New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-12
rUr NryD or TTRF EETOHNS.

The backlecs of the bcttngring and III"
blackguanls Of the winter racetrackS nave
brought damage and disaster on racing. IWch-
ty years ago the racing ut Jerome Park WAS "i
excellent reputation, and enlisted in lis support
many wcllknown and influential Ncw->"rk
crs On race days NJ This picturesque park
were gathered troops of charmngly attlred'
graceful and fashionable women and handsome
DELEGATIONS from the b6st clubs Of the East.
Racing was then looked upon rs Il diversion
worthy the attention and favor of the most
prominent and most respected citizens. Iool-
selling WAS carried on 10 Il limited extent, but
NOT I'm such "A way as 10 be- offensive 10 people
who went 10 Jerome Park for an afternoon :
endowment and with no purpose Of gambling.
No netting ring like the Enclosures which now
dcface and dciile the principal racctracks of the
country could be found in those days anywhere
I'm America There were 10 bookInatcrS To
bride Jockeys and trainers and TO persuade dis
honest owners to run fraudulent races. The
American Jockey Club contained on It's list
many Of the most honorcd names of the me
tropolis II was an unsclish, disinicrrstoh or
canization. anxious only to promote the high
est interests OF true sport The club had no
stock or bonds, and could pay no dividends.
money which came into its treasury above the
amount used for the stakes, the purses ana the
eypenses OF racing was turned over rs rental
TO the Jerome Park villa Site and Improvement
Company which owned the real estate
1t was an ideal condition OF sport at Jerome
Park twenty years ago. No professional gam
blers, no lawbrcakcrs had anything to do WIN
thc management Since those glorious days Of
American racing the fall of the turf has been
deplorably rapid. The gates of jerome Park
have been closed for years, and nearly all the
racetracks Of the country are In The hands OF
men who are Oh the turf simply and solely for
the money they can make out OF 1t. And III 100
many cases these men are not at all scrupulous
as to the means which they employ In making
money In order TO pile up enormous profits
they have used every device TO Increase the
number Of bookmakers, and in that way to en-
large the dividends on their stock The betting
ring has been permitted to become predominant
on most Of the Eastern racetracks Most Of the
bookmakers belong to the criminal classes. as
most of them are farO-bank keepers or habitual
yiolators Of the law In some way. Hence 1t Is
evident that the Eastern turf 10 n melancholy
extent is infested by the criminal classes. 1t is
the plain duty then, OF the Legislature Of this
State and other Legislatures to suppress the
betting-rings unless the racecourse managers
will put gambling in the background will limit
the power and the influence of the boOkmakers,
will purify racing and give the people who sup
port 1t honest and honorable sport The pur-
pose Of the new movement, In which James X.
Keene has been so conspicuous and active is
to bring about radical reforms. Unless these
reforms are of the most searching and exten-
sve sort, and unless they are carried out rcso-
lutely and thoroughly the racetracks Of this
State ought to be closed and kept closed.
Monmouth Park last summer was managed
BY an amazing group Of hot-headed. irascible.