New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-04
REFORM THE TURF.
THE FRIENDS OF RACING SHOULD ACT
QUICKLY.

QUICKLY.
| THERE rs no TIME TO LOSE. IF BETTER DAYS
ARE TO COME IN THE NEXT SEASON
SOME or THE THINGS WHICH
SHOULD BE DONE.
The turfnen Of every grade anxious to know
ha, IN. racing officials OF tracks In this neigh
| borhood intend To 10 the sport from It's
present p.rilous condition. great deal OF Hlcuon
exists In Of the leading clubs ~ 1t seems I'M
POSSIBLE. for some who are prominent IN the
| .nairs Of racing 10 get OF the Old ruts into
| th. smoother paths Of turf reform. some OF them
| can zee no further than the immsnsr dividends
/ NJ former wears and the fact that SON" OF the
leading associations raced at "A loss this year Such
persons are the ones who make the loud"Tt cutlery
against reform when sweeping reforms are pro-
poscd they the first To object and IN paihtlVe
| voice say TO their colleagues II We do this. We
will lose AT least six books from the betting ring
| If we adopt that NJ. Skinumsquare will not enter
| his horses We object 10 any such action by TINS
| board"
| Their objections are Immediately backed up by
Mr. Oddson. who controls Mr.. Funplace. 80 that
Mr. Parvenue agrees with them. he does not care
to discuss matters with persons who are not In his
| sot Mr. Jellyboy who has social aspirations fol-
| lows the lead Of Mr. Parvcnue 80 that Mr.. Pro-
| moter winks az MIR. Oddson. and the board adj
| journs
| WEARY OF THE PRESENT INACTION
The leading owners and all true turfmen are tired
| u the lnacton OF the men AT the head OF racing
affairs They demand complete reversal OF the
| management Of racing matters. Some men who
race extensive stables OF horses say: We own the
| racetracks. what ar" you going 10 do about II;
We viii conduct racing to suit ourselves We don't
want any change
such arguments have lost their force. and are
but bluns on the part OF the ,rack-o"ners u ~ not
80 long ago that a certain winter racing 9hichi
said. what has the state OF New-Jersey got to
! do with Hudson County" lie found out on Elec-
ton Day The racing officials in this state were
| taught the same lesson.
In spite u their bluffs. IA" track-owners are
extremely anxious ami are DESTROYS OF placing
| the sport on "A nrm basis They hardly know which
VA O., turn and are nnyiousy waiting for some
body ~ point ou' the way from the swamp 81
Acknowledgement and dis'rIst the high ground Of
reform some OF them have been dangerously
near the qucksands - fraud and they delight
IN skirt It's brink II Is believed by many that
some Of them have been caught by the quicksands.
I'm, wore rescued by their companions. II Is hardly
worth the time try to reform such persons but
the old SAYING that the yest sinner may return
| applcs TO their case, 50 that there ~ chance
for them II they Will agre" to accept III" cure OF
repentance and submit to daily injections OF
honesty
There are hundreds OF wealthy men who desire
10 go in for racing and would do 80 II racing
were conducted with n management that was arm
in its endeavors to elevate the sport The clerical
| forces OF all associations should be composed OF
men who pay strict attention TO racing affairs and
have no outside interests to conflict with their
duties.
The forfeit lis; shoud be- revised and measures
taken TO collect all forfelts due to turfmen who
| are fortunate enough 10 own stake winners The
rDnul,loh5s ~ n,,n "' anv rack horse or
stable OF horses There should bc IN official handl-
| cappcr chosen who f. capable OF adjusting the
weights OF the nominal Ions to handlcaps rquitaby.
| The handcappcr should not be held subject 10 any
The starter is another highly important official
| any track owner or Individual tn" judges should
| be- without reproach and should be men who are
| they finish There should be- some patrol judges
| who capable Of discerning one horse from
| anot her and who not too anxious TO stand
well with certain owners. The betting ring requires
"ccmpcd stands should be quietly informed that
| their methods such that their presence was
| undesirable the grounds.
| The army OF dsrepuable persons who swarm TO
| the races free badges and who drive thousands
OF respectable persons from the turf should De as
| banded
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE SHOULD RE RESTORED.
The only way to accomplish the foregoing re-
| forms Is to restore the confidence OF the public IN
| the officials who control racing The only avenue
To reach the desired goal Is TO Increase the num-
| Der OF members Of the Board Of Control or stew
| ards to least thirty persons. The men who com
pose the board should be selected with great care
| The members should not be track-owners or have
direct interests to be subserycd by their acts. The
members Of the present Board of Control wish 10
| Increase the membership Of that body TO nine or
eleven members but are dubious about member
shin OF thirty ms IT would be likely NJ cause Il new
election q officials and somebody's dignity might
be affected, that there is reluctance on the
part Of some OF the members to call meeting Tor
the purpose of Increasing the membership OF the
board
who can we select" track officials ask
There hundreds OF men who have the conn
stewards. Here are some OF the men VINO
have the true interest OF the turf at heart;
James r. kcene General stephen Sanford. j. r.
Sanford Colonel W =. Thompson. George Peabody
belmont $. $. Rowland J. q. Bonner Edward
Kelley ". H. Forbes j. f.. ThayeT. J. j. Astor j.
II Bradford Colonel Lawrence Kip, j. &. n Law
renee Cornelius Fcllowes. Colonel Jacob Rupert
Colonel +. G. McIewee, Or. Gideon knapp Marcus
DAILY A. G. Monsoon Thomas Hi chcock lr. r. d.
| There is only a short time left before another
season begins II behOoves the track-owners 10 act
promptly to have efectiv" organization
10 begin the reformation by January l. II they
work promptly and put their dignity, anu SELFISH
ness aside that they show by thelr &C
lions that they honest I'm their intentions. the
press and the public likely TO forget the errors
firm cndeayor To place racing wncfc II pelonss,
at the head OF American sports. II Wwn persons
struggle and crowd TO football game thit
/ Is conducted with the utmost fairness, IL -
ment. and have no other outdoor sport mat ~
absolutely square In every detail II Only requires
the right OF men at the head Of racing III thh
| country to attract the same class oil pefNoh' 20