The Indianapolis journal., 1896-02-18
THE LAW WORKS WELL
NEW YORK STATE RACING REGULA-
TIONS ACCEPTABLE TO HORsEMEN.
Report of the State Commission ON
the Operation of the Act-Several
Changes Recommended.

ing COMMISSION, composed OF August BEL
mont. Edwin ID. Morgan and John Sanford.
presented to the Legislature tonight its
first annual report. 1t treats in detail of
the practical operation of the Gray-Percy
law and concludes with recommendations
for its perfection. Two of these recommends
ations will undoubtedly be submitted to the
Legislature. The first proposes an amend
ment of the law, SO that ii may be pos
sble for the several racing associations
to discriminate in the prices of admission
they may charge to certain portions OF
their grounds where certain privileges may
be enjoyed, providing that these privileges
are not contrary to law and do not con-
template bookmaking pool selling. The
second amendment is designed to make inn
possible any such attempt to violate the
law as that which was designed by De
Lacey and others in the Maspeth bogus fair
of last fall. In accordance with strong
letter addressed them by the Coney Island
Jockey Club, the Brooklyn Jockey Club and
the Westchester Racing Association, the
commission recommends that the Legis-
lature should tighten the burdens imposed by
the State tax Of per cent. on the gross
receipts.
The report says: "The commission is con-
vinced that the experiment OF racing under
the new conditions provided by the Gray
Percy law is a decided success. The safe
guards thrown about racing by these pro-
visions have been found to work as well In
practice in theory. The racing itself has
been of the highest order and many per-
sons prominent in the community who have
not of late been i'm sympathy with racing
have returned to or have for the first time
become identified with the turf. Unfor-
o&1lx. TO tho
racing associations have been very disap-
pointing. In nearly every instance finan-
cial loss has been sustained"
The report continues: Eight hundred and
forty-seven races were run last year in the
State; the winners were paid 1892, ,453; about
so per cent. of these premiums was won
either by horses owned in this State or at
least by horses permanently here, and 80
per cent. won by outsiders, it is esti-
mated, remained here for expenses Of men
and horses" Discussing the reduction in
the earnings of racing associations, the ef-
feet of the law, the commission says, that
| the whole matter should be dealt with wise
| ly by the Legislature. To impose too great
burden upon the associations would be to
destroy racing. Without these associations,
maintained by intelligence and large capi-
tal 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 overnight purses were
made much less than before and general
reduction has been made for the coming
year in all states. Unless the associa-
| tions prosper in the coming year
than In the past ', year b rtber It is ce e
| duced with the possibility that ultimately
some OF the associations may be forced
| sold in the public market Isis Thoroughbred
| yearlings. These realized the sum OF $s9.-
7S5. In 1895 there were :2S7 sold for $3.50, ,Sos
rx,t-o r.rfaa Inv no ID
ers in 1894 was $5345l; in, 1895 it
was ss11.52. In other words. there
was cent in the vane of earrings and this
| depreciation in values fell entirely upon the
| breeding industry.
Nor do the figures quoted fully express
| the situation In many instances there
the breeder was compelled to retain.
Many frequenters or the race track, 1t
seems, having in view the benefit of the
associations, have expressed themselves as
willing to pay special entrance fees to GER
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 inclosure or ac-
cepting such special entrance fees. The
commission, in order TO avoid the repetition
of the performance attempted at Maspeth
last W year. recommended an amendment to
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 co,lusive pro-
ceedings in the Dudley and Judson cases.
and concludes by saying: IF, then, the
LEGISLATURE will so amend the Gray-Percy
bill in the particulars suggested, il is the
view of the commission that the permanent
CIV OF racing is re-established and its con-
seauent incalcuable benefit TO the industry
of horse oreeding-not on its old lines or
with it's former profits--but re-established
as a great sport. affording a safe invest
ment for large sums of money, employment
of thousands of worthy persons, and what
should not be lost sight Of, an innocent
diversion TO our citizens.