Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-18
RACING IN NEW YORK.
Report ON the Effect and Operation
of the Gray-Percy Law.

aNSpoEt tRe uhu
of the Gray-Percy Law.
The New York state racing commission,
composed of August Belmont, Edwin D.
to the legislature it's first annual report. 1t
treats in detail of the practical operation
of the Gray-Percy law, and concludes with
recommendations for it's perfection.
Two of these recommendations will TN
doubtedly be submitted to the legislature.
The first proposes an amendment of the
law. so that it may be possible for the Sew
eral racing associations to discriminate in
the prices of admission that they may
charge to certain portions of their grounds
where certain privileges may be enjoyed
providing that these privileges are not con-
trary to law. and do not contemplate book
making or pool selling. The second amend
nent is designed to make impossible any
SUCH attempt to violate the law as that
" ich was designed by De Lacy and others
in the Maspeth bogus fair of last fall
In accordance with strong letter ad-
dressed to 1t by the Coney Island Jockey
Club, the Brooklyn Jockey Club and the
mission recommends that the legislature
should tighten the burdens imposed by the
state tax Of per cent on the gross re-
ceipts.
The report says: THE commission is con-
WINGED that the experiment of racing under
The new conditions provided by the Gray
Percy law is a decided success.
"Th. safeguards thrown about racing by
these provisions have been found to work
as well in practice as in theory. The rae
ing itself has been Of the highest order, and
many persons prominent in the community
who have not of late been in sympathy
the first time become identified with the
turf. Unfortunately, however, the net re-
turns to the racing associations have been
very disappointing. In nearly every in
financial 1OcS ha
The report continues: Eight hundred and
forty-seven races were run last year in the
state; the winners were paid s192, 45:i; about
81 per cent of these premiums were won
either by horses owned in this state. or at
least by horses permanently here, and 10
per cent won by outsiders, it is estimated.
remained here for expenses Of men and
horses
Discussing the reduction in the earnings
of racing associations, the effect of the law,
the commission says that the whole matter
should be dealt with wisely by the legisla-
ture. To impose too great a burden upon
the associations would be to destroy racing.
Without these associations, maintained by
intelligence and large capital, the breeding
of thoroughbred horses for profit or even
for pleasure is In danger of extinction
While the large stakes were not in many
Instances reduced during the past year, the
'over-night purses were made much less
than before, and a general reduction has
been made for the coming year in all
stakes, and unless the associations prosper
in the coming year more than in the past
year, it is certain that the stakes will be
further reduced, with the possibility that
ultimately some of the associations NAV be
forced to close their gates.
In 1892 there were sold in the public mar
kets 1.515 thoroughbred yearlings These
realized the sum of $500. 195. In 1895 there
were 1.237 sold for $3SI,359. The average
Price realized by the breeders in 1894 was
s-3i.51. In 1895 it was $311.52.
In other words, there was decrease of
nearly forty-two per cent in the value of
warnings, and this depreciation in values
fell entirely upon the breeding industry.
Nor do the figures quoted fully express the
situation. In many instances there were no
bids for yearlings offered, and these the
breeder was compelled to retain.
Many frequenters of the race track it
seems. having in view the benefit to the as
soc-ations, have expressed themselves as
willing to pay special entrance fees to GER
tain parts of the ground where there would
be special privileges. such as the paddock.
reserved seats, etc, but the associations, at
the request of the commission, have re-
Trained from having such Enclosure or ac-
cepting such special entrance fees.
The commission, in order to avoid the
repetition of the performance attempted at
Maspeth last year, recommended amend
rent of the act to the effect that the
grounds of no fair organization should be
used for more than a five days meeting.
The report then states its work for the
suppression of pool rooms, recites the story
of the collusive proceedings in the Dudley
and Judson cases. and concludes by saying:
IF. then. the legislature will SO amend
the Gray-Percy bill in the particulars sug-
gested, it is the view of the commission
that the permanency of racing is re-estab-
lished. and its consequent incalculable bene-
fit to the industry Of horse breeding-not on
its old lines, or with its former profits-but
re-establshed as great sport, affording a
safe investment for large sums of money
employment of thousands of worthy persons
and what should not be lost sight of, an in