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FINANCECOMMITTEE Prominent Local Business Men Accept invitations of Murphy. C. H. Smith, Former Owner of Lieut. Gibson, Among Them Way Clear for Project. Charles Head Smith is to identify himself with Judge Joseph A. Murphy in the organization of the New Washington Park Breeders Association. Always interested in tha thoroughbred Mr. Smith could not resist the temptation of lending a helping hand to bring back to Chicago the great American Derby. The story is interesting, for in 1900 Mr. Smith owned Lieut. Gibson, which ran third in the American Derby to Sidney Lucak and James, and the same year won the Kentucky Derby and the Latonia Derby. In commenting on the situation in Chicago Mr. Smith stated "that every red blooded man considered the sport of kings essential and almost a necessity in a city like Chicago a stimulant to the pulse of the people and a great asset to strangers who want to seo big things staged. Chicago, of all cities, is certainly entitled to stage an event that would bring thousands of strangers to Chicago, and being lucky enough to have Judge Murphy at the head of an organization is in itself a clean bill of health that horsemen, trainers and jockeys will enter and carry out their obligations in a manner that will bring credit to the community." WILLING TO DO HIS SHARE. Judge Murphy sent a communication to Mr. Smith asking the Board of Trade broker to accept a berth on the finance committee, and the genial broker immediately accepted, saying that he figured it his duty to come forward and do his share in putting Chicago on the racing map again. Acting on the finance committee at the present time are James II. Channon, John Irwin, James I. Naghten, Mark Shanks, Harry J. Cassady, John F. Barrett, Charles Weeghman, George Wienhoeber, Joseph G. Landauer, John T. Connery, Samuel T. White, Joseph E. Bid-well, Jr., William E. Dee, Byron W. Everett and Charles Head Smith. The financing of the new enterprise has practically been accomplished. Judge Murphy has the list of names that he will releaso shortly fifty in number that have agreed to subscribe 75 per cent of the one and a half million dollars, but the Judge has emphatically insisted on the public of Chicago being given an opportunity to subscribe to the issue, too, and the committee finally agreed to permit the Judge to have his way ; so when the issue is made ready for the market, the general public will be given an opportunity to become members of the organization. ENCOURAGEMENT EVERYWHERE. The New Washington Park Breeders Association is much elated over the enthusiasm shown by Judge Joseph A. Murphy in a letter from New Orleans. Judge Murphy writes that one of the foremost topics of conversation among horsemen at Jefferson is about Chicago. Colonel Edward R. Bradley of Chicago and Lexington, Ky., is at present at New Orleans and is fully satisfied that whatever Chicago attempts will be for the benefit of wrestern racing and will, of course, have a tendency to bring a better class of horses West, and especially for the big handicaps and stakes. Judge Murphy states that J. W. McClelland was a caller at the. track and emphasized tho fact thaf Marshall Field III. would be a moving factor in the revival of the "American Derby" in Chicago, and expressed himself so to Mr. McClelland. The general expressions heard around is that Chicagos sleeping asset, racing, is coming into its own and by putting the organization on a high plane, giving the best possible to the public on an honest basis, will get results and the desired patronage. Chicago wants only the best a high-class organization, owned by tlie masses and controlled by honest and efficient officials. A track with surroundings of high class, suitable for kings, none better in the world, is the only answer. Chicago has an organization under way, with Judge Murphy in charge. His attitude is to go carefully along and not make any mistakes, but when once set to go right ahead. The New Washington Park Breeders Association is covering every angle and its plans and specifications call for a perfect plant to meet all requirements, and, as Judgo Murphy expressed himself, that is what the public is entitled to and what they are going to get.
