New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-08
OW MYTH BOOKMAKERS.
PIERRE LoRILLARD SPEAKS OUT.


DENoUNC1SG THEIR TRIcKE.Y-ITs DIRE EfFh@'
on THE AMERICAN TURF.
The development and progress of the present move
ment to lessen the bookmaker evil, the American
turf, are being closely watched by all true riends OF
horse racing. No ono is taking keencr interest IN
1t than Pierre Lorllard tho severance Of whose aete
connection with the turf due In great measure 10
the disgust with which tho thinrs were taxing
inspired him. Mr. Lorilard is not man who minceS
words such matters. He talked long and earnestly
on the subject last night with Tribune reporter. who
called him at his home in Fifth-ave. and found
him looking and feeling well after his visit to the
South, and fully prepared to do what he could to aooi
ish tho bookmakng business
az am very much opposed to tho bookmakers'
said he because they rob the public and they TOD
owners Of horses There is fairness In thor deal
ine They are INSCRIPTIONS to degree, and in their
capacity as middle men. between the and the
public they manage TO appropriate at least 81 OOOoOo
= year,
"Then you approve such actlon as that which has
been taken by the American Jockey Club'"
ayes, indeed heartily approve of 1t, and hope
that 1t Will be speedily followed by the other clubs
@Do you think that 1t will, as well as hope that 1t
wlli'
al fear that the clubs arc actually afraid Of the
booknakers These fellows threaten the clubs, or at
least hint what they will do through tho Legislature
II they arc nterfered with They use money at
Albany, and they have already tried to use the Legs
lature IS q menace TO the clubs attempting to have
the Ives Pool bill repealed"
DO you favor the substitution Of tho mutucl
system for bookmakingl'
COMMENCING BETTER SYSTEM.
"Most certainly, do. By combining betting to the
French mutuels no one could lay against horse
He could only bet on It's winning. The mutuel
system might not suit big plungers, but IT Is just
what tho public want and what the owners want VINO
and not, q rule, heavy betters. Why should tho
owners have any mddlemen between them and the
public to enrich themselves at the expense OF both
Now that betting Is legazed with the mutucl' sys
tenn in force you charge such commission as
will afford tho clubs a fair remuneration for man
tanning the track
All bookmak1ng Is against the horses. book
maker OF course could not live unless he bet against
horses and in the Of plying his trade he steals
stable secrets and buys up jockeys and trainers Iho
bookmaklng system therefore demoralzng TO JOCKEYS
and trainers, and hurtful to everything and every
body connected with racing, and II continued VII,
utterly 1t in this country When nrsi went a a.s
racing things were very eaere q, the snort than
ANYTHING else. Now racing has been made Ousio,o
don't object 10 1t being business II u MI time
Quoted as an honest business, but 1t IS hieh u9 20
something was done to counterfeit tho influences "a
the bookmaking element. . 49,. .o,ore
We don't need middlemcn | hate to SEQ tnous ss
ruined by this pack Of scoundrels There arc o,
100 bOOkmakerS, each or whom a.
from $4,000 to $4,000 a year. That money mus
come out OF the pockets Of the public, for these en
have nothing to begin with, and can tell you tney
live like fghting-cocks. My brother George was a
GOOD racing man. and re often said to me, Don =.
back your horses. You'll win SO many more races t
when the bookTakers not against you inc
bookmakers are, with few exceptions rsscals VINO
would BIO fit subjects for the prison when their moro
profitable trade Of robblng the public On the race
courses Is st end l don't want TO be loo sweep
Ing.
THE EXCEPTIONS REMARKABLY FEW
al have said there exceptions. There are some
nice men OF more character and moro conscience than
the rest among them. But mos Of the bookmakers
are OF q GLASS with whom tho Jockey club mon VINO
suffer them on their turf would not sit down to play
@ game Of poker, because they wouldn't trust them.
II the booknahers not done away with they VIII
take away all the respectdbty that Is stu lef 10 inc
turf and will entirely Kill racing'
as II at all likely Mr. Lorilard, that an Improved
condition Of the affairs Of the turf on tho lines you
Indicate would induce you to resume your connection
with it1D
al do not thirk So l retired as you know, partly
from Ill health and partly because did not Ike the
way things going, but my son continues 30 race
horses, and my self breed them l have, may say,
done good deal for the American turf and though
do not contemplate return TO actual racing, my con-
Germ for its true prosperity, its improvement and its
elevation, win not readily diminish"