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MARYLAND RACING SEASON COMES TO ABRUPT END -ft s Bowie Meeting Terminates Because of Adverse Weather Conditions General Manager Joseph Boyle Forced to Cancel Last Four Days of Racing Due to Ice-Covered Track-Avoids Charles Town Opposition BALTIMORE, Md., Nov. 28. The Maryland Racing season of 1938 has ended. This announcement was made late today by general manager Joseph Boyle of the Southern Maryland Association. It followed a careful survey of the Bowie track, which showed that it had a solid covering of ice, ranging from five to six inches in depth at many points. A heavy plow was run over the surface, but it failed to break up the ice and, with weather predictions for continued cold, Boyle saw no chance of a sufficient thaw to permit racing, or even training, over the track. In consequence, the abandonment of the four final days of the meeting was forced upon the organization which holds forth at Prince Georges Park. "I wanted to run the meeting out," said Bowie, "as I realize that there are many horsemen here who will be distressed by . the cancellation. Still, there was nothing else I could do. Only a warm rain would melt the ice, and the weather bureau in Washington informed me there was no indication of such a fall directly ahead. Horses could not gallop safely at a brisk pace over an icy surface, let alone run over it. Not only would it have been inhuman to ask. them to, but it also would have been extremely foolish from a business standpoint. HURT FINANCIALLY. "The cancellation of the four days will hurt us financially, but in the long run, it will work for the greater good of the sport. Certainly the public should appreciate such an action, as it offers a protection for those who might have patronized the track and ventured their dollars on horses which would be racing under unprecedented conditions." The news that Bowie was through for the year spread quickly through the turf colonies of Baltimore and Washington, and hastened the plans for departure made by out-of-town turf enthusiasts. The abandonment of the meeting will be received with no little joy by the management of the Charles Town track, as that meeting would have been a bust during the first three days, running in opposition to Bowie.
