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TENNESSEE TO HAVE RACING AGAIN. Organization Completed at Nashville to Conduct Meetings Next Fall and Spring. An association has been formed, incorporation papers filed with the state of Tennessee, officers have been chosen and the movement to revive the breeding and racing of the thoroughbred in Tennessee has taken practical form. Announcement is made that it is the purpose of the association to give race meetings this fall and next spring at Nashville, and to thereafter hold regular meetings twice a year. Negotiations have been inaugurated looking to the use of the track and grounds of the Tennessee State Fair, known so long as Cumberland Park, and the organizers of this racing and breeding association lielieve the use of the fair grounds will be most appropriate, as their efforts have to do with the upbuilding of pure blooded live stock, which the state fair stands for. The association has been perfected by the election of William J. F.wing. a well-known citizen, for many years prominent in the journalistic world of Nashville, and now head of the Eagle Printing Company, as president, and Robert C. Brien. for years secretary of Belle Meade, and prominently identified with breeding and racing, as secretary. Mr. Ewing, as "Blue Wing." achieved a wide reputation as a turf writer, and his contributions had much to do with the popularity of the sport of kings in the south. Mr. Brien is fitted by experience for the secretary ship and his long connection with famous Belle Meade and its great horses gives added prestige to the association. The executive committee of the association is made up of Martin S. Flannigan, chairman: W. J. Williams. L. A. Baum.in, Harding A. Jackson and W. H. Buchanan. The board of governors is composed of the following: K. S. Shannon, chairman: H. F. Smith. F. W. Hoover, A. H. Mizell, Hamilton Love, Bu-ford Dickinson. B. B. Brannan. H. Clark Kirkman. J. O. I-ake. Oliver J. Timothy. C. H. Brandon. R. L. Burch. Charles Davitt, West H. Mortont and W. K. Wright. The club features of the association will be among the most popular and inviting of its diversions and the board of governors of the club will lie composed of the following, with H. Clark Kirkman. chairman, and B. T. Wilson, vice-chairman: George A. Washington. Duncan F. Kenner, K. S. Gardner. John A. Bell. B. Wade Kirkpatrick. Thomas J. Tyne. Paul Eldridge, B. Kirk Rankin. C. C. Christopher, George A. Swab and Sheffield Clark. It is the purpose of the association to open offices in the next week or ten days anil proceed with arrangements for the race meetings. Secretary Brien will go to Ixmisville and confer with the leading owners about racing at Nashville this fall anil joining in the movement to revive the sport in Tennessee. The purpose of this association, which has for its name Tennessee Blood Horse Association, the same name as the association of the pioneer breeders of the thoroughbred used for their meetings at the course by the Cumberland and over whose track some of the greatest horses in the history of the American turf made their debut. The object as set fortli in the articles of incorporation are to encourage, foster and aid in the breeding and raising of the thoroughbred horse in Tennessee by contests of speed and stamina for suitable prizes. The association will comply with all state laws in regard to laws against betting and will conduct the contest on the highest plan possible. They will endeavor to prove that racing of the thoroughbred is not solely dependent on the bookmaker, the niutuels or auction pools. The rules and regulations will be such as to protect the sport and preserve racing in its best traditions. Secretary Brien, who has lieen instrumental in bringing the sentiment for a revival f racing into practical form, in talking about racing and the breeding of the thoroughbred in the state in the future, had the following to say: "Tennessee at one time, only a few years back, stood pre-eminent in the production of the thoroughbred horse. American -bred horses, especially those bred in Tennessee, have achieved fame 011 liotli the American and English turf second to none in the wide world. With blue grass growing in riotous profusion, springs and streams of pure running water, oiien and mild winters, makes Tennessee the ideal spot for the breeding and rearing of the thoroughbred. "The market for the sale of thoroughbreds was destroyed by stopping of racing, thereby coni-IM-lliiig the retirement of some of the greatest nurseries on earth, and causing at the same time an immense loss to the business interest of the state, especially Nashville It is a condition now, and not a theory that confronts us. The business men of Nashville realizing this fact, have organized the Tennessee Blood Horse Association, purely anil solely for the purpose of fostering, promoting and encouraging the breeding of the thoroughbred horse in every legitimate way possible, and realizing that the most effective way to do this is by creating a market for the sale of the horses, and further realizing that the most effective way to this end is by a revival of racing and offering purses of money, premiums and prizes of plate for sjieed and endurance. Looking to this end it is proposed in the near future to have racing with such purses, premiums, etc., offered, and, positively without the bookmaker, pari-mutuel. auction pools, or any other form of gambling, and this prevention would be possible under the absolute control of the association. A glance at the names of the gentlemen and business men composing officers and the controlling board is a guarantee that the race meetings will he conducted on the highest plane possible, and with absolute propriety and under the law. "The race course has always been the means of developing the blood horse. Without a race course the world would never have known of the great powers of imp. Bonnie Scotland and Iroquois, the horses that have contributed more to the fame of Tennessee than any predecessors. Hence we advocate the preservation of the race course, the institution so necessary to his development. We are aware of the prejudices existing against the race course by religionists and moralists generally on account of its immoral tendency. The prejudices we admit are not altogether groundless, but the immoralities of a well regulated race course are greatly magnified by those who know the least of its operation. We advocate the preservation of the race course and the revival of racing, and at the same time call upon the moralist to join with us in an effort to remove all objectionable features that may attach to the institution so necessary for the encouragement of the breeding of the thoroughbred. While we cannot hope for another Belle Meade, we can. by proper encouragement, "wake up the many smaller and noted farms that have slumliered for several years and with a united effort, place Tennessee again in the front ranks as a producer of great horses. We promise in the fall and spring a few days of most pleasurable and high-class sport aside from the great benefit to he derived by every class of business of our city." — Nashville Tennesseean.
