Sport: Darkness & Dollars

Although night harness racing (trotters and pacers) is a profitable enterprise in many U.S. localities, after-dark running races have made only a small start in one state (Oregon). Old-fashioned breed improvers are appalled at the very idea of displaying the sport of kings under lights; trainers, who like to work their charges in the cool of early morning, hate any thought of changing their customs; and jockeys dislike the idea of joining the nightworker class. But a few horse-park operators have been dreaming, somewhat wistfully, of the potentially big turnouts they might draw after dark.

Last week Illinois’ Governor Adlai Stevenson signed a bill permitting night thoroughbred races in his state. Owners of thoroughbred stables threw up their hands in horror, and none of the Chicago tracks made any immediate move to take advantage of the bill. Even the small track owners, strongest supporters of the legislation, weren’t turning on the lights just yet. Explained Ray Bennigsen of Illinois’ Hawthorne and Sportsman’s Park: “The bill, I believe, was put through as a surety measure in view of the decline in betting on the thoroughbreds at all Chicago tracks this year. We all know what lights have done for baseball, football and other sports, and there is no use kidding ourselves. We may have to come to night horse racing . . .”