wagering public "fk'em"

[Wilderness]

The following article Part I, from the May 6, 1942 Harness Horse.
The article generally small for a John Hervey article however still too large in one-piece for these forums.

Hervey's intent was glamorize the 1942 audiences, however given today, and with 2012 just around the corner?

 The advent of subsidation (VLT's or otheriwse) offer little influence by the "so-called wagering pubic".
 In most instances the audiences in attendance are primarily horsemen and extended families.

 The result of the abandonment of "wagering public" are, solutions presented upon the internet, and to internet audiences, as opposed to pro-active participation in the medial tasks (and budgets) of localities.
-----------
Now to Mr. Hervey:
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Race Track Crowds and Their Manners

By JOHN HERVEY

RECENTLY IN THE Horseman Dr. G. S. Battey of Kansas, who began writing about the trotters away back in the 'seventies and now in his old age and retirement still occasionally pens a few notes and reminiscences, drawn from the rich store at his command, adverted upon an interesting topic. Or, rather, one more than, usually interesting.

This was the orderliness, good behavior and amenity that are and always have been characteristic of the crowds that attend the harness races. Dr. Battey has been attending them, either as a professional turf writer or just a devotee of the sport, for over sixty years and during that time can recall nothing like the unseemly occurrences that are so often reported nowadays at other forms of out?door amusement where vast throngs of people assemble. He considers this a great tribute to the character of both harness racing itself and the people that go to see it. And he is right.

 The writer began attending the races in the 'seventies also, but he was then, in the beginning, taken by his father, who was passionately fond of them, and usually sat on his lap or, sometimes, if we were down on the quarter?stretch, was elevated upon the parental shoulder so he could see what was going on without danger to himself. But by the time he was six he was ''on his own'' insofar as race?going was concerned

[Wilderness]

The following article Part II, from the May 6, 1942 Harness Horse.
The article generally small for a John Hervey article however still too large in one-piece for these forums.

Hervey's intent was glamorize the 1942 audiences, however given today, and with 2012 just around the corner?

 The advent of subsidation (VLT's or otheriwse) offer little influence by the "so-called wagering pubic".
 In most instances the audiences in attendance are primarily horsemen and extended families.

 The result of the abandonment of "wagering public" are, solutions presented upon the internet, and to internet audiences, as opposed to pro-active participation in the medial tasks (and budgets) of localities.
-----------
Now to Mr. Hervey:
------------
In the cases of baseball and football crowds, it must be recalled that, as a matter of fact, it is the practice to work them up to the pitch of absolute frenzy upon big occasions.
The general body of spectators is sharply divided between partisans for the opposing teams, and all too often these partisans not only take upon themselves the task of doing everything possible to encourage their own players, but to discourage and even frighten the opposing ones. The assaults upon umpires that are commonplaces of baseball history have been accompanied by ugly threats against players themselves

[careless hal]

There is, of course, a condition affecting this. It being that New York is to all intents and purposes a foreign and not an American city


That's exactly what I was thinking!!
 

[mo doc n]

wilderness ,

I actually have a book from John Hervey from 1948 , he acutally talked about the formation of the USTA in it , pretty amazing stuff for it's time.

I bought it from The Giss along with an autograph copy of his book 

Good Racing

[Wilderness]

mo doc,
            The 1948 Hervey book (The American Trotter) was completed with the help of another, whose name escapes me. In any event the book is good reading on the early trotters.
Hervey had two earlier books that I've not seen or read:

Lady Suffolk, the Old Grey Mare of Long Island, by John Hervey, with a foreword by Harry T. Peters
New York, The Derrydale Press [c1936]

Main Title: Messenger, the great progenitor, by John Hervey.
Published/Created:    New York, The Derrydale press [c1935]
Description:    63 p. illus. 25 cm.

 Hervey died in late 1947 (around Christmas time).
Not sure how many of the Hervey magazines articles I've digitized, however it must be close to 300. I've certainly read more Hervey than most (both Dean Hoffman and Stan Bergstein are/were, BIG Hervey Fans).
 Dean's told me a couple of times that he an a few others used to meet regular and have "Hervey sessions".

I have some very early articles on the formation of the USTA and the transition from the "Harriman" Trotting Horse Club, ATA, UTA, the damned other name escapes me.
 Frank Wiswall was hired by Roland Harriman and did a superb job in convincing the then-three bodies to form into one (although later one attempted to back out.
 IMO, Frank Wiswall doesn't get enough credit today for what he actually did.

 Also have a USTA annual report of funds at the end of the first year which shows who put what money and what amounts for the first year of business (1939). Roland Harriman was the largest contributor at $12,500.

 It's all very interesting reading.