteii do right, but not always good. "Very sincerely, John E. Madden."
