New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-16
THE WILD INITIATION or RACING.

The bill which has been introduced IN the
State Senate requiring racing ASSOCIATIONS 10
pay over to the state D per cent OF their 'o'ai
receipts, with the exception OF the entrance
money for horses, ought to become law.
II is earnestly supported by State Controller
Campbell. The Ives Pool act needs amend
ment in this matter That measure provided
that the Jockey clubs should give to the stare
) per cent of the gate receipts only. Tho
clubs were not compelled to pay any percentage
on the large sums which they have derived
from the betting rings from the sales OF pfiVi-
lcges and from the initiation fees and dues Oh
members. Racing is luxury attended win
many evils and abuses and it ought TO be
taxed heavily for the public benefit Iurf
organizations get off altogether too lightly when
they pay over a mere tribe of one-twcnticth OF
their gate receipts The betting rings at the
principal racetracks have been turning over to
the treasures Of the associations from SG, 900
TO $4,000 on every race day. The amounts
obtained from the sales of privileges and from
initiation fees and dues OF members have also
been large, and the state ought to get It's per-
centagc Of all these amounts.
IL is TO be expected that the holders OF
racing stock will protest earnestly against the
passage of the bill which has been introduced
BY Senator Parker, and which is supported by
Controller Campbell. These stockholders com
plain that the dividends and profits from race
courses which provided any dividends or
profits at all were not nearly SO large IN lS92
as in some former years. But that is the fault
Of the managers Of the associations. They
have conducted their affairs in many ways on
a scale Of indefensible extravaganza. They
have inflated the value Of stakes and purses
out of all reason. No good argument can be
advanced for the existence OF so enormously
valuable stakes as the Futurity worth more
than $4,000, Dor is there sufficient excuse
for stakes worth $4,000 and $500 Ii
would be much better if racing were conducted
on q moro reasonable and moderate scale.
ProdigiouS prizes for the contests of the turf
resemble wild and frcnzied speculation i'll
Wall Street. Both on the racetrack and in
the stock market exorbitant imitation is TO be
condemned rather than defended. Owners and
breeders and holders Of racing stock ought to
he satisfied with fair profits, and not expect TO
gain fortunes in single stake or from the
receipts of a single meeting.
The American turf would be in soundcr
and healthier condition il the managers Of orr
race courses would return to some of the meth
DDS of the earlier and simpler days. Cut down
the value OF thc~takes and the purses to de
feasible limits, give the public better returns
for the money which they spend, and the race
courses will be much more popular and enjoy
larger and more enthusiastic following. Our
Jockey clubs could well afford 10 sell pro-
gIammeS at a lower price 10 give better food
and drink, and better sport 10 their patrons.
The present state Of affairs shows an I'M
natural expansion and an extreme imitation.
There is altogether TOO much racing. Too
many race days are given. and the amounts OF
money AZ stake are too large. Racing organ
zations should devote their energies to
cleansing and purifying the sport and raising
It's standard. Vicious elements should be cx-
Guided. and every effort should be made to
obtain the support Of the solid and substantial
classes Of the community. Only by such meth
cd, rs these can the turf in this country se
cure and retain a sound prosperity.