New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-13
NEEDED TURF REFORMS.
RACING MEN SHOULD BEWARE OF THE
LEGISLATURE.
TUE IVES POOL LAW WILL PROBABLY BE RE
prA1sp IF THE TONE OF THE SPORT is

THE IVES POOL LAW WILL PROBABLY BE RE
prA1rp If THE TONE OF THE SPORT is
NOT CHANGED.
,a. reputable turfnen Of the State ought to be
resented at the hearing on the Ives Pool ACT al
albany The Legislature is not likely to look upon
che turf with friendly eye unless 1t is transformed
and purified. Unless representative racing omciais,
men who can speak with authority. are prepared
"a give pledges TO the Legislature that the scahuals
and abuses of 1893 shall not be repeated this year.
the Jockey clubs may be obliged 10 CONFRONT ADVERSE
legislation OF the severest sort In the hrs' pace
radical revolution must be made In the betting
ring The bookmakers pay the racing orgahiza-
tons 500 day. On some days In recent years the
number of bookmakers in the betting-r1hgs at
sheepshead Bay and Gravesend has exceeded one
hundred, and has risen as high as l-o' WIN i'
bookmakers In the ring. the daily revenue vi
Jockey club from the betting-ring alone Is ciear
$4,000 In recent seasons 1t has been uhusuai ior
the number Of bookmakers at any Eastern race
course 10 fall below sixty. except at Monmouth
Park during the disastrous days OF last summer
when the blunders Of the management mao eNci'eu
so much feeling against the association "heh 'he
revenue from the bettng-ring ranges from so"" 10
$4,000 day the Jockey clubs naturally look upon
Il il an extremely important source or income
TIL. h,e sums received from the bookmakers have
Rad a great deal to do with the piing up or
enormous profits on racecourse STOCK. ihese sums
have also had much to do with the innaton OF the
stakes and purses their present extravagant pro-
portions But 1t Is clear to every sensioie person
that stakes worth $4,000. $4,000 $4,000 ana even
go opo are out Of proportion other things, and
are immoderare and ought to be discouraged. the
turf would be a much sounder ana saler PASS
in every way, there would be less dangerous lhha-
ton there would be more conservatism ana
more satisfactory state of things II no racing prizes
were offered anywhere in the United States or more
imitation
ont Of all reason 1t has developed racing 10 an In
furious extent People ought not to nave 100 much
OF this extremely exciting, exacting ana expensive
sport There are too many racecourses tnere are
far too many horses in training and the NUMBER Oh
stakes and purses has been multiplied 10 an ihtoer-
able degree The turf should be restricted limited
and be put on conservative basis
THE RETT1NG- RING SHOULD BE CLOSELY SUPER
vIsED.
Every bookmaker in the ring has to pay 800 per
day TO the Jockey club; every bookmaKer Is coni-
PEELED to employ clerks and cashiers ana most Oh
the bookmakers are in the habit OF paying large
gums for information Of value. They employ agents
IN establish relations with owners. trainers ana
,ockevs from whom the bookmakers can through
-hese agents obtain information about horses 10
which they have no right The betting-ring eAers
the most pernicous influence on the turf IL Is the
nursery Of all of jobs scandals ana FRAUDS
II there were no bookmakers to corrupt owners
trainers and Jockeys the standard OF racing would
be greatly improved and there would be fewer IN
stances Of dishonesty If the betting-rngs are not
10 be swept away entirely II Is certain mat the
Jockey clubs must lessen the number or DOCK
makers must weed out those Of bad reputation
and of evil practices, and must keep such super
vision over the bettingring as check dishonesty
and corruption. Every bookmaker ought to be
compelled to give bonds to the jockey cuo IN
large amount and these bonds ought to be for
feited IL the bookmaker is detected In any wrong
doing. or If he fails TO pay the just claims OF MS
Every Jockey club ought to employ force OF
vigllant detectives TO watch bookmakers trainers,
to give rise TO suspicion. Entries from stables OF
bad reputation ought 10 De Sbn are allowed to
take part In the sport OF the racetracks ought 10
certain as anything can be that the bettingring on
every racetrack contains number OF unaer-
and to cheat whenever they think they can do SO
without detection. 1t is equally certain that many
been expelled from the turf for fraud, thoroughly
deserve to be expelled. 1t is evident to any one
of Control was rdiculously loose and lenient In
es 'ff oggf b a@ no
or the Legislature ought to repeal the Ives Pool
Some other changes for the better ought to be
made also The management of the eating-rooms
held to a stricter accountability The Jockey clubs
ought not TO attempt to eXtor unreasonable amounts
and drinks. In past years the caterers have been
forced, as rule 10 pay such outrageousy hlgh
prices for the privileges that they have frequently
made their profits by giving their patrons poor
food, badly cooked and badly served. and liquors and
beer of poor quality served by dirty and repuve bar
keepers Greed avarce grab have been the curses and
Affections of American racing. The turf has been
covered with buZZards, vultures and harpies, VINO
have been preying upon the public, cawing and
biting everything. and seeking 10 deVour every
thing in the shortest possible time. Moderation rea
son. contentment with wholesome and sautary
profits instead of the mad rush for exorbitant gains
must be the rule on the turf hereafter If racing IS TO
be continued. Even the fruit stands. and the sellers
OF nuts and chewing-gum and other trifes, have
gers. The price exacted for programmes Is wholly
indefensible. Ten cents is an outrageously high
price to pay for racing programme The price
ought 20 be reduced TO cents.
THE LEGISLATURES CLEAR RIGHT.
The Legislature has a clear right to insist that
the Jockey clubs hereafter shall devote themselves
with the utmost energy raising the standard and
Improving the character OF racing and shall
longer apply themselves with all their energy to
squeezing the largest possible out of racing
In the shortest possible time If there had not been
so much grabbing on the turf If many unde-
sirable and Objectionable persons had not focked
In for a share of the plumber and of the spols Of
racing In recent seasons, the race courses Of New
Jersey and New-York might now be enjoying a
thoroughly sound. safe and secure prosperity. But
during the last ten years matters have been grow
ing every season. The turf has been con-
trolled and dominated TO more serious extent
every year by cliqueS and coterfes made up in
many cases Of men who INSCRIPTIONS and con-
and gains. These men have cared very little about
the reputation of the sport have concerned them
selves very little whether owners trainers and
Jockeys were acting honestly not. They have set
themselves up turf magnates and rulers; they
have tried to convince the public that they were
really DESTROYS of honorable and excellent racing,
L., S.,fh4 1aQfp "a and Loot