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a POPULARITY OF THE PIMLIC0 TRACK Shown by Passing of Senator Fricks Bill to Permit the Continuance of Racing at Famous Course. Baltimore. Md.. April 3. — Every one interested in the gnat sport of racing herealwmts is elated over the- outcome of the bitter fight waged in the Legislature of this state in which racing came through with colors flying. The climax came Monday, when Senator Fricks bill providing, in substance, that the extension of Baltimores limits, recently granted by the legislature, shall in no way affect racing at Pimlico. passed the House- of Delegates under a suspension of the rules, and will become a law as soon as it is signed l»v the governor. The vote on the bill was 56 to 13. Baltimore s delegation, which has lieen threatening to defeat the measure, withdrew its opiKisition after lieing assured that all the revenue derived from the licensing of race tracks in the annexed territory will be turned into the count v treasury. This assurance was given in the shape of an amendment to the original bill, which also provides that all racing h, the annex shall ■«• conducted under the rules and regulations prescribed by the Baltimore Couutv Racing Commission, just as though the citys limits had not been extended. This am Ime-nt was put in the House and the Senate concurred. RECOGNITION FOR THE SPORT. The enactment «„- this measure, along with the passage of the bill creating a racing commission for Crime Georges Countv. in which the Bowie track is located, injures a "continuance of racing at all four of the big Marvlaml tracks during the next two years, the- antiliotting bill having been de fe-at.-d sevor.,1 ,|.,ys ..,-„. Bowie was ;i, danger because, under the law, it had to apply to the Circuit Court of the county for a iK-rmit. and there was no telling when such a iH-rmit might be refused. On more than one occasion the- court, when issuing a permit, threatened to withhold its a-ioroval in tlie future. Bowie hereafter will not have to bother with the courts. Pimlico. without the enactment of tlie Frick bill or some similar measure, probably would have had to close- after January 1. 1919. because on that date that part of Baltimore countv in which the track is located 1m- -omes a part of Baltimore city and the city charter araMhifi betting. Then- was. of course, the possibility of the Maryland Jockey tub o|«iiiiig lin a new plant in the countv. but Iimlico itself was what every friend of racing wanted to have because of its sentimental associations. There could have been no such at ta linients to anv other race track as iicnple of Maryland have for Iimlico. ami with it closed it was feared racing might Is- aliolishe-d. In all of the talk there- has beea aliout prohibiting racing in this state, the one- cry has been, "Save Pimlico if jios-siblo." Inelcr another bill, passed last week. Pimlico will have Jo p;y s:.il»HI a day for each day of its me-et ing. With its twenty-six racing days a ye-ar this means an annual tax of 8,000. That, under the Frick bill passed Monday, will go into the treasury of Baltimore county.
