Quite A Pertinent Reply: Manager Hachmeister Calls On The Horsemen For Definite Charges.; Gipsey George Proves Victor in the Speculation Stakes- Dodge Defeats Chalmers and Other Fast Sprinters with Ease., Daily Racing Form, 1916-06-11

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QUITE A PERTINENT REPLY MANAGER HACHMEISTER CALLS ON THE HORSEMEN FOE DEFINITE CHARGES. Gipsey George Proves Victor in the Speculation Stakes — Dodge Defeats Chalmers and Other Fast Sprinters -with Ease. Louisville. Ky., Juno 10. — Replying to tlio first communication received by general manager Haoh-meistcr from the directors of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Horse Association requesting him to ask Walter II. Pea roc for his resignation as racing secretary. Mr. Hachmcister sent the following: Mr. Hal Price Headley. President the Kentucky Thoroughbred Horse Association: Dear Sir: . An unsigned paper purporting to give the proceedings in part of a meeting of the l oard of directors of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Horse Association, in connection with the various horsemen. Is In-fore me. That communication demands the summary and ] eremptory dismissal of Walter H. IVarce as racing secretary of this elub for the reason, as stated in the paper, that his further services "were detrimental to the best interests of the turf in Kentucky." Inasmuch as Mr. IVarce was selected by the Kentucky State Racing Commission to fill this position last year and served at the Churchill Downs meeting this spring without objection, ami as his ■Meat appointment has the approval of record of the racing commission, that body, before approving a successor to him. may want to know the reason for the summary action if we should thus remove him. The paper yon present contains no charges against him. neither did the horsemen whose names appear appended to the paper, sign it. They are said merely to have been present and expressed themselves verbally, but we have no means of knowing what was said or what charges or reasons were advanced. While we will go as far as paaakte to uphold the honesty, fairness and cleanliness of the Kentucky turf, that same fairness suggests that l e-fore we cast the stigma, which his summary dismissal would imply uiKm Mr. IVarce or more appropriately the Racing Commission, we should be udvised specifically of the charges against him for his acts or conduct which form the basis of such charges and, in view of the fact that vou have given your paper to the public press simultaneously with delivery to me. these charges should likewise be given similar publicity. You will all agree as fair men that every accused person is entitled to know of what he stands accused before being convicted. This much we would require before summarily dismissing any emoloye; lie-sides we are not at liberty under turf rules and practices to summarily and capriciously change racing officials after we have nominated them and the turf governing body has approved them. Assuring you of our highest consideration and that it will.be our pleasure to vigorously co-operate with you to punish, suppress and prevent corrupt turf practices, or unbecoming conduct of racing officials upon the part of any officer or employe of this track, we desire to suggest that, in our opinion, it was without due consideration to us or to the welfare of the turf that this matter should have been exploited publicly in the midst of our present meeting, and upon our track, thus creating a suspicion in advance of either charges or proof that corrupt and unfair practices have prevailed and. if your communication is to be taken by us as a mere petition for the removal of a racing official because of the individual preferences of those promoting it for another person to fill that position, and is not to ba considered as involving anv turf turpitude, it is proper that you lie reminded of the fact that there is a total of 4 il registered horsemen and breeders participating in this meeting, a complete list of which is here appended, while but 7«i of this number were, according to your statement connected with this movement. If the selection of the racing secretary is to be made a matter of mere preference of the horsemen, it is suggested that a majority should express that preference before nctio.il. Inasmuch as this statement involves matters of the greatest importance to turf and breeeling interests, and as it is essentially a matter pertaining to the regulation of racing, for whie-h purpose the racing commission was created, we hesitate to take- any further action and suggest that vou promptly bring it Infer, the commission, which body as stated, has previously selected Mr. Pearce- for this position and lias approved his selection for other meetings. Very truly yours, John llachmeister, General Manager. In reply to the above, general manager John Hiichiueistcr reeeiveel today the following: "We, the undersigned horsemen and directors of the- Kentucky Thoroughbred Horse Association having hoard the- testimony of over seventy-five horsemen of character and high standing, relative to the qualifiations of the- present racing secretary find from tli.it unanimous testimony that said W H. Peiine- is net qualified to fill the important position ol racing secretary. We state to vou that from this testimony the- further rrtii ■ !— of W. H. Pearce* as racing secretary is a menace to tie-good of the turf. . We therefore request hU immediate removal. Respectfully Signed Hal Price Headley. president. 1. P. Haves. C. II. Berryman. Tims. C. McDowell Milton Young. J. O. K. -cue. F. A. Forsythe. J. S. Barbie. *A veritable- cloud burst developed just before racing time- at Douglas Park and the- severe rain haei much to do with reducing the- attendance-. It also caused the track to lee-come extreme-lv muddy The downfall continued until after the second race*-, when the sun made a brave etTort to penetrate the dark clouds and succeeded at times. After the rain ce-ased. there were numerous late arrivals that swelled the throng to good proportions. Specula- i Hon was surprising considering the- changed track conditions and tie- talent on the- whole- did not fare • se» budly. as the-y manage-d to guess the right ones in a number of instances. The Speculation Stakes at one mile and a six- , teenth. worth ,820 net to the winner, was the- l outstanding rae-e on the e-ard from a monetary t lMiint of view and resulted in a victory for the frac*- j tieus Met actor, Gipsey George, which under his -light imiMist showed a splendid pe-rformame and i won e-asily froui Cliee-ks, with Christie in third -place. Grove-r Hughes. the favorite. followed i Christie and engaged the latter in a hard drive for the minor portion e»f the- purse-. Entered for 00 i the winner was advanced to tT.TMB :,t which ffaj. s ure he was re-taine-d. K. Ii. Elkins did tin- bidding. Dodge, making his first appearance- since l,js start ■ Jn the Kentucky Derby, showed a capital perform- r Biie-e in the three quarters handicap whe-ii he tri- f iimphed over Chalmers and Mars Cassidy. Dodge e showed a high order of bbcccI in keeping pace with the leaders while unci, r restraint ami it was n.it much of an effort f,,r him to draw out in the- ,. stretch. Pomp, which E. R. Bradley lost to J. M. Henry. t Continued on second page. QUITE A PERTINENT REPLY. Continued from first page. Jr., after his victory yesterday, was repurchased by Mr. Bradley at an advance over yesterdavs purchase price. John LmM will take the C. W. Clark racers to Reno. Nevada, on Tuesday next. Peter Clark, who is jotive in behalf of the Reno meeting, reports that quite a number of horsemen will ship from here to Om western traek und engage in the racing there this summer. Jockey E. Graves, who is under contract to P. J. Miles, was mi arrival today from Belmont lark and will riile in Kentucky during the remainder of the racing season Tin- weather chared l-.fore the days races ended and the sun came out brightly The directors of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Horse Association held another n ting this afternoon at Douglas I:,rk. supposedly on the subject of bringing about ■ change in the position of racing secretary on the Kentucky track*. Pif-sident Headh-y later announced that there would be a meeting of the association at one oclock Monday in the paddock at Raaglaa Park, which all members and horsemen racing in Kentucky are invited to attend. Work-outs this morning with the track fast were: celebrity — Five-eighths in 1:04%. Ed Crump — Half mile in 50. Father Riley— Three-quarters in 1:17% Hermuda Mile in 1:44. Howdy Howdy — Half mile in 53%. J. C. Stone Mile in 1:40. McAdoo Mile la 1:41. Pin Money — Three-quarters in 1:20. Reserve Ihilf mile in 56%. Tush Tush— Half mile in 51. Votary- Mile in l:4x. WaterbloKth-m— Three-quarter* in 1:15.


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800