New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-10
A VETERAN TURF LEADER
LEONARD W. JERoMEs VIEWS ON RACING.


recent dinner Of the Ansrisaa J'os"y Ouu
made str among those Interested In raclng Affairs 1t
was Mr. jerome who revived thoroughbred racing III
this part of the country and estaoshsa " upon ITO
spectable basls after the anuseusnt had iaien
into disrspute through the acts OK unsorupuiois
men more than forty years ago. His utsrsnces
therefore carried with them all the t"rce Oh p"Sofn~'
counsel aud when he inveichsd strongly against the
poo-boxes aad the excuses praeus.d In the present
day his words we're like notes Of warning whleh no
orc could disregard or contradict
Afew nights ago. in quiet, cosey room uptown, o
TRIBUNE reporter found himself alone with the foun"er
OF Jerome Park For more than thirty years MT.
fyure has been a familiar ia the streets Oh IN" MO
tr0polis. His early business successes prior :" Wv
Civil War enabled him 10 retire upoS conp''0uo,
in the prime OF his manhood ana 10 euJoI 'no 'oo0'
aud culture Europe where he made many strong anu
ostnr ,risndship. But events soon restored him to
the active Of Wall Street. where he looks ioaa
ing part the period anu Tor some years
ward He was noted no less for the ooluhess oi MS
operations than for his integrity and rigid iunmeht VI
every obligation 1t been many years since ne witn-
drew from his prominent place In "the street. OUT az
ouiet but careful observer counsel mas mean while
been of value Of the generation whioh
succeeded him. Mr. jerome has always been popular
among those with whom he has mingled whetner III
business or society His tall form has yielded some
what to the burden OF years. the lmpetuoSiI
OF younger life has given way TO the dehoerauon Vi
reasoning and the thoughtuness Of expression whch
come Of long experiences aud Advancing age But MS
genial spirit constantly makes itself felt his eyes sun
kndle with the fame of youthful enthusiasm ana MS
features quickly relax their lines OF serious rePoSe
when pleasant memories are recalled
A TURNING POINT FOR THE TURF
"You ought to feel well satisfied with the success OF
your anniversary dinner. Mr. Jerome SAID the TO-
porter. ,, -.
81 am indeed satisfied" was tho reply. "The OBJECT OF
thatdnner bring together the leading racing men
and their friends 10 the condition OF racing al
the present and for the breakers whch
threaten turf In this respect IL was great sue
cess The representatives OF the four great TRACKS "
this neichborhood under pleasant cireunstances'
the rough edges OF rivalry were worn of and DISPOSE
ton was developed to join hands for the oeneh' OF all
believe the occasion will In fact prove the turning
pont Of the racing interests OF this country
Racing mas increased enormously in the Unitei
States" continued Mr. Jerome. "Out am sorry TO say
thai do not think quality has improved In tac
r.g,rd the entire interest critical conditio
tia humilatng to have to acknowledge that racing
club may 90 close its gates at the dctatioa OF the
boosmaker This is all wrong. II is OF comparatively
recent growth. but II permitted to CONTINUE IL WILL
simply swamp the whole concern and land the racing
interest where suddenly found iteliin single day
forty-fve years ago"
"What was particular cause which brought that
state OF things aboutT was asked.
.WeL for SONS time" replied Mr. Jerome ="
Iot Of ra,cals had been gradually creeping IN. but
they managed pretty well to conceal their corrupt
rnethods A. last however they we're exposed The
occasion was a four-mie-heat race at Camden, y j.,
between Boston. and a horse named thlhA' duane
Boston woD the heat Then the hackers OF Boston,
these scoundre speak Of purchased Duane after the
first heat aat OF threw tue next Two meats ana
won all the money II was such glarng baTefaced
transaction and such outrage upon the public that
every decent aba tOned the turf almost IN day
such men as Co nmoIore stevens. Captain stock
ton Mr. Gibbons Mr. Johnston, of South Carolina, the
.o.ff1 aFf Qd-
vertising selling their entire racing interest," anu
racing was thereafter practically dead for
Twenty-Five years There we're two leeO'e at
tempts to revive it. one at Flushing and the
other al Contreve nat these places we're across the
river and in those days ferry fatal to the sue
cess of any decent There was always rlsl and
row after the was over and No decent people
would 20 there send a carriage there
THE FOUNDING OF JEROME PARK
AT last III 1865. therabouts. determined to
make an attempt TO revive racing Ny trends
said: on what the Of trying! You can do
nothing with racing this country There 10 no
,n,tcr,al There are not racehOrses enough IN
all the country to set up a messing However
I perssverei. AMI irew upon every plssiOle re-
source to make 1t succ IS. was determined 70
estan.i-h track where there would Do no Ferry Dut
.,in within easy distance OF the city brought IN
clubhouse as feature and aimcd to bring IN
the social element 10 supper After consultation with
friencs the 10 Tho country were nomns1ed as
eoveruors and lea Ter " fashion and haance was
chosen president. For part 1 neglected nothing
that would contribute AMI t was success
an, a., in,nense slccess There Old man named
DR. Underwood who Aad Isical voice and funny way
as an auctOueer and he used to sell auction pools ana
that was the only kind Of betting we had aud while 1t
amused our patrons afforded no revenue 10 TIE c.uo
"I only mention THIS fact to show that our success
A., not deneud entirely upon the betting ring. We
tapy had good racing and good fun AMI were able TO
~ ina. OCitI
look at ~ Jockey CdD mas Dson estaD shed
over $500 600 IN the shape of fees ana dues nave
Ieen pald In by members. and to-day you hnd race
TRACKS sprngiug without any clubs Al al and WIN
the slightest attention 10 Ae soci
auj ueprndug entirely the betting. Ills IS what
CONSIDER a'Se o ,n az heeveI when certainly 90
at Tue dinner NJ. III - -. 80 atnonf hating mn
long run which depends on betting alone. ,
said the reporter was The establishment Of track
certain conditions, point which might De accessible
without tho inconvenience and dsagreeable assOcis
Mons Of ferry crossings. with clubhouse attached
best social elements might oe oroaSnt TO-
principal feature. OF course, but with betting on one
o. he clements OF the amusement-a very important
element, surely. but not the All IN all
That is IT exactly" replied Mr.; Jerome. o,u,
that 1t cost, as \ phiantnropnr anu on the
hand had no idea OF maAns money out d. OF H.
gOrfy myself II Is true that Oh the suggestion OF
William Butter Duncan the place e- wac ana naRse ior me-
Husted. the Legslature nsmsd the avenue from
McComb's Dam alter me; this was done while
IN Europe. some friends mad the Post Once az
NiniamsOridge changed TO jerome, which proved
20 be great nuisance because people we're
constantly led get OF a, the wrong station
AMI by way was so popular
about that time that | lad acanal boat and hotel
named after ne. but as declined 20 send them coors
they changed the name. There was one sntsrpris ng
nrn on Broad that hung out tue jerome pettcsat,
bus peicoas rose or not Oh tAAt account WAS
never informed
AN INJURIOUS EXCESS OF RACING.
care there altogether too many race tracks ?"
asked.
Certainly. too many tracks and TOO much racing"
wa. the reply. "And a and disturbing element has
entered into question this through the esab
lshment Of the track OF the Brooklyn Jockey Club,