New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-06
TO PURIFY THE TURF.
THE ANTIGAMBLING AMENDMENT
SHOULD BE ADOPTED.
FoRcIBLE REASONS WHY THE PEOPLE OF THIS
STATE SHOULD CHANGE THE CoNDI-
TONS WHICH HAVE PREVAILED

IL RACING AFFAIRS.
II the Anti-Garnblng amen1ment is adopted by
the voters OF this state to-day. II probably VIII
be racing will be on much sounder and more
satisfactory basis hereafter than IL has been in the
past. The people OF New-York are ready and eager
TO support the turf generously. If a thorough re-
form in .ts methods and management is carried
out from Montau Point to Buffalo. and from
Manhattan Island 10 the Adrondacks. People who
are fond oc high-class and admirable sport will
flock TO the racecourses in great numbers If they
can be sure OF seeing we'll fought contests between
hgh-class horses conducted in a manner to give
entire satisfaction to the public. OF course the
Jockey clubs and racing associations in this state
are anxious to retain their Immense revenues from
the betting-rnes. As each bookmaker pays slcc for
each race day the racing associations In this state
have been receiving from the betting-ring an IN
come ranging from 5000 TO $1,000 for every day
OF racing TIE receipts OF the Coney Island Jockey
Club, the Brooklyn Jockey Club and the New-York
Jockey Club from the be.ting-rings must have
amounted this year between May Is and October
u. to a total OF more than 10000. Each OF these
clubs had the right under the present law to give
thirty days racing. with 1egalized and protected
betting on it's track. The clubs did not use up the
whole Of their thirty days this year, but no one
of the three fell very far below thirty days of rae
ing. Upon each OF these tracks on every race
day there from % to 100 bookmakcrs, each
paying 800 day. Then each club also derived a
percentage OF the receipts I'm the French pools. II
is prOhaDe, IN fdCt. tndt lotdl 81 'i'H'
three organizations from the betting-rings exceeded
$4,000 1t is absolutely certain that the aggregate
was very far over $4,000
Therefore it is plain at a glance that the big
amounts received from the betting-rings are very
precious to the managers OF the racetracks In adj
dtion to the three clubs mentioned (Which are. OF
course by far the biSgest and most important in
this State). the Brighton Beach Association. the
Saratoga Association. the jerome Park organza-
ton. of which Michael f. Dwyer was the presi-
dent, and number OF other racetracks in the
State took in big sums from their bcttingr rings. II
is certain. indeed that the revenues from the bet
ting-rings on the racetracks in this state in the
year 1884 have reached total amount far above
Sl.0O0N0 IT IS not surprising that the men who
own. control and manage racetracks are extremely
reluctant to part with this enormous sum. as they
will be compelled to do II the Ant-Gambing
amendment becomes law. But does any sane
man pretend for an instant that it is really In tho
interest OF The public in the interest Of the com
munity. that it is a benefit and advantage 10 the
people OF the State of New-York that the betting
rings OF racetracks shall pay more than 100000
year to the owners of our racetracks? The people
who 90 to the races have to supply this 100000
out Of their losses in the betting rings and In ad
dtioH they are compelled support the book
makers their assistants and employees. 1t is
frightful tax upon the people Of NeW-York this
mon-doar tax, which is levied upon them by
the bettng-rngs on the racetracks How much
dollars that wasted. and worse than
wasted. the racetracks?
EXTRAVAGANT SALARIES PAID
The revenues of the racetracks from the betting
rings. in addition TO the gate receipts and other
sources Of profit. have been enormous in recent
years that of the racing organizations have
paid immense dividends and have been extremely
extravagant in the salaries which they have given
stewards. judges to starters to clerks and 20
officials and employees Of all sorts The salary OF
the President of the United States. the highest pub
lie officer in this country, IS $4,000 A year less
than $50 day. But the racing organizations in
this State have been in the habit Of paying 20 a
racerack the ridcGlousy excessive salary Of
500 a day They have been paying similarly
absurd inflated and oxorbitant salaries to the Off
the racetracks, the judges and other persons
The income from the betting-rings has enabled
them to be inGefensbiy and ineXcusably eX;raVa-
CANT in such matters. II will be better in every
way If the betingrings closed, and II the racing
organizations compelled to carry on racing upon
a more prudent, Moderate and reasonable basis.
Stewards. judges. starters. clerks and all other OIL
Gals. assistants and employees ought to receive fair
compensation. But hon rrotesque and absurd IL IS
10 see salaries far greater than those paid TO the
Governor o. the STATE IF NcwNOrk, - tae 'nl"i
Judge Of the supreme Court of tne United stats
to the Secretary Of the Treasury TO the Vice
President % the United States. to the Speaker -
the House Of Representatives. handed over to men
not above the average Of nericans I'm ability. in
tellgance sagacity ana wisdom. II IS high time 10
pat an end 20 the period OF unjustihabie imitation
and excess on the turf. Cut down the salaries cut
down the prodgaI and spendthrift expenditure Con-
duct racing on a reasonable and proper basis Pay
moderate disiienis ami moderate salaries
If our racing organizations would pay more at
tenion to the character. quality and honesty Of the
sport which ja,y furnish than TO eXact.nS pro1glous
sums from the gamblers. il would be- far better for
the tur'. Al tho miserable spirits. scurri@s and
scramDios which defacc and dohle the turf ought
10 be gwen NJ. Two-year-old racing ought t. De
forbidden until after the first day Of September
Horses over two years OF age ought never to be al
lowed u run less distance than mile, and there
should BE- great mars contests on our pTinc.pa!
race;racks at a mile and half and two miles in
order to ge; satisfactory test Of the staying power
and endurance Of the thoroughbreds, as well a. OF
their s2eel. The adoption Of the ant-gambling
amendment to-day VIII be Of inesumable benefit
md advantage to the turf II viii tend TO rid racing
Of the vultures and buzzards that have 20 long
p~eved upon it, 1t Is not probable that after the
adoption o. this amendment there VIII be any more
.hnzzarls' roosts' on any Of our raceirlcks iuH-
,.rls. roosts ought to be suppressed togeSer with
40 het,ine-rines They are closely allied TO each
other iuteriependpn;. and when an ehd - Pu' 10
one /, is likely tna the other viii also pas away
Tne antj-c,ublng endment viii probably relieve
tho turf of the burG N Of lot Of antiquatei fossils ana
harnacles who have been drawing rldiculousY eN-
,ravars,, salaries AMI who have done the turf iar
more !njury tnan good Some of these fossils ana
bcrnac.cs are extremely unpopular everywHeis' on
~. mr. ard of o. IT, The American tlri shon q
L. ia ,ba hands Of Young. earnest, aggressive. hBn
minded puh.ic-spritei men. who VIII mar up 'n''
minds maj thcIr shall Pee no more NsAci 80 am
M more trckrry. % what earth.i use 10 Ulr t'l'
are tie ctraitng remnants ~ INC IiAGSd! "l' :,
n,.rornles from carly Egyptian erds? II the tui4
& 10 continue. It's management ana us Wr'n1'
must i've cAaLe. and rcvolHuonzrl c9ihld.teiy
ON racc.~ark stewards oar Ia,rtii'h Oh. -
must be- yor:s men OF sufficient a.efiness' N'riii-
renre and er e, 10 acquaint themselves thor ushly
yy,fh .ho records og The horses tndt ran win Inc
charact.rs and regulations OF all the o"neiS tram
g, and j0ct.. s.. ;hey must De men Whpm j. ls IN
p.srible ID G-.ulo ana deceive, they mus ne H"h
Quick enough ana keen enough u defect any ioIi9
al swrnduns and iraul The rascas Of the tuTi
have stood IN Nttle awe % III" ancient maj ineis