Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-12-29
FIGHTING THE POOL SELLERS.
Patrons of the Turf Say Dookmskers are
Degrading the Sport.

y aAAohH VI ~ A"AA ~ Fh'
Degrading the sport.
Lovers of sports, more particularly the
horsemen, properly 50 called, are making
common cause with the opponents Of the
pool sellers in aud about New York. II
is not only true that the men who so yigor-
ously opposed the Ives pool bill in the New
York legislature have organized a movement
20 repeal that act, and that Anthony Com
stock is ready TO lend 10 their movement all
the aid that is in the power Of the Society
for the Prevention OF Crime, but the more
respectable Of the horse breeders and horse
racers are Disguised with the methods Of rac-
ing as at present conducted in the vicinity Of
New York.
Only a few days ago that honest old turf.
man, Sam Bryant, of Louisville, said TINT he
believed horse racing TO be on the brink of de.
struction. He complained Of the number
and character If many men who run horses,
and Of the number Of horses they run.
In summing up bic reasons for disposing Of
his racing stable, including the great Proctor
Knott, Mr.. Bryant said; THE business is
getting tough, sir-too tough for me"
Frederick A. Lovecraft, secretary and
treasurer Of the American Jockey club, Of
New York, gives his reasons for believing
that the DAYS of racing, as sport, are mum
bered. He says plaia!y that it is simply an
adjunct Of the pool room-practically speak
ing, the roulette whecl Of a vast gambling
community. lie speaks Of the limited mum.
Der Of visitors 10 the race courses us com.
....l nth gIa sb1fRzar.lz nh. frg4,.AHF ia.
pool rooms 50 openly conducted III New York
city.
These pool rooms-places where anybody
can bet on the races-are not only many in
number, but they are also openly conducted.
No precautions are taken against the police;
there is no surveillance over the bettors. The
Office boy can bet as freely as the veteran
turfman, and money is Us soon accepted from
men who must evidently have stolen it Us
from those who are known 10 DO able 10 in
dulge their sporting p~ropensiUies.
Everything has been sacrificed To the end
of giving rs many races as possible in the
shortest possible time. Distances and weights
have been cut down 10 the last extreme. IL
is only a few years since there were many
horses In the country who could run in
heat races II one, two, three and even four
miles Today They have vanished from tho
turf. The SO called Improvement of the
breed Of horses has resulted in the prOduc-
ton Of a class Of colts which can show, even
in 2-year-old form, considerable speed, hut
they cannot show any bottom.
One of the best trainers and breeders that
this country ever saw said, in speaking Of
the rampant evil:
"They arp running the whole thing into
the ground. The b~Jokmakers are too greedy.
Il is not enough for them 10 run a fully de-
yeloped horse 10 the full extent Of his
strength; they must start an unlimited mum
Der of racers az distances less thana mile, sim
ply 50 that tine booSmGkcrs may bot against
them. No Lorse can stand the strain. We
nave seen repeated instances Of uhbptten ,
year-olds never doing anything afterward,
and 3-yearolds forcel into the stud. This is
not right, and ii there is not a speedy reform
racing viii sink to the lowest depths and oc-
cupy a position on a par with the faro lay
OUT
II has already come 10 the point where
competition between the tracks is 50 strong
that some must go 10 the wall. In place Of
seven last year there are eleven now, and
they are all well equipped II is only a few
days since visitors returning from one track
were met Oh the train by emissaries from an
other, Offering free admission tickets to the
next days racing.
These are a few Of the things that initiate
against the grandest Of all sports, aud il un-
checked will ruin 10 utterly.
OREsTEs CLEVELAND. in