New-York tribune., 1894-06-12
NEEDED TURF REFORMS.
,.,crSr DUTIES OF THE JOCKEY CLUB.
40 MUCH RACING FOR Two-YEAR-oLDs. AND
TOO MANY SHORT sCRAMBLES.

4l
'A,u,.on this year limiting the number Of short
s. on ,he courses under is control. This rule
r.u,s only one race on each race cay al distance
49,. han mile for horses three years Cd and
w,r1 Il does not restrc; he number or snort
W. ~ for the ;wo-year-o olds. and both the Brooklyn
- cub and the NewY0rk Jockey Club have
,., great numbers OF races for two-year-olds this
s, I, IS 20 be regretted that so many con-
'.s q, two-year-olds take place on the American
..,-,cks especially IN the early part OF the sea-
20 7, &c cruel to these immature youngsters. with
go homes ard musc.es only party developed. the
80 infants Of the turf in their fragile and feeble
a.hvbooi 20 race them 50 severely under whip and
snpr In so exactlng and hear;-breaking struggles
- :. ,Aose 20 which they subjected. The turf
MD have a far higher place in the estimation of
s,o,d.mlnded and true-hearied people If two-year-
"A racing were abolished altogether.
:. e no, in the least likely, however, that the
...,c Of two-year-oids vii, be given up in this
,r,rv or IN any other whore contests OF thor
rgsbreds occur. for many year TO come. The
n,pnt OF capital invested IN breeding farms and in
boroughbreds generally is so great that the own
s and buyers of horses viii never consent TO
.h,ndon two-year-od racing unless they are COM
,ras 10 DO Il by law. They not willing 20
NV No the money Invested In young thoroughbreds
,hoI, attempting TO win stakes and purses with
.s- horses until they three years old. Never
1.,ess 4, would be advantage to the turf In the
,.-g run. an improvement and gain In all things.
"a for the benefit Of the community. IL the law
,,a nut an end 70 two-year-od racing. Then
,o,,ss,s between the older horses would be far
o,s numerous and Of far more interest. Excessive
,wo.vear-old racing breaks down a large proportion
=, ,ho-oughbreds Very few race horses are sound
,,3 free from lameness or injury when they be-
o-,s Ays and six years OF age II two-year-od rae
inc were given up altogether there would be many
srcelent horses on the turf. ft 10 a mile and
,.f or more at high speed and with great weight
carving power. at the ages of SIX seven eight nine
,d even ten years With two-year-o,d racing
,ss =, the appalling excess which Is seen In this
ourtry IN these days there few horses Of great
va,ue on the turf after three years OF age. Most
stbe best runners Sc; disfgured or disabled broken
s,wa or crippled. before they become four years
da and the number of high-class horses which
unning al five and six years of age is very scanty.
THE CLUBS PLAIN DUTY.
The Jockey Club maintains that its object is 10
tsvate the standard Of racing and 10 improve the
b-eei OF horses. /; Will accomplish good what
ever unless Il limits the number OF two-year-old
-,css cuts down vigorously the number OF spr.nts
and scrambes 10 be allowed on the courses under
~ control and does everything In its power 10 en-
courage and promote long distance racing. Exces-
slye racing Of two-year-olds and the whole inde
tensIble and inexcusable array Of contemplate
sorints and scrambles and scurries and hurried,
bea;hless dashes on the turf must inevitably bring
dscredit and d.srepu;e upon racing. The American
tu-f has had great deal Of trouble. embarrassment
and difficulty to encounter In the past 1t will have
many obstacles and pers 10 overcome in the future
vness the Jockey Cub sets It's face like flint
asaipst the outrageous excess OF two-year-o,d
ny and insists that the turf organizations shall
Nnr severely the number Of short scrambies and
scurrles. racing Will become less popular and Will
Be IN serious hazard OF extinction
|, will be a grievous error II the Jockey Club
decides 10 restore 1-2-3 betting in the books. This
form Of betting has been prolific source OF injury.
evil and abuse 1t is the most urgent and impera-
tive duty Of the Jockey Club TO lessen. far as
possible the reproach against racing that It exists
chiefly for the promotion of gambling. The 1-2-3
betting in the books is extremely Objectionable
form OF gambling and has been the OF
graf many scandals. Certain bookmakers have
made large fortunes by betting against horses run
aing l-2-3 when these bookmakers had a secret
understanding with owners. trainers Jockeys
that the should be permitted to get third
places. This has been a notorious and fragrant
scandal on the tu-f for years. The Jockey Club
renewal OF this abuse
THE APPEARANCE OF EVIL MUST BE
AVOIDED
Every true friend OF racing must realize that
the Jockey Club ought to put forth the most en-
ergetic efforts 10 avoid the appearance Of evil
on the turf 1t ought to exercise a much more
careful and vlgant supervision over the sport than
Of the ablest keenest most resoIte and mos; fear
ess members Of the Jockey Club ought 20 70 with
the starter all the starts and he ough, TO make
frequent reports to the stewards OF each meeting
eno 10 the stewards OF the Jockey Cub SO that
me starting may be improved. In fact. 1t would
nsd al the start three representatives.. every
ou,spoken IN turf matters as the Rev Dr PARK.
aurst Is IN municipal affairs. The truth OF the mat
so,,a.r tla' me Jockey CUB ought TO organize
Df n
preston OF vice on the turf. 1t ought to have three
ing OF the word fear ana who WIN report the
eces yb 8 OF ne most popular Jockeys. the Jockeys
StA ga the turf as quickly they VIII report the mis-
GsHss VI Lhe most insignificant and obscure little
mdget The Jockey club ought 10 have a staf
o detectives Of exceptional ability alertness deter
r..auon ana activity. These detectives should
watch the betting ring. should inquire into the
xprrauons OF the bookmakers. should in
.seo watching and should be prepared 10 get at
Jocksr Tutn ior the action Of the stewards OF the
bty Of any wrongSops "rSie @ mere IS posi- pds
,.lin II IS tremendous task. a Titanic under
greater enterprise than thai which Herc,les ac
Tipsnea viii as M put IL can be done II the Jockey Club
,on M. @ se. user about the work with a determine
~" moi TO turn back until II is complete.
LIVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT SHOULD BE
MADE
some papers in Great Britain. in censuring Lord
-Alaeterized the operations OF the English turf
- carnival Of rascality. That is an extremely
O"s phrase. Probably It is a grievous cxaggcr-
No-1 N- But 1t is certain that winter racing In
calr" "eitsey was carnival OF rascality, and
NJ" Vt he worst sort. Moreover, this rascality
sss- nSt o. entirely confined TO winter racing in our
IN tb gate and II is not quite certain that racing
nsr 'Y Empire state under the control OF the
or Iockey Iy club. is wholly without spot blemish
w., 'ockey Club is modelled to a considerable ex-
ish MY on on the English Jockey Club. II the Eng
eo,,, eHey Club has not been able to purify racing
dors ana II the French Jockey CLUB has not
,n-s away with all the candas Of the French
Cns u can hardly be expected that the Jockey
and IN IN thls country Will make a sanity, perfect
h,s siniess institution Of the American turf during
IN ,,s Sc son But II accomplish a great deal
rs,ast at direction. II has done something. Much
ressm 10 De done. II should carry out such
rSisei OF reform. measures sweeping and
,srns, mat no American newspaper will be
val Of rascality q III
'"H AVERAGE OF JOCKEY MORALITY
NOT