New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-12
AN ERA OF TURF INITIATION.
DANGER THAT THE BUBBLE WILL BCRSl.
o>,v p.n,c.1 REFORMS CAN SAVE RACING
- SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT
ARE NEEDED.


ARE NEEDED
There Will be hearing in Albany on Tuesday on
Assembyman Clark's bill to repeal the Ives Pool
Act II is a matter Of great importance 10 the
racing associations in New-York State that they
should try 10 convince the legislators at Albany
that racing in New-York will be conducted here
after with very different policy and methods from
those that have prevailed in the past. The strong
est reasons exist why the Legislature should re-
peal the Ives Pool Act unless the jockey clubs OF
the Empire State carry out extensive reforms.
Assemblyman Fish has int oduced bill making
some amendments to the he Pool Act. These
amendments appear to be IN &c public interest.
They require that the records AID accounts of all
the racing associations should b. submitted to the
State authorities in such way tfat every jockey
club shall pay proper percenlag OF its receipts
for public uses.
TEN FER CENT. OF GROSS RECEIPTS SHOULD EE
PAID.
I, the Ives Pool Act is not repealed II is plainly
for the public benefit that the jockey clubs should
be com,c.ied by amending the act 10 pay least
70 per cent OF their gross receipts including all
dues from re,nbers. the revenues from the betting
ring the an, ,unts received from The sale OF prvi
leges the OF me clubs from every quarter.
as well AZ cr'm Ire money taken IN at the gate.
The state las received anything like Il fair
percentage o: the revenues OF the racing associa-
tors The letting sngs Of these Jockey clubs have
,,,1 into The treasures az TIE associations from
$500 - sl2.po Iac:s cay, and not cent OF
this has zone 20 tbs State Treasury. The clubs
lave aiso derived yer, large Sums from me sales
OF r.vi,e.ea IRON, the programmes. and from
the dues Q! !nsIOb=rs. AS We'll rs from the money
taken at the raics
The Hca-Yorg jooi.ey Club, before II raised rs
annual dues from IS 20 so y~ar. had member
shin of nearly three tao.ss,d The money paid IN
for dues by thcs" n,c:u6eis amounted to hand
some revcrue. rnt cent Of which went to the
State The free field at Morris Park tended TO
diminish the amount os gate receipts on which the
state lev.e: tay, but betting was carried on III
this f~ec field n suol: manner as to yield large
sur, TO Tho ;ressiry OF the jockey club. The racing
associations make a greet deal Of money out Of
prosrainlnes sad privileges as we'll as from the
bc,,i,e ~:nc II the State intends 10 continue to
license betting racc'Iaoks by permitting net
ting rings Continue Io- thirty days OF each year
M each racecourse 1t certainly ought TO tax all
the revenues and receipts of Jockey clubs az least
10 per cent. a year.
PROTESTS SHOULD NOT RE FEEpEp.
O, course. the officers and stockholders OF the
racing associations will raise loud cries OF protest
against having q reasonable percentage 10 the
State on all their receipts, but they ought 10 De
compelled 10 do this nevertheless Their dViuehus
for se:e-a! years before 1898 were utterl! eN-
cessiye; their profits enormous; they
MIXED the public inordinate scale IL Is
wrong 10 charge 10 cents for programme Az
cents eacn every programme would bring into the
Treasury OF each racing association NJ least cents
clear profit. That ought 20 be enough 10 sa"siy
any reasonable TIE racecourse ofnc>his VIII
saw that !. they are compelled to pay 10 Per cent
TO the state On al their receipts It viii he neces-
eary for :hcnl 10 reduce the value Of ineir stakes
and pn-scs But it is 4 highly desirable thing that
tbs vval,es of the stakes and purses shall he re-
duccd. This Who'll" tu-f business mas pen r,ul' -;
,onsG a al. WORTH 5000 % AMI $1,000 and 5000
apiece II Is in no way .dvsaSe' IN ,ne st
Should ND be paid FOR the trGniphs OF thoroughbred
hor3e; Bre"dnf ana TSs and nproper pro
portions II is tine to reduce the turf 10 p'ls
Of moderation and com'non-sense
THE NEED OF PROPER REPRESENTATION
II the Jockey clubs of the State desire to save the
ives Pool act they ought take care that they
will he represented In the hearings at Albany by !
men of excellent character and reputation. one |
man who Is trying to increase his no'oriey y
Offering arguments against the Clark bill IS as
liked and dc:ested by a larger number OF Honorable
and reputable turfInen than any other person VINO
has ever ventured discuss racing affairs AZ AZ
bany All his affiliations associations and friend
ships are with the lowest and vnest elements OK
the turf. with the Guttenburg and Clifton gang,
s ns na for such furfmen as enjoy public con
ndence and esteem. and has devoted himself ior
cious fs.sehoods in his Efforts a,d the Vicious I'D
,so-de-y people on the turf VINO are respoiisltHie
nuisarces connected with the sport. The jockey |
clubs Of New-York should take pains that their
in,,4asts a. Albany are not committed 10 the care |
OF any such person. He Injuries every cause which |
he advocates. He damages everything which he |
defends.
PLEDGES OF SWEEPING REFORMS NECESSARY. |
They ought 10 send TO Albany authorized |
70 speak for them. and to give pledges for them !
that the NOS: extensive reforms shall b. carried
the turf this year. Unless the abuses and |
evils that were conspicuous and fragrant In the |
racing In .he East In 1893 wholly swept away.
the decen: people OF the State will insist that |
the Ives Pool law shall be repealed. and that the |
betting rings on racetracks be suppressed en-
her OF bookmakers and require every bookmaker |
TO take out license and 10 give bonds TO the
clubs which shall be forfeited in cases or dis- |
honesty or evil conduct. Racing must be protected !
against the betting ring. 1t cannot last.