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SUGGESTS EARLIER ASSIGNMENT OF DATES. As general manager of the Latonia and Douglas Tark Jockey clubs, John Ilachmeister a short time back addressed the Kentucky State Racing Commission, in advocacy of an earlier assignment of Kentucky racing dates for 1917, than has been the practice heretofore. His entirely pertinent communication reads as follows: Latonia, Ky., September 2S, 1910. Hon. J. N. Camden, Chairman, and Members of Kentucky Racing Commission, Lexington, Ky. Gentlemen: In filing herewith our application for license for our club for the year 1917, I take the liberty to call the attention of the Commission that Kentucky racing associations are under distinct disadvantages from the lateness of the time of arranging dates on the Kentucky circuit. Last year dates were not assigned until about April 1, or about thirty days before the opening of the season at Lexington on April 27. The Jockey Club of New York, as -well as the Canadian Racing Associations, usually assign racing date? in January to the various tracks racing under their jurisdiction and always before Kentucky dates are assigned, thus enabling these associations to consult with their stockholders and prepare in advance suitable stakes and other events. Horsemen racing at the winter tracks, where the season usually closes in March, desire this information before determining where they will ship, and, with attractive announcements of stakes and dates from other tracks before them, and silence as to Kentucky dates and stakes, many horsemen make engagements elsewhere, who, with definite information before them, would probably ship their horses to Kentucky and race with us Your rule now provides that each track, at the time of applying for a license, shall accompany such application with a book or program. AYe respectfully call your attention to the fact that, until racing dates are assigned, it would practically be impossible to prepare a program in advance and before knowing what dates or how many racing days would be assigned viz., last spring dates were not assigned until about April 1, and your rule provides that a book or program must be filed at the time of applying for a license, on or before February 1. Another rule provides that associations must submit names of racing officials at the time of making application for dates. Since the Commission regulates the matter of dates, this rule, it would seem, requires associations to engage officials in advance and before it is known just what dates would be assigned. "We respectfully suggest that, as the racing season of 1910 will end with the conclusion of the Latonia meeting, Saturday, October 2S, and as horsemen from all parts of the country will be here in attendance, a meeting of your honorable body be held at the Latonia clubhouse, at some suitable time or date during the meeting, to arrange for the 1917 schedule or session of racing in Kentucky. Very respectfully, John Ilachmeister, General Manager.
