New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-15
TURF REFORM MARCHING ON.
THIS WILL. BE AN IMPORTANT WEEK
FOR THE NEW MOVEMENT.

SERIOUS PROBLEMS CONFRONTING THE MEN At
THE HEAD OF IT-soME OF THE THINGS
WHICH SHOULD BE DONE
Reform Is the only subject that engages the at.
tention OF the turfmen who frequent the uptown
hotels and cafes just now. Many persons ex.
ceedngly DESTROYS that the organization win
receive name at the next meeting For the
present 1t might be called the Metropolitan Jockey
Club.
1t IL the aim Of the club to go slowly at the be-
ginning. TO consider every act Of the club
carefully. There so many conflicting elements
the turf that each faction has to be considered
separately There cool heads, however, on the
committee who pacify and explain away individual
prejudices so that everything smoothly.
To-day conference will be held with representa-
tives Of the Coney Island Jockey Club The circular
Issued by that club on Saturday did not threaten
the prosperity of or in any way conflict with
any other racing club. The circular was con-
dtional in every clause 1t plainly said that the
Coney Island Club would make the changes pro-
posed II there were racing at Monmouth Park.
The meeting held by the Metropolitan Club on Satur-
day had the same object-to give owners chance
to race at Saratoga pr)viding there was no racing
at Monmouth Park
NO CHANCE FOR MONMOUTH
AS far as racing at Monmouth Park Is concerned
anybody with the faintest glmmer OF reason fore
cable Moreover, the actions of Governor Werts
and the bod-over Senate are completing the de-
struction of racing in New-Jersey, which began
when the winter tracks made racing farce ana
ended when the Lobengulas OF Monmouth PARK
made the sport a panomime last year Even some
of the leading officials Of the Monmouth Associa-
ton have declared publicly that there would be no
racing at Monmouth this year Let the past take
care OF itself II there is to be no racing at Nom
mouth Park the officials should announce the fact
publicly so that everybody interested in the pres
ent movement for turf reform could give his un'
divided attention to the new movement.
The announcement made on Saturday does not
I'm any way interfere with any association except
Brighton Beach, and that association always mad
the opposition Of Monmouth Park on July T. There
is no occasion fer Mysteries. The Coney lsiaho
Jockey Club Is in full sympathy with the new move
ment for reform. Should the Monmouth fark 49,
ISOLATION hold its meeting on track IN tnis o'a~
Il looks as II It would prove as disastrous as ths
meeting held at Jerome and the Westminster
tracks In 1891 II Is likely that the question VIII BE
decided at to-day's meeting Of the representatives
of the Metropolitan and the Coney lsiand eIuos'
Turfmen OF every grade are anxious TO nave lhe
rough places on the turf ssnoothed over so that
there will be no more clashes. Individual spltes
against certain brother officials and the CLUBS OF
which they are members should not have a place
in the new order Of turf affairs There Is so mucn
work for the committee OF the Metropolitan Jockey
Club to do that individuals should be lost sight ot'
and the actions OF the committee be FOR the pehe'
lit Of the turf In general
GREAT DEAL or WORK TO BE DONE 2,
There Is much work before the new club when
is organized There rules that should be enc
forced with the utmost rgility. The rule In re-
gard to Jockeys betting has been dead letter from
the day Of its appearance in the book containing
the rules There is hardly .acegoer who has NOT
seen prominent Jockeys betting openly In the rhs'
1t is no uncommon thing to see leading jockeys
| step up on the block alongside OF bookmaker
| md whisper in his ear Such scenes disgrace
| ful In the extreme ard should not be tolerated.
In England the Jockey club enforces the rule to
| the letter. ..ou ao,r,
ment honest sport 1t would be well 10 a hsis
the Enssh rule that no s1 seh 0E 1' active
training without the consent OF the jockey club
given When it is asisd for by any jockey.
The principal reason given In England wny sh hsa
PRACTICALLY retired from the turf may have a horss
ht and ready TO race. He does not care 10 De, on
how good he is and the horse does finish close
up The next time the horse starts me Jocney a,a
n,c on his back and he may ride the
himself and the result is sartling II me rdadesSs
to peruse the guide and study the career OK
j. J. McCafrerty owner. trainer and jockey.
BOoKMAKERs AS OWNERS
There IS still another question which is likely to
| cause serious trouble when the stewards or COM
mittees of the Jockey Club take 1t up for COM
sderation. That is the ershp Of horses BY BOOK
makers There has been a general cutlery against
the custom by the rank and file Of racegoers for
years. 1t Is demOralizng In It's tendencies lor
bookmakers to own racehorses, as II causes loss
be strictly honest but there are thousands OF per.
sons who 81 to the racetracks TO win the money
of the bookmakers. 50 that Il is for the oest IN
terests OF all that bookmakers should no, hgure
az The subject Is likely to De one Of the
..-s., f,rf pft nh m all
Then there ia the be,ting-rng amp It's MANAGE,
ment to be reconstructed. As matteT are arranged
5ookmaksr no matter what his reputation may be-
To prevent dsrepuable persons from becoming ne
makers should be licensed. and the same care
taken in regard TO them as In the case OF ,S Sss
live books which DO business on the -2-J system y
Is also known that whenever they mix or p'u ~.
| finish. The same horse may come out a Few days
F dtin an the I pGbc a such Fs% TIA" some
have been known TO 20 into trance and remain
"A week. This does not apply to the judges.
THE FREE BADGE BUSINESS.
Another and one OF the worst features OF racing.
Is the free badge fever that has taken such 4 hrm
hold of the track officials. The custom has been
| outrageouslv abused Politicians OF all grades
boldly walk into the Office Of racing association
and ask for score or more OF badges Tor po''
sexes. and they are promptly handed 20 ,n m
who act as II the Journey to and from the trson
| was a ward caucus or election at GraV.se.,ii.
on the track they boisterous ana uhtuIs ,"sn
! ing and pushing their way through groups u ", ,hs
and women who have paid their way ~ . al
gate and who derive pleasure from me r" "a, has
The free list has much TO answer 70, loa re- tone
caused racing to become degraded 70 rose from The
and II has driven respectable persons r ot led
track The evil must be met boldly ana er."' ,ssi
AT once No halfway measures shOu,i De usuS.
The noxious system should be removed ny sun
den wrench. -, cha mos, Inn
pornnt i'm the history OF the turf. as al tne I, is
tracks will be represented at eSntershr rnresents
generally understood that p. J. Dwyer, repirna hv
j. A. Morris by proxy. and that he VII. - Jt ~ ths
anything that Mr. Dwyer does III res"'" " 49,
new movement. -. o, ,bo are
James r. Keene is one Of the fey men WIZ ~ nh
not carried away by impulse Win men ~, VI h
. n and calIbre al the head OF affairs there
hone that the turf will regain Its lost prestige
FORTY NEW-JERSEY C0NVICrS COAfIhSh"'
Trenton ~ j. Jan. lL-Forty convicts, '",s