view raw text
AN OBJECTIONABLE RACING PROJECT Outsiders Trying to Exploit Buffalo Capital to Establish a New Track Nearby. An ill-timed movement for the establishment of a race track in the vicinity of Buffalo, N. Y.. is being agitated by promoter J. S. Berger. A capitalization of 00,000 preferred stock and the same amount of common stock, anybody welcome to buv, has been suggested as the basis of the enterprise by the promoter, with the suggestion that if the Jockey Club refuses to grant a license for a meeting or meetings, outlaw meetings will be given anyhow. Buffalo is a fine big city, which might support race meetings in happier times orofitably. But the establishment of a Buffalo racing plant and Buffalo racing should come through the initiative of the best type of Buffalo business men und be under their exclusive control. Rapacious outside promoters, who have nothing but their own selfish purposes to serve, should be turned down hard and cold. The fact that the promoter in this case has declared his willingness to be a turf law breaker, should damn his project from the start. It is said some prominent Buffalo men view the Berger project favorably. If so, they should take shame for the fact. It is no time for such an enterprise, even under respectable auspices. if these gentlemen are troubled with a surplus of idle money, a safe and highly appropriate olace for its investment is right at hand, in the Third Liberty Loan bonds. Any money planted there would Is- as safe as the rock of Gibraltar, while it is reasonably certaiu that all money invested iu this fly-by-night racing venture would bo lost beyoud retrieveiiient. Berger is said to have represented that between 3.000 and 4.000 horses are idle and available for racing at Buffalo. This is a bald misrepresentation. Any and all horses fit to take part iu respectable-racing are in active training iu New York. Maryland and Kentucky. Such MM horses as really exist are the dregs of winter racing, horses too slow to provide racing that any one would care to cross the street to view. If Buffalo is to have racing, it should Is of the best. The best horses and owners iu the country are none too good for it. Such owners ami their horses would have nothing to do with the present projected enterprise. There is nothing but lost money aud bitter disappointment ahead for those foolish enough to invest in it. «
