New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-03
TALK AMONG TURFMEN.
GENERAL JOY OVER THE PASSAGE OF
THE GRAY BILL.
THE ROAD TO RACING REFORM oPENEp-SA'E'
r. KEENE.s INTERESTING COMMENTS


r. KEENE.S INTERESTING COMMENTS
LAUREATE AS A SIRE.
AT last racing has been placed on firm OASIS
with every facility placed in the hands OF ,"e
Jockey Club to make complete transforma''o"
IN the methods and manners pursued IN the i''"
arement OF the sport. General rejoicing yes'er""'
among turfmen took the place OF despondehcy
caused by the rebuff given to the Gray bill IN the
Senate on Wednesday. Senator Guys alertness anu
able management of the measure In the senate "''e
highly commended by horse-owners ana uacN-o""-
ers The attempts of lobbyists who put oostruc-
lions In the way OF all decent legislation sisha'F
failed In the attempt to eXtort money i'o'" ''' "
vocates OF the Gray Racing bill
The affair IN the Senate on Wednesday seemed 20
be chiefly skrmish TO feel the position OF IaC"'s
men in regard TO the measure ana TO nr' ou'' -
possible whether the racetracks would submit 10
the lobbyists The storm OF Indignation arouseu ny
the action of the men who lodged the issue deVe'-
oped the fact that much inside Information was III
possession Of the press about methods III io,.
years when racing measures were AT STAKE, NV
that the Gray bill IS practically n law as '"e'e
little doubt that the Governor will sign H. the rae
ing associations may proceed with their preparations
for the racing season Of 1873.
All classes OF racing men. including facet'ac" o
Gals attribute the ultimate success OF the OIL u '
attitude of The Tribune and the many artcies ''''
have appeared in its columns about racing anu 80,
desirabi.ity OF law that would protect ana ioS's'
the breeding OF the thoroughbred with all the oo-
noxIous features OF the betingrng and Its acce'so
ries eliminated. ,
James r Keene August Belmont. John Sanford
all OF whom took an active part IN the e'ioi' "
secure high-class reputable racing. are much graz"
fed They labored necessarily and left no stone
unturned TO attain their ends by honorape an"
legitimate means. 1t is highly credi'apie 10 t"e
breeders and horseowners az well as to 'ne rac''s
associations that the efforts OF the Jockey 'lup
we're crowned with success. Notwithstanding the
Of he
OF the misguided persons who listened to the men
dacious assertions of pooroom allies and their rec
peated attacks the Gray bill James H. NVo'e
talked freely about the situation yesterday he sau
TIE Gray bill should satisfy all reasonable peo-
ME as IL permits racing under wholesome cohi'-
,tons and sboshes the obnoxious features that de-
graded the sport the past. Now in REGARD 10 inc
betting question: The Wids bill enectua!N s''u'S
the status OF betting and confines the persons VINO
are OF a speculative turn of mind to perfectly les'-
innate transactions between themselves on the race
tracks.
"I, will he readily seen by reformers OF
morals that no amount of legislation could wholly
suppress quiet. surreptitous betting on RACING u
other contests. Excessively arbitrary laws Always
fail. With too arbitrary laws the betting would be
done In alleys. hallway. cellars ana otheT ou'-o'-
the-way places. Under the desirable ana just pro-
visions OF the Gray and the Wilds bills there Is
no valid reason why racing should not fod'"
higher plane OF excellence than In any o'her 'o""
try. / highly grained AT the result ]" |>'"""''
What is required. now that we have obtained what
ua asked is n united effort to make racing more
attractive than ever before. The public VIII turn
out 10 witness nrs,-class racing and there IL no
real danger but that sufficient revenues VIII DE
earned by the different turf organizations 10 etDle
dISacnds S''' '''''' ..,o, ~ ,,o
Nearly eye.y prominent racing man talked III the
s' Wben a rcpor. that 200 ministers had sent APP
peals 10 weknown member OF the senate ono no
oppose: the racing measures vas sIHel appn,, ~" I
unkind, horsc- owner ssxea' =" nat ''' '"''
In the midst Of the comments on the rac'ns, D ~
one able advocate OF honest racing pointed OUT ih'
fact that racing surely on the right roan 10 re-
form as the Jockey Club had appointed inner WHO
was competent TO MI the pace. , , ,.ou
The Dwyer-Croker contingent received a set-nacK
Yesterday when Harry Reed Sionencil ahu HLon
hnf the best he could do was 10 finish third FOX
hall Keenes entry was unplaced IN me ~ 20
old Americans ho~TveI N na Xewmarke, as
Whittier who won the March stakes. was slfHn -!
General Stephen Sanford Sons leaurea,ei, n m-
ter defeated Best Man. Marco and Stoneneii. I'hu-
rna,e 10 one OF the stations in the Sanford lurri,
cana stud at Amsterdam and is the sire OF several
vs.; = they are the first OF the get OF Laureate
10 start in this country, Laureates Tame as d S"e
- J 10, J. Burke Is busy compiling short his
tory OF cross-country racing IN TINS country WIT
brief sketches OF me careers 6l rn1e hem These
interesting articles. together win arlsG r,tsin
lions will be printed by the Inc National
SteepIechase meeting. 10 be held al MOTIFS ,h Nv
"The Black Patch, a cleverY wtlt'er va, anu - az
Sarn,ay is sure 10 interest breeders. raceeoers
horsenen and all lovers OF racing ana ouioppohh
6p George Routiedges Sons. no q West Twenty
third-st nj, 49,, ,,,, uorp =. Sheens-
.iad poy Yesterday Rubicon covered one mile
and a nuarter in 2:l4 DR.. Rice covered a distance
Of six furlongs in llsla