New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-13

TIE PUBLIC-TlICKs OF PRO-
FEssIoNAL GAMBLERS
IRON STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF TRiBUyE)
Long Branch, Aug. l2-IIenry Clay Ditmas
said to a friend few days before his death: Il
have lost great deal of money this year in ~
ing horses to run Onetwo- three The truth -
tle matter is that too many bookmakers own
lorses now, and too many horses that could get
third pace, if their riders rode them out,
uuled so that certain bookmakers may win the
one-two-three bets
Mr.. Ditmas knew "a much about racing as any
man in America. lie was constantly at the race.
tracks, and was sharp, searching, assduous
student Of all the performances of the horses.
NO man watched the preliminary gallops of the
racers before their contests with k"ener scrutiny.
Mr.. Ditmas certainly had no prejudice against
racing, for he had amused large fortune from
the turf. and in each of several years his indi-
yidual income from his turf operations and con-
nections was as much as $4,000. Mr.. Ditmas
was uncommonly shrewd and far-secng When
the poolrooms were first started in this country
he fOresaw that an important and lucrative bust
ness might be built up by making contracts with
the poolrooms to supply 10 them all the nforma-
ton which they would need from the race
courses. the lists Of entries, the Withdrawals, the
names of the actual starters, the Jockeys mounts
the fluctuations in the betting and the details
and results of tie contests He made contracts
with the racecourses Tor all this information and
he made contracts with the telegraphic COM
psnics for the transmission of the news. When
poolroo,s were fourishing few years ago in every
important city in the United States. Mr.. DitmaS
grew rich rapidly Influential people connected
with the racetracks, others connected with the
Geographic companies and still others connected
with the poolrooms became envious Of the celebrity
with which Mr.. Ditmas was accommodating wealth,
and insisted upon driving harder bargains with
him This action on their part and the closing
of the poolrooms in New-Iork State by the action
of the Legislature last winter cut down the revc
nues Of Mr. Ditmas, but he was still in the en-
ioyment of large returns at the time Of his death
He had organized the II. c. Ditmas Company TO
carry on the business, and had placed part of
the stock where it would do the most good.
HIS HEAVY OPERATIONS.
The extent Of the operations of H. c. Ditmas
NAV be inferred from his recent statement to an
intimate friend that since the Gloucester race
track was opened lie hal paid 100000 TO its
management for Information FROM thu track.
Gloucester is ono of the minor tracks, and could
not get nearly so high price daily for informa-
tion supplied 10 the poolrooms as the Brooklyn
Jockey Club. the Coney Island Jockey Club. Nor
ris Park and Monmouth lark could get. IL Is
true. however, that Gloucester, since 1t was
opcned. has been in he habit Of racing over 500
DAYS in the year, every day except sunday willie
the Board Of Control tracks in New-iork State race
only thirty DAYS each Bat Mr.. Ditmas did bust
ness with all the Eastern racecours's, ana 10Y
wears paid large sums TO every obe OF them lot
the information which he obtained for the pool
rooms.
Now. here was a man who had every motive for
desiring that racing in the East should continue
Ia flourish and prosper. He could have no motive
for saving disparasing and damaging things aD"Lt
th,. turf thar were in any degree eAaS9era'"' VI
misleading But here you haze the undou"cn
and unouestioned testimony OF Alr. DUMAS 10 INC
existing state of affairs on the American tuil
il can he proved that he said oAac'lS "ha' III
ouc,cd in this letter as SAYING. Few men knew
moro thorounlly the inner things of the turf IMAM
II :, ui,mas knew them He thoroughly
familiar with the secrets Of racing Which are
s.,,.d H. ok 10 most men. No person OF average
intellect can tail to recognize the obvious truth
TINT no bookmaker ought TO be aIlowe' u run
borscs ON any reputable racetiack BooKmaN'r'
sre professional gamblers. Professional 2auoierS
sro NJ least as fral fdllihlc and prone 10 err d.
the common run OF humanity. ls IL ho' Peiio'"s
clear even 70 the purDiad and fat-heaoe"' Una,
bookmaker is permitted to run hoIs's anu " "
agnst them in his own book, the 'ehPsd"on ~
have them pulled or stuffed or steadieu Vi yam
,n,,.l iii, in sou,a way - that they will not run
arst second or third, is likely to be too strong AT
tim,s for the saintlics; Of bookmaKere u ic'i''
p.c,vc HORSES WHICH ARE NOT PREPARED
high and honorable standard OF racing "V"''
prevent the running Of horses AT any 'in'' WV"
t,e owners Of those horses knew that 'heS "o''
not thoroughly prepared for severe s"use''
and Therefore had no chance 10 run mr.
,ra third Secretary Crickmorc Of Monmouth
Park. has declared in his sworn ai" s'e"'
NOM before Commissioner Harvey that the en-
~.m.;,.o oo,,r,;,,.. of Monmouth Iark is made up
Of A + Walcott. John A. Morris, Philip }. Dwy'r'
M,ohanI y nwyer and Lucien o. Appleby. Can
.n, ,ro ~ ,hcso tmrfrncn truly declare that nc
n.y., r,, =, horse that he knew was thoroughly
INIT, o. ,,ce and had no chance OF success! Dlu
Mr. Wolco+t never start Cassius, Castaway IL
aud D;ab,o ,vhrn he had no expectation tha'
they conld cot a place in a race, because ."eS
49, no. :, rroncr condition. Were those three
horses ALWAYS expected to get piaces III cal"
,accs which they ran in Hew-Jersey before '''S
went 10 the l}rOohlyn meeting: All '''oe Wv.
important handicaps at the Brooklyn 'nrc''"s
various times with long odds against '"e" a'
the long odds were given bccauSs ., UNI ~
moor racing in Ncw-Jcrscy. Did inc Morrr"',
pect ST Floran 70 get place III '"r wv"
IIandjcap AT Morris PARK? lie ia" ho'
a ,bo,ongI, nrcparation for that race, and carric'
O., o., 49,, ac.h "a have any chance for pia"
n that contest. Philip J. Dwycr and l. u App'e"S
b,,.. soo, ho,sos 10 the post III moro than orc
instance when the horses were 50 lame u ~"
~,se unfit that they had no chance oil p'n''
Michael F. Dwycr has repeatedly staf'e' "o'.,