Sketch Of New Race Track At Porter, Ind., Work On Which Has Begun., Daily Racing Form, 1912-08-10

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SKETCH OF NEW RACE TRACK AT PORTER IND WORK ON WHICH HAS BEGUN Plans for the reestablishment of radii on a substantial scale in northern Indiana within easy across of Chicago are rapidly coining to u focus Tin preliminaries incidental to the beginning of actual work have been completed and dirt will begin to tly today at the new course of the Mineral Springs lockey Club near Porter which will be the scene of the inaugural meeting The exact date for the opening of this meeting cannot be dciinitcly stated as yet being contingent upon the progress inade in track building The promoters of the ventnre are sanguine that thirty days will be sullicieut for the completion of the work and are counting on their ability to begin racing about the middle of September The exact date will be settled upon as soon as the work has sulliciently advanced to war ¬ rant such action It is the aim of the management to conduct two fifteenday meetings before the advent of inclement weather and with this end in view the work will be pushed along with all possible ispathch ispathchAn An outline of the general aspects of this new enterprise has already lxen published in the columns of Daily Racing Form Additional details are now available In order that the public may obtain a Hear Idea of what is contemplated it may not lie amiss to reproduce the statement in relation thereto which appeared in these columns on Tuesday last as follows followsIndiana Indiana men of means and good standing have formed an organization and purchased two tracts of land on which to construct wellappointed mile race tracks one of which will lw at or near Porter in Iorter county Indiana the other at or near Ilartsdale in Lake country Indiana Both can be reached within an hour from Chicago with ample transportation by the Lake Shore railroad and capital roads for those who may wish to go by motor cars carsIt It is proposed to conduct racing under the provisions of the Seller law which authorizes and limits race nitclings of tifteen days prescribing that thirty days must elapse before another meeting of lifteen days can be given over the same track The two tracks mentioned will IKS conducted by en ¬ tirely independent leasing organizations having no connection whatever with each other However as a matter of common sense business and to accommodate horsemen and the public a tifteen days meet ¬ ing on one track will probably be followed by another on the other track thus providing in effect a meeting of thirty days It is planned to begin the first meeting at Iorter as soon as the course can IK made ready As a minimum at least thirty days of racing seems assured in the pleasant weather characteristic of September and October Ilartsdale is to follow the Porter course courseNone None of the men formerly conducting Chicago racing has any connection with this enterprise It is strictly an Indiana affair conducted by Indiana capitalists Hacing Foundation stock is to be sold at par to finance the actual conduct of the racing Of this enough has already been taken to provide immediate capitalRacing necessary working capital Racing is to be conducted on the highest possible plane and to this end it is intended to procure the services of racing ollicials of such established reputation as to guarantee the integrity and orderly government of the syort from the outset outsetSince Since the publication of the foregoing statement of their intentions those interested in the promo ¬ tion of the new venture have been busily engaged in bringing the preliminaries to a successful igsne and much has been accomplished Title has been taken to the laud on which tho Iorter track is being built plans for the buildings that are to be erected within the racing enclosure have l cen drawn and approved and contracts have been entered into for the necessary lumber and other material that will enter into tho construction of the course and its equipment The Lake Shore railroad is bnildiii spur track into the proprcty for the convenient delivery of building material and actual construction work will be begun as soon as the spur is finished finishedThe The capital for the building of the track is being furnished by influential citizens of Indiana who have taken the initiative in this movement for the revival of racing in the vicinity of Chicago These men are not by any means of the visionary type Tliev are men who have achieved independence and amassed fortunes as a result of business foresight ami acumen and they all stand high in the nourish ¬ ing communities of their particular section of Indiana A brief allusion to the personnel of those identified with the movement may prove enlightening Ilore is a partial list of the members of the Mineral Springs Tockey Club ClubA A F Knotts Gary Ind 1 A Gavit Hammond Ind Indlames lames It Malone Valparaiso Ind Fred S Carter Hammond Ind IndIeter Ieter Crunipacker Hammond Ind IndLemuel Lemuel Darrow Lalorle Ind IndT T W Knglehart Gary Ind IndWilliam William M Daly Valparaiso Ind IndClircnce Clircnce Rrctsch Gary Ind Indlames lames II Malones fellow members have selected him to represent the Mineral Springs Jockey Club as a racing steward at all meetings to be given at the new race course in Porter county Mr Malone is one of the bestknown breeders in the state of Indiana his farm located a short distance irom Valparaiso the county seat being one of the show places of the county Mr Maloue has been prominently identified with the harness horse both as owner and breeder was sheriff of Porter county many years ago and is well known in Chicago Hoard of Trade circles where In has Ineu a conspicu ¬ ous figure for years yearsPeter Peter Crumpacker is a prominent attorney of Hammond Ind The Crutnpacker family is one of the oldest and liestknown in the state of Indiana owning extensive tracts and homesteads in Porter county Mr Crumpacker who is an ardent believer in the running horse owns several tracts of land in the vicinity of Mineral Springs Park his total holdings lieing in excess of 1fOO acres besides valua ¬ ble property in Lake county The Crnmpackers family has always been active in politics one brother Edgar representing trie 10th Indiana district for many years in Congress while another Grant II of the wellknown law firm of Crnmpacker Daly Valparaiso has represented his district in the State Legislature LegislatureA A F Knotts requires little introduction to tho reading public having been mayor of Hammond for four years and of that tyiie of public men who accomplish tilings Although a lawyer by profession he has amassed a large fortune in various large enterprises incidental to the development of Gary where he now resides He was largely instrumental in the selection of the site of Gary for the United States Steel Corporation having ourchased most of the land on which the present plants of the Steel City are located Mr Knotts has always been active in public affairs and has served for his city comity and state in various capacities capacitiesTohn Tohn A Gavit is another active type of professional man and horseman whose enthusiasm for the runner as well as the trotter fits liim well for bis active association in the work of rehabilitating racing under legal and cleanly auspices At present he is city attorney of Hammond and chairman of the Democratic County Central committee His active association witli the trotting interests will not lessen his interest in the restoration of the runners to their legal and commercially profitable place in his native state stateLemuel Lemuel narrow who has been mayor of LaPorte for so many years that many citizens remember no other incumbent is an enthusiastic advocate of the Porter racing project as well as the develop ¬ ment of hotel and watercurc on tho site adjacent to the race course and has backed his enthusiasm by n substantial investment In the associated interests interestsClarence Clarence Brctseh belongs to the hustling type of lawyers who are sought by a clientle of the more rnhstantial sort He is the legal representative of the Gary Trust and Savings I5ank the registrar and depository for the stock of Racing Foundation Corporation and has lx en selected as secretary and treasurer of that corporation liv reason of his unquestioned integrity and capacity for financial responsi ¬ bilities William M Daly of the firm of Crnmpacker Daly Valparaiso has cooperated with Messrs Knotts and Gavit from the very inception of the idea to bring about a resumption of running races on n track to be built and operated exclusively by citizens of Indiana under the plans outlined in the Continued on second page COMPLETE DETAILS OF THE INDIANA RAC ¬ ING PROJECT Continued from first page prospectus issued by himself and associates and has been particularly active with A F Knotts in secur ¬ ing the site for the Mineral Springs race track trackThose Those arc some of the men who have already given substantial evidence of their faith in the soundness of the plans for the restoration of a sport that always was popular with Cliicagoans and for which the people of this vicinity have been hungry for years The public may have a share in the move ¬ ment if it so desires The plans of the promoters contemplate offering for public subscription 10000 worth of Racing foundation preferred cumulative profit participating 7 per cent treasury stock that will be necessary to prqi orly finance the conduct of tho racing itself Racing Foundation Corporation of America is an organization incorporated under the laws of South Dakota for the express purpose of handling the financial phases of tin racing It is a 500000 corporation with its common stock of 10000 fully subscribed It is such part of the preferred stock as the directors have authorized to iniHSt racing liability in connection with the con ¬ templated meeting at Mineral Springs that is offered for public subscription Pecauso horsemen and others directly connected with thoroughbred racing are naturally most vitally interested in the success of this undertaking the promoters hope that the subscriptions from such sources will absorb the issue offered in its entirety In the present condi ¬ tion of the American turf the importance of ninety days of racing in the vicinity of Chicago which the plans contemplate when the series of tracks that are in prospect arc in full operation cannot be lightly considered It is a movement that must be conceded to hold out the promise of better times for the turfman who has valiantly stood his ground in the face of the discouragements of tho past few years Several prominent turfmen have already signified their intention of subscribing for stock Among them is K R Itradlcy one of the foremost and best known of American breeders and racing men Mr Itradlcy enjoys the distinction of having been tho lirst subscriber for Racing Foundation stock When the plans of the organization were recently unfolded to him he promptly gave them his approval and tendered his financial assistance assistanceThe The plan under which the racing is to bo con ¬ ducted differs somewhat from that ordinarily in vogue Two separate and distinct organizations are required If the plans work out as those respon ¬ sible for them believe they will it may be possible under some similar arrangement to conduct racing successfully in many places where it is not now practical to do so The underlying fundamental is the organization known as tho Racing Foundation Corporation of America This organization is sullici cntly broad in its scope to cover the requirements of racing wherever it may IK advisable to attempt it but for the present its operation will be confined to the Indiana racing field The object of tho Hating Foundation Corporation is to discharge the financial liability of racing conducted by such financially disinterested jockey clubs as may become asso ¬ ciated with tin1 corporation Racing Foundation Cor porn t ion is to lie the sole beneficiary of all profits derived from race meetings financed from its treasury The second feature of tho plan centers about a jockey club which owns a nice track and leases the same to the Kacing Foundation This jockey club has no financial interest in the carrying out of its racing program its function being simply to carry on Hie racing itself in accordance with well defined rules It is the intention of the pro jeclors of the plan to conduct its racing under the rules of the Jockey Club of New York with such modifications as may be nesessary to conform to the new plan Those interested are anxious to co ¬ operate with recognized racing authority in Ken ¬ tucky and Canada for the best interest of the sport and for the mutual benefits that will come from a harmonliious agreement It is their intention to create a permanent advisory board composed of representative horsemen and others technically fa ¬ miliar with the matters that would naturally come before such a body for consideration A broad foundation has been laid and it will be the aim of those concerned to dispel any idea that may exist that a small coterie is to be in control controlThe The men whose names have already been men ¬ tioned in connection with the Mineral Springs Jockey Club own and control the voting common stock of the Racing Foundation Corporation but in assuming this responsibility they entertain the hope that the support which will be given to their plan 9f pub liclr supported racing will bring to their aid such qualified exponents of thoroughbred racing and breed ¬ ing as to enable them to shift the cares and re ¬ sponsibilities of the administration of the affairs of the Racing Foundation to a directorate as broadly representative as the charter of the corporation is sweeping in its SCOIKJ and character They take the ground that the issue will lie largely in the hands of those who have given tone to the turf in the past and who with the abovementioned citizens of Indi ¬ ana now building the track at Mineral Springs be Hove that the rehabilitation of thoroughbred racing depends more upon tho cleanliness of the hands that govern than upon the enactment of favorable legis ¬ lation that may restors the evils to blame for th recent embarrassment of the sport in various parts of the United States StatesThe The selection of a staff of competent racing of ¬ ficials is a matter that is receiving careful atten ¬ tion It is realized that this is indeed an irnpor tnnt consideration The Mineral Springs Jockey Club lias alreadv chosen J R Malonc to serve as its racing steward while John A Gavit A F Knotts and William M Daly will serve as its board of racing governors for 1912 and 191o This is as far as any definite action has been taken It is prob ¬ able that the actual appointment of tho executive racing otllcials will be deferred until the organiza ¬ tion of the advisory board which it is hoped to re ¬ cruit from the ranks of representative turfmen turfmenThere There are a few matters of detail in connection with the racing itself that have already been decided upon For instance there will bo no stake offer ¬ ings this year for obvious reasons The racing programs will be made up of overnight events for purses of sullicicnt value to attract a good class of horses Next year an ambitious stake program will be attempted The admission fee has Ixjcn set at 2 including transportation from Chicago and re ¬ turn For local patronage the gate fee will be SlriO It may be stated that all of the features demanded by the racegoing public will be provided but that certain things will necessarily be kept within well defined bounds boundsTlits Tlits controlling membership in the Ilartsdale track the construction of which is to follow shortly will be made up of prominent and influential citizens of the tier of counties adjacent on the south It will be enterpriseCoincident nn entirely Independent enterprise Coincident with the operation of the Mineral Springs Jockey Club Mr A F Knotts president of the Racing Foundation Corporation is planning to establish a health resort on an elaborate scale He owns a group of highclass mineral springs that are located only a short distance from the site selected for tbe building of the new track Fresh water springs of unrivaled purity almond in this locality and experts who have investigated the natural id vantages and resources of the region pronounce l equal in every respect to farfamed Saratoga Mr Knotts proposes to build on bis 200acre tract ad la cent to the racetrack site a commodious hotel sanitarium and water cure utilizing the valley of tho Little Calumet River which at this point forms one of thu most beautiful natural parks in the coun frr The appointments of the resort wl be of a character designed to attract tho highest class of patronage patronageIn In authorizing the treasurer to offer not to exceed 40000 of the prefcred stock of Racing Foundation Corporation for public subscription the directors have provided that in the event of an oversubscrip ¬ tion the amount not authorized will lo returned to subscribers the board exercising a discretion based upon the desirability of the applicant It is not considered desirable to create a treasury in excess of the amount required to discharge the liabilities of lie Mineral Springs Jockey Club in giving a fif ¬ teendays meeting immediately following the com ¬ pletion of the race track These shares arc offered at par value of 100 and will be forwarded at once by the Gary Trust and Savings Pank the registrar and deixisitory upon receipt of subscriptions ad ¬ dressed either to the bank direct or to Clarence Hrotsch secretary and treasurer Gary Indiana IndianaThe The complete roster of the ollicers of the Racing Foundation Corporation of America is as follows followsA A presidentWilliam F Knolts Gary Ind president vicepresidentClarence William M Daly Valparaiso Ind vicepresident Clarence Hrctsch Gary Ind secretary and treasurer treasurerHoard Hoard of Directors J A Gavit Hammond Ind William M Daly Valparaiso Ind James S Se bree Pierre South Dakota Peter Crumpacker Ham ¬ mond Ind Lemuel Darrow La Porte Ind A F Knotts Gary Ind Clarence Uretscli Gary Ind


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