The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1892-01-01
Horse Racing.

AN DDREss To THE CITIZENS OF PENNsYL-
vANIA AND NEW JERSEY ON HoRsE-RAC-
ING n ITS ATTENDANT wills By
THE REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF f
PENNSYLVANIA, NEWER.
sEYAND DELAWARE. IssU-
ED TWELFTH
18th. 1891.
Among the great variety of popular
diversions that have been escorted to for
pastime or relaxation from the pressure of
daily cares, there are some which from
their very nature must prove OF serious in
jury to those who pursue them, and de-
trimental to the highest interest of the
community. To this class we believe
horse-racing when considered in all its
bearings, will be found undoubtedly to be-
long. The cruelty thereby inflicted upon
a noble animal, whose faithful services to
mankind should be requited only by kind
treatment and consideration on our part,
which, under the pressure of whip and
spur, exacts from him the utmost of his
powers.
When, therefore, men seek amusement
law of love, and inflict suffering or abuse
upou the creatures which God has given
to their control, but which He has also
placed under their protection, it is not
| 81 - a - ~ n ;fthair cfo nd rA nf moral S haoapoaS
thereby lowered, the noble instincts of
their nature are blunted, and their ta stes
deprayed. These can scarcely fail to be
recognized by the careful observer, as
among the direct results that follow an
indulgence in the practice under consider
alton.
The evils resulting to the public from
horse-racing have been so recognized by the
moral part of the community. both in Penn
sylvania and New Jersey, that laws have
been enacted from time to time to effect its
suppression. So long ago as the year 1920,
| the Legislature OF Pennsylvania placed on
her Statute Book the following law: "All
racing, running, pacing or trotting of
horses, &C., for money, goods or chattels, or
other valuable things, shall be and hereby
are declared to be common nuisances and
o~ffenses against this state; and the authors,
parties, contrivers and abettors thereof
shall be prosecuted and proceeded against
by Indictment" By the second section Of
this Act the horses used in such races were
forfeited to the county.
1t further provided that all wagers and
bets made on racing should be void, and
the loser, by action at law might recover
from the winner the money SO paid; that
all persons contributing money to make up
a purse for racing, should be liable to a fine
Of thirty dollars for each offence.
The Act imposes a fine of twenty dollars
on any person who should print, or set up
any ad vertisement mentioning the tim or
place of such race. Che suits for these Of
fences and the penalties attached are d.
rected by the Act to be prosecuted by the
Overseers of the poor of the Township, or
the Supervisors of the highways, aad in
case of their failure to do so, a fire of ten
| uOlidIo II lhPOoSo dPoh oUOh dCiouitibS
officers.
The above law is still in force, except
that the clause relating to the forfeiture of
the horses is relaxed in the case of 'regu-
larly incorporated trotting associations"
by a statute passed in 1891.
BY a statute of New Jersey, passed in
1868, GAN racing by running, pacing or
trotting of horses for money or other valu-
able thing, or where twenty or more per-
sons are assembled together, shall be and
are hereby declared to be offences against
the State, and the authors, parties. on
trivors and abettors thereof, and all and
every other person or persons concerned
therein, either directly or indirectly, shall
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and
on conviction shall be punished by a fine
not exceeding one hundred dollars, or i'm
prisonment not exceeding six months or
both, at the discretion of the Court. Pro
ctded that this section shall not apply to
fairs or exhibitions of any agricultural or
other incorporated society"
The subsequent sections of the above Act
provide that all persons who shall bet or
wager upon the racing Of horses, or who
shall be a stakeholder of any such wager,
or shall print or set up any paper or other
thing advertising such race, or shall ride
or drive any horse therein, or shall collect
or contribute any money, or ask others to
contribute for a purse or wager as afore-
said, shall be guilty Of a misdemeanor, and
on conviction shall be punished by a fine
not exceeding one hundred dollars, or inn
p%risonment not exceeding six months, or
! both, at the discretion of the Court.
1t also provides that if any person shah
rent or let his or her land for the purpose OF
a race course, or shall knowingly permit
such racing upon lands belonging to him,
such persons shall be guilty of a INSIDE
meanor, and on conviction shall be pun
ished by a fine not exceeding one Thousand
dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding one