New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-27
TIMING THE RECEIPTS or RACING.

TIMING THE REfEIPIN Of i'INb'
The bill which has passed the Assembly levy
Ing Il tax If per cent on The gross receipts 81
the jockey clubs in this State is Il just ana
proper measure The racing associations hlther-
10 have paid > per cent Of the gate receipts
only. and have not paid anything on the I'M
mcnsc revenues which they have derived from
tEclr bcting.rngs from the sales of programmes
and PRIVILEGES and from the initiation fees and
annual dues of their members The revenues OF
the Jockey clubs from the bookmakers. from
privilcgcs from the dues and fees of members
aud from other sources have been much larger
than the mere gate receipts. The total sum re-
ccivcd bv a single racing association in this
STATE i'm year from the betting ring haS OK
crcdcl in some seasons S2OO.OW. while the re-
cciptS from initiation fees and dues of members
and from the sales of privileges and pro-
grammcs lave in some cases exceeded $4,000.
Hence IL Is apparent that a single racing organ
iZaion I'm some Instances has taken In over
n quarter Of n million dollars in single year,
of which the State received no percentage ut
ALL II is only Just that the ! per cent should
be levied on all the receipts Of the jockey clubs,
besides the amounts taken ut the gate.
There are many abuses and evils in racing.
The gambling which it promotes Is Il prolific
source Of mischief In The community. II bet
fing-rlngS on the racctraclS are 10 be per-
mittcd in Ncw-Yor certainly The State ought
10 gct It's = per cent upon all the enormous
revenues Of the jockey clubs. The dividends
and profits Of the racing associations upon the
money actually invested In the racctracks have
been prulgOISly excessive In some prosperous
years. Last year some Of the associations pooled
their receipts 10 Il certain extent and formed
racing trust The profits of 1893 fell far below
thos, Of previous seasons. bui that WIS largely
The fault of the Board Of Control ami the mcm-
bcrS of The Monmouth Park clique. They made
So many mistakes last summer. and were 80
reckless in anrontng public sentiment. and so
careless about the reputation If the turf that
the public interest in racing and public patron
age Of The racctracks fell off tremendously. OF
courS" the hard times lcsscncd the attendance
AMI receipts Of the jockey clubs 10 q serious
extent: but if all the racing associations had
honestly and earnestly cndcayorcd 10 raise the
standard Of Tie sport. to keep it clean and lo::-
est. 10 remove lis objectionable features. and
10 concilintc respectful" public opinion. the re-
cripts # the turf associations IN 1872 wond
have been far larger than they We're \ petty
narrow. vindiciivc spirit WAS permitted 10 pre-
vail in the management of Monmouth Park
Morris Park ana the brooklyn Jockey club
Tho effects Of these mistakes II management
Wcr. disastrous 20 ilr turf
\ commcudnhlc feature in the hill which has
been adopted 10y the Assembly is the provision
thar the books Of all racing associations shall
be- subject 10 ihc inspection of the State Con
irollcr. There has been some queer boOkkcrp-
inS I'm some Of the jockey clubs and the figures
~ gate receipts which have been turned in. and
upon which m" State percentage has been
levied. hav" aroused serious suspicion. There
is good reason 10 believe that certain racing or
pInizaiirn, have not acted fairly I'm this mat
tor hat they have manipulated their books in
such Il WY ~ ~ keen back from the State
money 10 which il WIS Justly entitled. II is in
accounts OF all IN" racing organizations shall
be- examined vigorously lay the state Controllcr,
and that Tie public treasury shall not he de-
priy"d II one dollar II iis iust dues. Many Of
the managers Of racrtrlcks do not enjoy public
confidence. and thc honest people Of NcW-iorl
believe that these mon need watching There
has been 50 much dishonesty I'm many ways on
The turf that r. IS not probable thc books of
som" Of the jockey clubs have brcn kept in
such manner ~ to give the stat" what 1t has
n right Ia claim under The law When Assem-
byman Fishs bill. which has passed the As
in the relations between the public officials mt
Albany and the managers ~ the jockey clubs
may fairly be expected.