New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-09
THE TROUBLE WITH RACING.
VIEWS OF AN EXTENSIVE BREEDER.


HE SUGGESTS CHANGES WHICH HE THINKS
WOULD REHABILITATE THE SPORT.
The present week will end the legitimate racing
season in this State. The fondest admirers oil 'ie
sport cannot say that the season has been sue
coss Many Of the stanchest friends Of racing
have been estranged by the arbitrary action OF
the men who at the head OF the MANAGE
rnent of racing in the East. To say that mis-
takes merely made and that the racing
officials erred unintentionally is absurd Many
Of the mistakes were made after mature delp-
Grafton by racing officials. The judges have been
scored repeatedly by the press and the pubic
for not acting on some OF the cases Of n-and-
out running of certain horses How can the pub
lie have any confidence in racing when the judges
are overrulod when they do take action? TO
be sure they began rather late in the season TO
punish in-and-out running. and selected men
who have little influence the turf.
II Is not generally known what said before
the Board of Control by Mr.. Jordan when he gave
his version Of Tom Touehs erratic racing. Mr..
Jordan openly accused one of the judges of being
prejudced against him. and gave his reasons for
saying The members of the board reinstated
Mr.. Jordan. together with Clerco the jockey.
and the horse Tom Tough. Thomas Barrett, the
owner and trainer of Macintosh. reinstated
at the same time
If the judges and the Board of Control suspend
and for suspicious races and then md out six
weeks later that with all their great knowledge of
racing they wrong and had grounds for
their action. why do racing officials into con-
vulsions at little harmless criticism by turf
writer's?
REVISION OF THE RULES FAVORED.
The leading owners who for the sport to be
Derived unit in favor of a complete revision
of the racing rules and an entirely different sys-
TEN Of racing. An extensive breeder. who at one
time raced large stable of horses successfully.
said to a party of friends when asked what should
be done TO racing from going to the dogs
81 have no hesitation in answering your question.
AS IL is, racing is in bad way All that is
needed TO restore the confidence of the public is a
complete change in the control of racing. As con-
Quoted at present it is not sport. but a medium
of making few men rich at the expense of the
public VINO pay at the gate | believe that racing
should be conducted ii is in other countries and
that track-Owners and the bookmakers should not
control the sport. Everything is sacrificed to
please the bookmakers The track-owners only look
to the dividends on their stock The first Ques-
ton asked by landowners is. How many book
makers have drawn for stands" If the number
is large they are satisfied. and do not care about
the attendance or the quality of the sport fur
nished for the entertainment of visitors 10 the
track. The result can be plainly seen if you
care TO 20 into the bettng-rng. Nearly every
bookmaker in the ring will accept 81 bets so that
the calling has been abandoned by many trust
n.
another and would not associate themseiR themselves III
any manner with the persons whose acquaihtalSe
is anXOusiy sought by the bookmakers OF to-uaY'
would you do away with bookmaknng? one OIL
his friends asked. 49,.
made books the races would be of class mat
would scorn the picayune methods in vogue TO-DAY,
breeders. owners, trainers and track owners from
of any standing would be invited to send repre-
sentative. If possible would have the assemblaee
of turfmen elect national board OF stewards to
consist of men 10 represent the pubic. breeders,
members selected from the different parts OF me
country. The track-Owners should remain on the
true interests OF the turf az heart would not coan
tenance anything that would inJure the prosperity
should hold two meetings one in !ne spring and nd
another in the fall All racing questions should be
settled at the beginning and the end OF the racing
The first question to decided is the all-impor
closure for bookmakers who of good character
eS seG w mould Se ds on the
races would away with the system of charg-
ma makers and the publ who desired to patronize
the them STa pay bss st % Ur 81 samd b
taken by any bookmaker so the heavy bettors
be free badges issued 10 anybody for the betting
Enclosure.
MUTUALs FOR SMALL BETToRs.
"Now. for the general public l would place
mutual machines in convenient places all
the grandstand. where the public could place
s. bets on their choices. II there free-neld
attachment TO the track / would have 80 mutuas
as 1t degrades racing when place ridiculously
low odds their states TO the dollars OF
the visitors to the free field | contend that the
81 bettor should be entitled to receive good
odds in the free field in the paid inclosure."
one listener said: "Your theories are impossible
No association is bold enough to introduce such
innovation"
"Tha is just what l expected to hear when
began % talk. ] tell you il and will be done
eventually. The present methods have driven
many wealthy men off the turf, and are bar TO
the advent of many others who anxious TO
race but do not 70 do so while the present