Latonia Jockey Club Wins Its Case, Daily Racing Form, 1916-11-16

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LATONIA JOCKEY CLUB WINS ITS CASE. Cincinnati, O., November 15. The City of Covington was given a solar plexus blow in the police court yesterday by Judge T. J. Edmonds when he held that the ordinance assessing a license of 00 on each race against the Latonia Agricultural Association was not only void, but unreasonable, and dismissed it. After the ordinance was passed and races were begun in October, general manager John Hachmeister was summoned daily to police court for alleged violation of the ordinance. Attorney Harvey Myers, president of the racing association, asserted at the outset that the ordinance was not only unjust, but beyond all x-eason and excessive. Judge Edmonds directed both sides to file briefs, after which it was submitted. There were three facts submitted to the court: "1. Has Covington power to license by ordinance, occupation of conducting horse races? "2. Does defendant come within the provisions of this ordinance and what effect should be given to the fact that only half of the race course lies within Covington?" "3. Is the amount of the license so great as to render the ordinance void?" Looking those facts iu the face, Judge Edmonds held Covington lias the right to regulate or license the occupation of conducting races. He was of the opinion that Covington can regulate and license defendant, but he held that the license of 00 a race over a portion of course is so unreasonable as to indicate an abuse of discretion. "Horse racing in itself," says the Court, "is not of such nature as would warrant charging such an enormous license and the Court believes further that the betting sheds, pari-mutuel machines or the places where the money is won and lost would call for a high license and were this portion iu the City of Covington the Court would probably rule different, but as these are outside the jurisdiction of the City Commissioners, the; Court held the ordinance void on the ground that it is unreasonable and dismissed the suit."


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1916111601/drf1916111601_1_9
Local Identifier: drf1916111601_1_9
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800