Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-25
ABOUT THE RUNNERS.
Il. 0. Price in Town and EX-
plains Some Matters
RELATING TO B00KMAKERS.
A Denver Young Man Wants Some
Pittsburg BOOKSELLERS.
MR.. CONANT LOSES HOPE OF WARD.
Interesting Gossip About the Local Club
and Players.
RELATING TO BOOKMAKERS.
MR.. CONANT LOSES HOPE OF WARD.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS OF THE DAY

Harry o. Price, the genial bookmakei
and poolseller, formerly of this city, ar.
rived here yesterday from Cleveland on 8
brief visit TO his numerous friends. Few,
if any men, are better known in and about
than Harry Price, and certainly nobody has
done more for the advancement of honest
sport Besides these good qualities he is
always well informed on sporting affairs
generally and horse racing particularly.
Last evening be said some interesting things
about the bookmakers and race track asso-
Citations. During long conversation on
the matter he pointed out where there has
been an important public misunderstanding
regarding the bookmakers and the: Eastern
Track Association. He said:
"The popular idea seems to be that the track
associations, OF jockey clubs, passed resolu-
ton prohibiting all bookmakers, members of the
alliance or any association, from making books
on tracks controlled by these clubs. This is
MISTAKEN IDEA,
because nothing of the kind was ever intended.
What was and what is meant is that the book
making privileges of any track will not be
leased to the alliance or any association as a
body. This however, does not prevent indi-
vidual members of any organization from leas-
ing individual privileges. The truth is things
are practically the same as they havesbeen
heretofore. Last year the Bookmakers' Alliance,
as an organization, leased the privileges at
Baltimore and Washington and lost more than
$4,000. The alliance, therefore, does not want
to lease any more privileges entirely.
"The entire trouble, if such l can call it, be-
gan at Jerome Park last year, and that track
lost heavily by it. The Jerome authorities
decided to have nothing but poolselling and
Paris mutuals at their spring meeting. As a
result they were losers to the exteht of about
$4,000 Coney Island also tried to do without
the bookmakers, and for one day did do so, but
the bookies were invited back the next day,
and at lower terms than they 1.-THE bookmakers)
had previously offered. Altogether there is no
trouble whatever now between the the book
makers and the tracks. / am member of the
ASSOCIATION, and will have book next year as
usual. The association is a protection to the
public because it has reserve fund of $40, 600,
which can be used to make good the deficits of
sively that neither the tracks nor the public
would desire to see our association broken up"
TIRED OF WINTER BOOKS.
Regarding the approaching big handicap
Mr.. Price said: ut is much too soon to begin
70 figure on probsble winners yet; in fact, there
is no book open yet. 1 h ave an idea that there
will only be about one winter book, viz, that of
Lowell q Co. Cridge & Co. may have one, but
] doubt it, Phil DAILY told me definitely that
he won't Winter books have not been a sue
cess, and there is growing desire among book
makers to keep clear of them"
Speaking Of the prospect of running races
Mr. Price spoke with considerable hope and
confidence. He said: "If the pool-selling
amendment bill of this State becomes law ex-
pect TO see some good running meetings at
Philadelphia. There may also be running
meetings here, and i don't see why there
shouldn't be. Running horses are becoming
more numerous every year and much higher
priced than they used to be. This certainly
means that there will be more tracks and more
races There is strong feeling in favor of
runners developing throughout Pennsylvania.
and these facts lead me to believe that we will
have running meetings in this State"
Mr.. Price vii. remain here four OF five days
and will return to Cleveland. He expects to
20 East during the latter part of next month.