New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-30
BETTING ON RACES.
THE NEw-JERSEY SITUATION AND WHAT
HAS BEEN DONE IN FRANCE.
POTOMAC AS A FoUR-M ILEE-A TANDEM DR1V
ING MATCH-LORD LONSDALE'S
PERFORMANCE.


,r, boen in the courts FOR several years never
forced To a conclusion because the Monmouth fdrh
Association felt certain of losing IT, Now having
lost everything else II will grasp at this last sra"
10 keep from drowning. Mr. whers is still In bed ut
the DrcvOOrt House
Michael Dwyer is determined that the meeting AT
the Elizabeth track shall be opened on April 10 lie
will not encourage betting. however, and 1T Is highiy
probabe that all speculation VIII be carried on in a
manner strictly private.
II is said that the Linden Park people have con-
cuded not to open their grounds
The Guttenburg meeting is under agreement 10 coSe
on April o.
Tho French and English sporting papers are giving
considerable space the betting difficulties IN France
which in some respects similar TO those we are
now facing in Ncw-Jersey, and rev remarks uia"n
from 4" The Field" ana other papers on the Sno'ecV
may not be untmey. Before the parmutuel was
suppressed in England and declared TO be an instru-
mont Of gaming the machinery of the law was PAT
in notion long legal argument took place. ana
learned judgments delivered. in France now
ever they have managed this affair. II Eot bel'er' III
least more expeditiOusly. The Chamber having re-
,ccted the bin fer the legalzaon of the pari-mutue
The edict went forth that IL would no longe Do
allowed on racecourses. and that bO0kmakerS woud
no LONGER be permitted TO ply their calling during
the time that VI. COnstans has been Minister Oh lne
Interior he mas invariably acted upon the principe
that prevention is better than cure BoaiahSSih was
blotted out by prompt and energetic action ana
couav effective the measures taken TO suppress
readv.money betting in all its forms. The race
societies on the seine. Seine ct Disc, and OSe mao
few DAYS notice that the old order OF Things Woud
not be tolerated on the following sunday, whlie III
saturdays papers appeared statement OF al 'nc
lille arrangements the energetic NJ. Constans had
MANNED in the interests of Law and order. IL was
somewhat strange sight that Auteuil saw on that
curduv hit the police, the prison vans, the detectives
and the military were not wanted, and all passed on
ouetlv Yet betting not stopped nor was IL ever
Intended that il should be. The parl-mnluel was
absent there were no bookmakers' stands. no lists,
and no tickets but many bookmakers as couiu LOT
the time being hush their st7dent voices ana pose as
miyot, persons were as free ever to make bets ana
TO book them.
So far the victory of NJ Constans was complete; but
VIC are told that. after ALL tie whole affair VIII
I'm time come to be regarded as huge Joke; that the
Chamber will reconsider its vote and that the owners
of the parmutuel and the list keepers Will g on win
their business as merrily as the prOvebal marriage
bell IT, however, there be one kind of betting less
harmful than another II is surely ready betting
There can be 10 good thing" sufficiently good to
enable the punger t. plunge for more than he mas IN
his pocket is there any reason to suppose that
man would be tempted to steal to provide hnlScH
with ready money than to help himself to his helShD1rs
coin to pay on settling day. That wagering upon
seems nothing shot of wonderful that it should prevail
ia its present extent. In connection with 10 other
business or speculation would mans bare word be
taken as a sufficient guarantee for the puhctual paw
ment Of tic sum at stake. In England thousands OF
hounds change hands at the clubs, without any OF the
formaites observed in other commercial transactions
and the most extraordinary thing of all is that neither
hookmaker nor hacker has any remedy at law in case
of default.
Tho IN throwing
lin for lecalizing the parmutuel gave rise were not
marked By any novel suggestion. 1t may be true
enough that the practice Of betting on faces has H.
creased in France 10 alarming proporuols, aid
has increased the number Of adventurers who
live by the exercise of their wits on a race
course: but that consideration scarcely seems
TO warrant the suppression Of betting even were
such course possible. NJ. Devclie. the Minister OF
Agriculture. has introduced a bill giving MIN
authority 10 permit meetings and investing him
with the control Of the accounts Of racecoar>e COM
panes. This bill proposes that such races only shall
be tolerated got up the interests of horSe-bced
ing. How the line is to be drawn CT how the depua-
ton to be framed do not at present understand
further provision is that race society is 10 divide
any profits among members or outsiders. The cor
respondent Of The London Times" has explained that,
II the race societies tolerate bOokmakers, the Govern
nent will shut its eyes. and will interfere only In case
of a scandal. The societies viii be required to set
apart betting ring, with extra charge for admis
sion and they will be encouraged TO give percentage
on the akngs local charities and the up,ho OF the
whole affair will probably be that regulation Of gam
bling which NJ Paulmer of opinion is all that is
needed 10 meet the case.
The action OF NJ. COnstans has naturally given rise
IN a good deal of argument, and in the Chamber Of
IDENTITIES NJ Paulmcr asked what effect the suppression
~ the betting list system would have horse breeding
in France as in his opinion. the action of the Govern
,nent was calculated TO ruin the breeding establish
mentsl The same question might be asked in America
for, whether betting be legitimate form OF amnse
mcnt or whether it be an unqualified evil. one
doubt that if betting stopped there would be 10
such thing as racing By-and-by We shall what
effect the NewIesey prohibition Of wagering will have
on the spring sales the great breeding establishments.
Jack" TAYLOR tells this story:
"Joseph Thompson. the Australian boohmakcr, who
has lust returned to New-IOrli from san Francisco
after his vain fight against the greed and Iapacty Of
local landhOders. has always ineXhauStble fund OF
racing anecdotes at his command and for hours Will
entertain Hoffman House party with the stories OF
many and varied experiences the turi. One strik-
ing incident related by him a few nights ago deeply
impressed all who heard his graphic description OF il;
one neht, in the course of the celebrated Baarat
meeting Of 81. Il party Of leading racing were
seated al a table in the bar Of the principal hotel in
that city, The entries for the Melbourne Cup of that
year. Just received, being scanned with the
customary eager interest and excited discussion. One
OF the company a Of quiet and serious aspect.
was the owner OF NimbefoOt. 4 had a funny dream
the other night. he said suddenly lie quietly pulled