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RACING AT KENTUCKY STATE FAIB. Agricultural Board Names Committee to Draw Up Plans for Meeting with Pari-Mutuel Betting. LouisvilP, Ky.. May 4. — Running races and pari-niutitel betting at the 1917 State Fair is foreseen in action taken by the State Board of Agriculture, composing the State Fair Board, at their regular monthly meeting yesterday. Commissioner of Agriculture Mat S. Cohen and J. R. Rash, of the board, were apiMdnted on a committee to investigate the advisability of such a course and report at the next board meeting, to Ik; held early in June. In the past the board has refused large offers for the privilege of conducting races with pari-mutuel betting at the Kentucky State Fair. Two years ago the offer was for 1917.sh,000, while last year Mr. Carrutaers, who furnished the midway attractions and other amusements, made a flat offer of 5,000, which the board declined. If racing is introduced under the system now being considered, the State Fair will retain all the profit. Commissioner of Agriculture Cohen, during discussion of tin* project, presented for the boards consideration a statement of probable effects on State Fair attendance and income. He reviewed the success resulting from p;iri-mutuel betting at other fairs and expressed the opinion that a single week of racing with betting, would result in between 5,000 and 0,000 profit for the Kentucky State Fair. He made the point that the State Fair was in debt and that the lifting of this indebtedness by means of the percentage profit accruing from pari mutuel betting would be both legal ami highly desirable. Mr. Rash and Mr. Harris, the latter being the member in charge of the racing department, both spoke in favor of the proposition. Kentucky courts have held that Pari-mutuel betting was legal for fairs where the racing did not extend more than one week. A majority of the State Fair Board is said to harbor the hope, as well as the expectation, that Mr. Cohen and Mr. Rash will report in favor of running races and pari-mutuel betting at the next fair.
