New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-23
TALK ABOUT TURF AFFAIRS.
THE DUTIES AND DIFFICULTIES OF
STARTERS.
BETTING CUSTOMS AT BRIGHTON BEACH-PLUN-
GERS AND BOOKMAKERs.

Great - .he desire OF the reformers TO REFORM
those who do not wish to be reformed move
ment has been started by man who wishes 10
crafty his personal malice against his enemies 10
close the gates of the racetracks In this state DF
the suppression of betting. HIS plans are nearly
completed. and within short time the puonc
may be treated 10 surfeit OF sensations ="
regard 10 the turf and the fraudulent manpula-
ton OF racing by owners trainers and Jockeys
Should racing in this State be suppressed Dy 'ne
Legislature next winter the reforner who is 50
anxious TO accomplish its downfall 10 satisfy ms
own personal ends will cry out with loud voice
and point with pride 10 the wreck OF Inc 'uri anu
say: Il did ~"
II is not in the mower Of any person 10 de-
stroy racing no matter now great he may I'M
agine his control Of the next Legislature VIII nc
If the sport OF racing is oberated through 'he
repeal OF the racing laws. II VIII De because ','e
persons who have charge OF its AFFAIRS are lax j"
their efforts to maintain high standard OF eN-
cellence in It's management Stern, uncoWpro''"'
ing measures TO prevent fraudulent racing ana
prompt action In Furnishing wrong-doerS' can w
a grea. deal to save the turf from itself ana i''
enemies ~
Michael F. Dryers losses this season nave oeeh
greatly exaggerated To be sure. one disastrous
DIV IKE Friday when SSS OeO Of Mr.. Dryers money
went into the Golfers Of the bookmakerS' causes
many persons 10 gasp with surprise when Ml'haei
= Dwver wins heavily there is little comment
N regard to II.
UNIQUE EVEN IN ITS BETTING
Now. in regard to betting Brighton Beach
singular as II may appear to many te hVdNF
bet,ers or plungers lose as much money do
BRIGHTON Reach as at any other track but II IL
i,,nosshle for a plunger who is in the 'veih
or in luck TO win heavily at that track INC
reasons given for this is that large nu"loo!
OF the bookmakers have moderate cap""' an"
they Will accept only small wagers from the puhs-
ers on the first race of the day, not matter no"
ehort the odds may he the favorlte Shouiu
he favori;e win II is almost impossible for the
plungers 10 bet the favorite IN the secohu RAJ
as the bookr1akers fight shy Of their money y"
the other hand. should the favorlie lose IN '"e
first race the bookmakers are more anxious 10 az
cept the money the favorite, so tha' WIZ" '''ee
~ four successive defeats OF the favorites In an
afternoon the heavy betors are out OF poke, tens
of thousands Of dollars. with no earthly Chahce
70 win more than enough TO get even on 'he"
losses When the plungers come back the next Gay
md attempt to regain their losses they ma tna'
,bs wary booknakers will only accept small wagers
on the first race and force them to accept the
shortest kind Of odds If they wish TO win back
their losses.
There are number OF bookmakers VINO are
known as "scalpers" Their agents ascertain II
asIrIa what horse in a race that Michael f.
Duver and other heavy bettors Intend to bet on ana
forestau their In the few books that are VIII
ing TO accept large amounts OF money on ''e "o'Se
that Is likely TO be heavily backed In some IN
horses that go to the post at odds-on By laying
off their bets they scalp shave the difference IN
the odds. thereby making 'cinch' or sure money
as it is called in the betting ring Like the racing
and the patrons Of the Brighton Beach track the
betting is distinctly of a different type from tha'
at the other tracks
THEY MEAN WELL But FAIL TO ACT WITH
VIGOR.
A feeble attempt Is being made by the stewards
at Brighton Beach TO suppress crookedness ana
suspicious riding The stewards mean we'll but
do not act promptly when an investigation OF
Jockeys who ride for leading turfmen Is made.
1t is not at all nkel that horses With any pre-
tension TO high will be attracted 10 Brighton
Beach for the small purses offered by the manage
ment. George Engeman has been badly advised by
his friends who continually reiterating the as
sertion that Brighton Beach would be as HDeray
patronized with purses amounting TO only 81" as
with s1cO purses. 1t IS such advice that has pre-
vented the reconstruction Of the track and grounds.
so that instead Of well-equpped grandstand facing
the ocean and course with broad stretches ana
wide easy turns. with all the appurtenances OF
frst-class racetrack. the present obsolete, ram
shackle diiapidated grandstand. which is hermeti-
cally sealed against the ocean breezes. ana the
stuffy sufiocatng betting ring are retained 10 make
life burden TO visitors az the track
One of the most important features OF racing is
the starting Of horses. Nearly every person who
has ever visited a racetrack Is willing and anxious
Of suggestions have been made. Dozens. yes hun
dreds Of men have wasted their time In the vain
endeavor TO secure perfect starting 1t Is the same
In the West in the East. The starter Is looked
upon Of far more Importance than any other
racing official lie rises superior TO any jockey.
No matter how expert jockey may be at his call
Ing the starter can easily him to fall in the
opinions Of racesoers The Judges might possibly
in placing the horses as they finish by length.
thus defeating the fayorite and causing immense
losses the bettors but the starter can easily give
the favorte. other horse. for that matter, six
or ten lengths the worst OF the The favorite
be easily left standing at the post as has Ere
quently happened. even In great races where hun
Gre1s Of thousands Of dollars were staked on me
result The starter who Is expert can give what
is apparently a good start when viewed from the
hundred feet 1t Will be seen that some Of the con-
Dared to break Mo 1 r the sare wora ac
cording 70 the rule. is in.aiDle, hat. notwih-
hae been taken away from the starter' his nu
ence is greater than that of other turf ofi1cia.
JAMES ROWE AS a STARTER.
James Rowe is official of the Jockey Club.
Although he numbers his friends by the thousand
on the turf ne has been numerically criticised by
the press account of his poor work with the
flag. He has been accused by turfmen OF
displaying sufficient amount Of zeal in securing
equitable starts for certain horses. Some of his
intimate friends have said that he did not
himself sufficiently for the big salary ne receives
for his labor Now, to secure good starts II is
absolutely necessary for the starter to have all
able. efficient fearless assistant to keep the horses
In line and to attend to Jockeys who wilfuly dis
obey the starters orders. In the West the starter
has assistants thereby greatly essening the
delays the post. IL would be inestimable bles
sing If Starter Rowe had TWO assistants who are
capable OF rendering him good service at the post.
Friendship kindness OF heart toward an en-
picye should be taken into consideration by
Mr.. Rowe any other starter. but the best men
for assistant starters should be secured and the
result would be less harsh criticism OF the starter
and fewer long delays AT the post
James F, caldwell. who started at Brighton
last
fessona starters. and is said by many people TO
excel all others Ills work at Brighton was far
from being first class lie had little control over
Jockeys. who did almost they pleased. Mr..
Caldwell complained to the stewards about their
behavior. and recommended the suspension Of
era Jockeys. The stewards dd not suspend the
unruly riders and Mr. Caldwell threatened TO re-