Support of Horseracing
Title
Support of Horseracing
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP16964
Date
No date
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
It has been my pleasure to see practically all of the race courses in America as well as those of other countries. Your race tracks, buildings and other facilities at Arlington Downs are ideal in every particular. I know of none that excels them and few, if any, that equal them.
The establishing of you of Arlington Downs and your beautiful stock farm between the cities of Ft. Worth and Dallas is not only a great thing for the State of Texas, but is the patriotic pioneering by you - just one man - that excels anything I have ever know. You pioneered in the cattle business, in the farming industry and in the oil business, and the great things you have now done at Arlington Downs are in line with the splendid spirit of pioneering that has so distinctly characterized Texans ever since the days of Stephen F. Austin. This effort you are making to restore in Texas the horse breeding industry, now almost gone, is typical of the present Texas progress and development.
If this plan of aiding in the horse breeding industry and the farming industry as well, which you are now so commendably attempting to accomplish, can be made that success for which you hope, the benefits that will result will go much farther than the highly important ones resulting directly from the breeding of good horses. With such race courses and facilities as are at Arlington Downs, Texas will attract the breeders of thoroughbred horses from the north and from the east to your state for winter training. This view is entirely obvious when the central location of Texas is considered with reference to the other great race courses such, for instance, as those of Kentucky, Florida, Illinois, New York, Cuba and Tia Juana, Although the thoroughbred horse is, in a sense, a delicate animal and may not, therefore, always, because of climatic conditions, be changed from one place or state to another, yet Texas climate is, fortunately, such that these horses can be moved into or out of that state at any time of the year without the hazard of pheumonia and other like diseases to which they are subject as the result of a change of climate. Texas soil, grass and climate produce the good hoof, the good horse of speed and endurance, and this has been proved by the high records for speed and stamina made by Texas-raised horses on the race courses of the north and the east.
The thoroughbred sire is the foundation stock for the raising of cavalry horses, and suitable cavalry horses are now scarce and difficult to find, and the obtaining of suitable cavalry horses is one of great concern to our military organizations in times of peace as well as war. Large numbers of polo ponies raised in Texas are sold each year in the north and east at fancy prices, and it is, of course, recognized that the blood of the thoroughbred is a chief point of value in the desirable polo pony. There is, in my opinion, no reason why Texas farmers should not with great profit raise horses of the thoroughbred blood. The idea of fewer acres of low-priced cotton and the raising of more good horses ought to carry an appeal.
It is only by racing that the qualities of the thoroughbred may be known and their proper breeding developed. France, during the World War, raced horses within closed walls in order to maintain the high standard of French horses.
I have never witnessed such enthusiasm at the racing of horses as that of the splendid people attending your recent races at Arlington Downs. I believe that regulated racing along the general lines permitted by the laws of some of our other states is neither wrong nor unwise, and such legalized racing in my judgment should not, and it would not, in any way hurt or offend the morals of the very best people. Without such regulated racing as is referred to, it seems to me that it would be most difficult, if, indeed not impossible, to attract the necessary public interest to the racing of horses in order to obtain the required financial support for maintaining these racing courses. In addition to this, wisely regulated races will afford thousands of our good people the air, the sunshine and the outdoor recreation which they need, very many of whom would not get these very necessary requisites of health otherwise.
The establishing of you of Arlington Downs and your beautiful stock farm between the cities of Ft. Worth and Dallas is not only a great thing for the State of Texas, but is the patriotic pioneering by you - just one man - that excels anything I have ever know. You pioneered in the cattle business, in the farming industry and in the oil business, and the great things you have now done at Arlington Downs are in line with the splendid spirit of pioneering that has so distinctly characterized Texans ever since the days of Stephen F. Austin. This effort you are making to restore in Texas the horse breeding industry, now almost gone, is typical of the present Texas progress and development.
If this plan of aiding in the horse breeding industry and the farming industry as well, which you are now so commendably attempting to accomplish, can be made that success for which you hope, the benefits that will result will go much farther than the highly important ones resulting directly from the breeding of good horses. With such race courses and facilities as are at Arlington Downs, Texas will attract the breeders of thoroughbred horses from the north and from the east to your state for winter training. This view is entirely obvious when the central location of Texas is considered with reference to the other great race courses such, for instance, as those of Kentucky, Florida, Illinois, New York, Cuba and Tia Juana, Although the thoroughbred horse is, in a sense, a delicate animal and may not, therefore, always, because of climatic conditions, be changed from one place or state to another, yet Texas climate is, fortunately, such that these horses can be moved into or out of that state at any time of the year without the hazard of pheumonia and other like diseases to which they are subject as the result of a change of climate. Texas soil, grass and climate produce the good hoof, the good horse of speed and endurance, and this has been proved by the high records for speed and stamina made by Texas-raised horses on the race courses of the north and the east.
The thoroughbred sire is the foundation stock for the raising of cavalry horses, and suitable cavalry horses are now scarce and difficult to find, and the obtaining of suitable cavalry horses is one of great concern to our military organizations in times of peace as well as war. Large numbers of polo ponies raised in Texas are sold each year in the north and east at fancy prices, and it is, of course, recognized that the blood of the thoroughbred is a chief point of value in the desirable polo pony. There is, in my opinion, no reason why Texas farmers should not with great profit raise horses of the thoroughbred blood. The idea of fewer acres of low-priced cotton and the raising of more good horses ought to carry an appeal.
It is only by racing that the qualities of the thoroughbred may be known and their proper breeding developed. France, during the World War, raced horses within closed walls in order to maintain the high standard of French horses.
I have never witnessed such enthusiasm at the racing of horses as that of the splendid people attending your recent races at Arlington Downs. I believe that regulated racing along the general lines permitted by the laws of some of our other states is neither wrong nor unwise, and such legalized racing in my judgment should not, and it would not, in any way hurt or offend the morals of the very best people. Without such regulated racing as is referred to, it seems to me that it would be most difficult, if, indeed not impossible, to attract the necessary public interest to the racing of horses in order to obtain the required financial support for maintaining these racing courses. In addition to this, wisely regulated races will afford thousands of our good people the air, the sunshine and the outdoor recreation which they need, very many of whom would not get these very necessary requisites of health otherwise.
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Support of Horseracing,” No date, WWP16964, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.