New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-26
A MENACETO HONEST RACING
REAL AIMS oFTHE 30 >KuAKERs' ALLIANCE


,,o ,,,,s ., America against the bookmakers' ring
and this feeling been intensified by the recent
formation of the Bookmakers' Alliance Whatever
apoose excuses and specous explanations the officers
M this Alliance may make the truth is well known
every experienced racing man, aud this is, that these
propose to dictate TO the Jockey
clubs oil the conditions Of betting to control absolutely
speculation the tracks to settle tue odds themselves
and gonerally.to manage affairs to suit their pur
poses II not surprising that this nsolent
rageous attitude has been assumed by the band OF
briyands which has been allowed unchecked sway
the American turf for many years Some OF them have
practsed nfamops and shameless frauds year after
with impunty, and as they have escaped punishment
they have the idea that they do anything they
please with the going public aul with the officers OF
racing associations But they finding firm
spirit of opposition in the jockey clubs, which will I'M
doubtedy result in their Reorganization 1t clear that
one Of the great Eastern clubs will submit to the
dctation OF the bookmakers organization 10 DOW
down to these fellows and their booheels would
simply to deliver the going public, bound mana
and foot the mercies OF the most unscrnpuouS
combination that devised and executed irauus On
track.
IN LEAGUE WITH CITY POOL ROOMS
Tbs Rool,e kers. Alliance includes'in its membership
number OF men who are secretly doing all they can to
secure the repeal OF the Ives bill at Albany, ana VINO
have subscribed money for that purpose Ihese men
are interested in city poorooms' In which tne oppor
tInires for fraud absolutely unlimited, and the
illicit profits larger than honest gains made in fair
and open competition any respectable race track
fence these anxious TO get the Ives bill re-
pea!ed as its provisions made pooselling receiving
bets outside OF regular racecourses and on reg
ular racing DAYS felony. The law as 1t stood before
the assage OF the Ives bill made this offence simply
msdeuieanor ana the city pool sellers and their elm
ployes when they were arrested were simply fined
Under the Ives bill complasant and amiable Police
Justice avoid sending these awbreakers to prison II
found guilty OF disobeyng the provisions of this act
lan ont IN MIN ND
clerks. office boys and Others who waste the time and
money OF their employers at these gnbiug dens in the
city.
RESPONSIBLE FOR RACING FRAUDS.
This Bookmakers' Alliance also has on its rolls the
names Of the who responsible for most OF the
notorious frauds practised in racing the principal
courses Of the within the last few years ltisnot
necessary give their names or to specify these raus
Every racing man who knows anything about turf
matters is familiar with the facts Nothing Is harder
than 10 obtain legal evidence of such frauds which VIII
stand the of court trial The thieves STICK TO-
gether and squealiug is To prove robbery IN
any particular IS as difficult as to convict faro
bank dealer of puckng pigeons who flock to his snares
by means false cards trick deangboxes or any other
of the devices familiar the professional thieves OF
gambling hes But of common sense. with
ability 10 put two and together fail TO know
that in number last year riders we're bought
by the agents boonaKers. horses that should Lave
won were pulled" and the racing public anu the
owners OF these horses were defrauded
A SPLENDID EXAMPLE SET IN ENGLAND.
The English turf has Just taught the American turf an
extremely important lesson by refusing to license two
OF the foremost Jockeys Great Britain OF them the
Frederick Archer TIE champion Jockey OF
the English turf. How long will 1t ne before an Aner
can Jockey club has the pluck the conscentousness ana
the fairness smiiar step If the performances
of some wellknown American jockeys, trainers and
owners had come under the view of fair impartial
and hgh-minded tribunal the English Jockey Club
how long would it have been before the whole lot of
scoundrels would hare been ruled of the American turf
But absolutely nothing has been done on this side OF the
water to prevent the foulest frauds No who knows
enough about racing tell the difference between
horse Ike Hanover and OF the animals that draws
the city refuse the dumps or the street Cleaning De
partiDent can ignorant Of the fact that one OF Inc
best.known boOkmakers the East responsible Tor
the sensational OF of the best racers on the
turf in an important stake last season But this man
has never been punished. lie is welcomed by all ms
associates is likely to be az prominent on the turf
this year as nc has in several previous seasons
THE FEW HONEST BoOKMAKERs PowERLESs.
The existence of these intOerable abuses is bringing
on a tremendous reaction feeling against the nook
makers Of course some OF these men are hones' ana
ACT fairly with the public with racing stables and with
each other But n number OF them are graduates OF
swindiny banks where brace games are played
and all their gains tainted with frald The BOOK
makers themselves will take the pains TO purify
Hence the most practical seems to be to relieve
the race tracks otheir presence The arest
and best way OF betting races Is by the French and
auction pools. Frauds are much less easy In these
forms of betting. aud "putup jobs are far less fire.
ouent The incomes of the Jockey clubs If the book
makers were kept away altogether from the percentages
which would come from the greatly increased betting DIT
French AMI auction pools would exceed their receipts
from betting under the present system III the piohc
were convinced that II would have falr chahce Oh
winning betting the race tracks woid De vastly OK
banded and the percentages would rlsc movement
10 abolish bookmaking and conne betting to the rench
and mutual pools Is gaining strength every day
WORKING IN THE ALBANY LOBBY.
Some OF the worst and most INSCRIPTIONS OF the DOCK
makers have some impudent allies in and around the
Legislature trying carry through measures 10
promote the interests of the city pool looms and to de-
sroy all legitimate Unless the efforts OF theSe
faows are defeated the American turf must inevitably
70 To pieces 1t cannot exist long after the great
majority OF race goers becohe satisfied that the whoIe
sport Is corrupted by the rotenness OF the Dethg ring
Honest racing can 1odrsh and endure In America
Racing under the shadow and domination of keepers of
faro banks dice coggers and swndlers OF the lowest SORT
will have a shortlived aud infamous existence
A BJoKMAKERs ALLIANCE RACE-TRACK.
The latest report concerning the Bookmakers Alliance
IL that finding they cannot bowbea the great Jockey
clubs into submitting % their impudent and exOrolta
demands they propose to race track OF their own
This would be the most delightful and welcome change
that could possibly happen in American racing II the
members OF the BOOkmakers' Alliance will only with
draw from all decent tracks and run course or
their own at Brighton Beach, Clifton Guttenburg or
some other suitable place the Improvement In the zone
OF tue sport It's atmosphere, accessories and sur
roundngs will be simply stupendOus. This would be
clear and equitable division OF the sheep ana the goats
EVERYBODY that wanted to horses pulled. irauas
practsed pockets picked and every other form OF
robbery and spoaton practised would naturally attend
every race on the BookmakeTs Aancerack; While all
decent respectable people would flock to the standard OF
the Jockey clubs This change cannot come too soon
NOT AFRAID OF THE "ALLIANCE."