The evening times., 1896-10-21

| There is an earnestncss about the work
| OF reforming the turf in the East that
cannot be denied. and the public Will now
| be satisiieu that Il reform Is to - effected
| indeed. Referring TO this matter, which
concerns thousands of people daily. an
authority has this to say:
| lie work performed by the stewards
| OF The Jockey Club during the last two
| months cannot help but be commended by
all these who have the thoroughbred in
tercst at heart Since the return Of MIR
August Belmont from Europe the change
| In tho sport has been SO marked that
nothing but praise mas been bestowed
upon the workers for their untiring efforts
To raise horse racing from what seemed
certain disgrace and death.
During the middle months of the season
scandal was rife. Combinations were said
l" exist, and some jockeys rode so errat-
lcaily That 1t was hinted through the press
that they were in the employ Of the neavy
bettors and layers of odds. In the ab-
sence oi Mr.. Belmont, the president Of the
jockey Club, the stewards did not care
10 ldke severe measures against those wEo
We're thought To be Interested, but they
went steadily To work 10 gather testimony
10 present To Mr.. Belmont upon his return.
Detectives Were employed to watch the
actions of men and Jockeys trainers and
owners, and layers and players. Reports
were handed i'll daily and when Mr. Bel
mont stepped into the Jockey Club office
there were stacks of reports for him to look
over.
1t was a staggering bundle, but Mr.. Bel
mont wentto work, assisted 10y the stew ards.
and in a few days the ak fell and several
heads turnbled into the basket for dis
reputables.
TO EXPOSE MORE CROOKEDNEss.
For time the regulars, who follow the
races daily, commented upon the decisions
III anything but friendly manner. going
so far as 10 say they had jumped the
heads of those most deserving. and alighted
upon those who We're more sinncd against
than SHINING.
Those who criticised so freely were not
aware of all the inside history OF the Of
tenders, nor OF the prime offcnses with
which they were charged; neither does any
one elsc outside of the select COtcrie, but
it is supposed that there are things much
more criminal left uneXposed than were
exposed at the time the decisions We're
handed around for publication.
Furthermore. there is more 10 come or
more to be considered, but for lack of sub
stantia,ing evidence severe measures can
not yet he a ken. Sooner or later. however,
those under the ban will be whipped up
with a round turn and the Jockey Clubs
work of publication will be complete after
which it only remains for the well wishers
To keep it so, not only for their own per
soual benefit. but for the thoroughbred in.
terest in general.
Mr. McDowell's address to jockeys, en-.
ployeS, owners and trainers will have much
to do with the future. He asked them all
to help themselves by helping the Jockey
Club to ferret out those whose chief stock
in trade was trickery, and judging from tl.e
remarks Of many at the close Of the lee
lures those who resort to othcrthan straight
forward measures to win money Will have
To. be exceedingly discreet in their actions
or they will find themselves outside the
gates of all associations in the East, and
more than probably in the West.
To IMPROVE THE SPORT
One very prominent trainer remarked,
after Mr.. Mcdowell had concluded his ad
=
almost too old to use n pick, and he was
not going TO jeopardze his future by stand
ing idly 10y and watching the dishonest own
er, trainer or jockey knock down the foun-
dation for a comfortable and honest living
from under his feet. There Were manv
others present who agreed with him.
Judging from the work Of the stewards
the last month, there is little doubt that
the closing days Of the season viii 5e sig
nalzed by improved sport. IN fact, there
has not been cause for complaint for the
last month, excepting i'll the instance Of
Bunn's ride on Campania, at Aqueduct,
report of which is now in tie hands OF the
Jockey Club, and the poor work of the
starter at Morris Park.
Mr. Ciarke's successor, C. II. PettinCill, |
is an old hand at the business and capable: |
Very little complaint can be made of his |
work East, where he had to deal with |
the lower class OF selling plat.rs, many Of |
which came into the hands of their pres |
ent owners through their erratic tempcrs |
and sulky dispositions. With the better |
class of horses to deal with, there is little |
doubt that Pettingin's work will lie salts
Ia actory.
There has been some talk Of the flag be-
ing placed in the hands of a gentleman Of |
social standing and if the starting problem |
cannot be mastered by the end of the sea-
son, which terminates in this city next
month, it is more than likely that next
season will see some one in the position
new to the business, taken from the higher /
-anks of admirers Of the thoroughbred.