New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-06-12


sake of decency we m axe bold to suggest
that the Jockey Club prove its claim to the
high position it assumes, by banishing from
its track every stable belonging to professional
gamblers. Exclusive in the least of things, it
should be exclusive in the most If it is
composed of gentlemen, let no gamblers
enjoy the privilege of entering horses for its
races. Otherwise an impartial public will find
it exceedingly difficult to draw distinctions.
When gentlemen hObnob with blacklegs in the
expectation of touching pitch without being
defiled they may deceive themselves, but they
do not deceive the disinterested.
We advise the Jockey Club to appoint an
earlier hour for their races, and to insist upon
their beginning on time. Three o'clock is too
late for the initial race, particularly when no
apparent attention is paid to the specified
time. Ours is q lOng-suffering public, and will
endure any inflictiOn for which it voluntarily
pays; nevertheless, the Jockey Club, being
managed by gentlemen, should be as good as
its promise. system of fines would soon
bring every horse promptly on the ground
We protest against the racing of twO-year
olds England sets the fashion, but it is a
bad fashion for all that--bad, because it is
cruel to horses Hard training at so early an
age is as much calculated to injure the future
of ambitious colts and FLIES as excessive
physical or mental work is likely to para
lyze children. Let the good of their horses
be the first consideration among gentlemen in
determining the details of their races. We
demand as a right that no race be begun
until the public has an opportunity of
inspecting the horses that start. At present
this right is completely ignored, and q
stranger remains in blissful ignorance of the
points of every animal until the race decides
the matter for him. In the recent contest
for the Westminster Cup, no one saw even
the shadow of horse until quarter of a
mile. had been run. There is a hOmely saw
to the effect that he is fool who buys a
pig in poke. What, then, shall be said of
him who fastens his affections upon q horse
on paper? Pedigree is something, but
eyes are much more. A right so easily
accorded the Jockey Club should never
think of Withholding. Lastly, we ask,
on purely artistic grounds that more
attention be paid to the dressing of jockeys.
The Club has fine grounds, fine clubhouse,
fine horses. Why, then, should there be that
disparity between the appearance of rider
and horse, which is so ignOmnious to the
former and so offensive to good tastef One
of the most picturesque opportunities of the
race course lies in the colOrs of the
jockeys. With three or four honorable
exceptions, the appointments of the FOrdham
stables are disgraceful, nor is any hesitation
felt in changing dress to suit the conve-
nence of the moment. A noble horse should
be ridden by well-dressed jockey, and, in
default of general good taste, it would be well
for the Club to appoint committee on colors,
whose business it should be to decide on the
appointments of every stable, and to allow no
dress to appear in public that does not do
credit to a club of educated gentlemen.
| Let the American Jockey Club institute
| these necessary reforms, and it may make it
self an honor to the country.