New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-29
THE FUTURE OF THE TURF.
CAJ-SES OF THE PRESENT TROUBLES.
RELATIONS or NEWSPAPERS AND RAcETRAckS
WHY CERTAIN TrRFMEN HATE THE
pprss-MoNNor,ru PARK AND THE
BOARD OF CONTROL.

PRESS MONMOUTH PARK AND THE
BOARD OF CONTROL
Ncwspapers do not need racetracks But race
tracks need newspapers. II every racetracH IN New"
York and New-Jersey were ploughed under ana so"''
with wheat every daily newspaper in either OF 'ne
two States would keep the even tenor OF us way
The papers get along without the Jockey ciupN'
But the Jockey clubs cannot prosper without NV
n.ners No racecourse can pay dividends unless IL
Is popular How long can any course reihal" poP"
lar II It provokes the hostility OF the press:
ouestions belong 10 the very primer OF the 'uii
and the very primer of Journalism the answers are
as easy as can be And yet certain conspicuous
men seemed to have neglected their primary -'ci'oO'
lessons entirely.
pl.grJCITY NECESSARY TO RACING
:. - rau ,,o,yn that the Dwyer Brothers at
yarious times have spoken in the most disparaghs
terms OF the newspapers. But the Brooklyn JOCKEY
Club could never paw another DIVIDEND 10 'le emu
of he world II the newspapers OF New-1oIh an"
Brooklyn determined to ignore II. feopie "ouiu 'o'
get all about It II it were not that the Journals %
New-York and Brooklyn print great many COZ
,rors concerning IT, announce its stakes print It's
entries publish its handicaps. and give long re-
norts Of the contests which take place upon" us
grounds Even Gutenberg Gloucester ana Brsh'oh
Peach could never have made cent Of profit II all
tho daily newspapers had refused TO print anything
about the horses and the at those places. IL
is understood that President Wacott OF Mohhou'"
Park has a very low opinion OF the press anu ~
nresses # with great freedom and emphasis. But
Mr. Wacott's opinion OF the press cannot hur' inc
press at ALL while opinion of the press IN regard
IN Mr. Walcott can hurt him a great deal IL tha'
opinion is unfavorable and provided 'he press o"''
to express IL
HOSTILITY OF THE BOARD OF CoNIl'ol
7, ia nrobabie that Mr.. Hunter and some other
members of the Board of Control look upon 'he press
as - nestilent institution which ought to be sup
no hest
., IN. country have criticised severely the blunders
Of the BOARD OF Miscontro and Msrule, as II
ought to be called But the Board OF Cohtroi ca"
do no harm to the newspapers while the he"sP"
pers II they cared TO make united eior' III Una.
direction. could wipe the Boaid Oh No""o' 0"' VI
existence in a few weeks.
A shrewd and experienced turfman. not a member
of the Board OF Control. remarked not long ago
would never get into quarrel with newspaper
If could possibly avoid II. NO matter what lnlsh'
do or say. the newspaper would always nave "'e
best OF IT, because the newspaper Gould always nave
the last word" Isn't there common sense and Wis
dom TOO in those words? Would it not be 10 the
advantage of all racing officials. ana especaHy Oh
the members of the Board of Control, II they look
these words to heart? II cannot be denied 'hat
newspapers have influence with lawmakers
than Jockey clubs and boards Of control have Inc
racing clubs and the racing boards may have some
influence with the law-breakers but not very much
with lawmakers at Albany and Trenton
GENEROSITY OF TIE PRESS.
The daily newspapers OF the United States nave
been wonderfully liberal to the racetracks, far more
liberal than the press OF any other country is 10
racing. Compare the space and prominence with
which turf affairs treated in the principal jour
nails of England and France with the conspicuous
attention and the generous treatment afforded by
American papers in handng Ta'nS s9Pc
icle." Post" and other well-known British jour
few other great days OF the English turf But, with
the exception of few great days and a few races
rule dismiss racing affairs with brief and hurried
mention The New-York papers on the other hand
matters in much detail. If the principal New York
TO protect and promote their interests. after the
manner of the combination which has been entered
deded among hem that the jockey Clubs b
REQUIRED to pay rates for the paGSa
american papsrs almost without esGept1n eaye
generosity. which in many cases has been repaid
with the basest ingrattude but the papers can
endure the ingrattude and still survive. even as
they can continue 20 exist IN the face Of the emb-
mouth Park and Of the Board of Control
EXCUSES WHICH DO NOT EXCUSE.
An effort has been made in some quarters 10
apologize for the unwise of the Board of
Control in regard to the Monmouth Park affair by
asserting that the board had option but 10
sustain Monmouth and compelled TO pursue
the course which 1t did pursue That is silly fiction
The Board of Control appellate body in
racing matters. and could have overruled and set
aside the action OF Monmouth Park toward the
newspapers. But three members of the Executive
Committee Of Monmouth Park members OF
the Board Of Control and all the other members
OF the board. except ], c. x. Lawrence, president
OF the Coney Island Jockey Club. We're bound by the
closest ties OF intimacy and friendship. and in
eral cases also by firmly knit business relations.
with the managers of Monmouth Park. \ trap
set for Mr. Lawrence. The impression was cum
ningly created that If the difference between Mon
mouth Park and the Coney Island Jockey Club
were referred to committee OF three from the
Board of Control the decision Of the committee
would be In favor OF the Coney Island Jockey Club.
matter to this committee. which made up OF
men whose personal interests were largely bound up
with those OF Monmouth Park.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR DISASTER
The truth is that the Executive Committee Of
Monmouth Park and the members OF the Board of
Control responsible for all the disasters which
have fallen upon the turf since the middle Of July,
1898. They responsible for alternating both the
press and the public from the support Of the turf
They are responsible fo- the scanty attendance AZ
the races which took place after the middle Of
July. They are responsible for the lack OF public
confidence in racing They are responsible FOR the
indsummer in iSSS they are chiefly RESPONSIBLE
for the oycIthTG% Of The raceae GsmeT! at the
largely responsible for the present state Of things
at Trenton. They are chiefly responsible for the
closing OF the New-Jersey racetracks They are
principally responsible for the dangers which
ace racing in this State If the turf in the Empire
State IS saved from ruin It's will not be due
10 the managers OF Monmouth Park and the mem
bers OF the Board of Control. They have dealt
OF racing in New-York and New-Jersey depends
ugon the Coney Island Jockey Club and upon the
Or. Knapp and others who have sense enough to
and the public as Monmouth Park and the Board
OF Control fought them both
NOTES on TURF AFFAIRS.
Richard Croker is likely start on his Southern
trip until the latter part Of next month. He may