New-York tribune., 1896-05-14
TIlPF PROSPECTS ~ THE EAST.

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put upon sounder and more satisfactory basis
than that which existed a few years ago Ihe
men who are now in control recognize the fact
that the people of New-York have decided not
TO tolerate the abuses which were formerly so
! fla grant and offensive. Old practices WHICH
were Objectionable have been suppressed to a
gratifying extent. Upon the opening day OF me
Westchester Association the quality OF the at
tendance was much better than that OF the
times when the injurious influences of wild and
furious gambling stimulated. encouraged ana
promotrd by racctrack owners for the sake Of
big revenues. filed enormous bettingrinSs, ana
every imaginable device was freely employed
10 intensity the temptations offered to the
masses in order to enrich professional book
makers by betting on the largest scale
and with little effort to protect the victims OF
the rings by preventing trickery and fraud on
the part Of dishonest gamblers and their agents
and confedcrates In saddle and In Stable. NO
fair-mIndcd observer who took note Of every
thing that could be- seen at Morris Park on
Tuesday could doubt that significant progress
has been made on the turf OF the Empire state,
and that the sport is cleaner and more whole
some than it was before the present officers
and stewards Of the Jockey Club took matters
in hand A few years ago even the best race
tracks in the country were overrun by hordes
of awbreakers rascals Of all sorts ana dis
reputable persons generally and among the
multltudps Of visitors in the grandstands and IN
the betting-rings honest faces often seemed to
be in the minority rather than In the majority.
Much has been done 70 cleanse the turf, ana
Americans may fairly expect 10 enjoy great
deal of honorable and excellent sport In the
East this year. In several States OF the West
and South professional gamblers are permitted
to carry on racing at a number OF vile and nasty
limitations Of racctracks. and 10 plundcr hosts
of hapess simpletons. There Is altogether too
much so-callcl racing in some of the Western
and Southern States. The turf ought 10 be kept
within proper bounds everywhere and every
racctrack which is not managed by reputable
and trustworthy turfmen ought to be closed by
legislation In this State the turf Is now In
charge Of well-known citizens. who can be
trusted to act reasonably and fairly. The Jockey
Club has wisely decided that the number or
race days shall be- limited by moderate and prop
or restrictions. Racing for six days In the week
Is a nuisance and an abomination. The Tribune
has repeatedly proved that racing in excess Is
always mischevous. and ii Is not necessary 10
dwell upon that subject now. Three race days
each week are enough
The turf season in this part Of the country has
opened well. Now all the friends Of honest sport
on the racec0urse ought to give Il generous sup
port The owners of the recognized racec0urSes
ought to have fair opportunities for reasonable
profits One OF the foremost turfmen OF America
remarked recently: III the racing associations
"are not allowed To got fair returns on their
investments the racetracks will be closed There
Twill always be a certain number of rich Ameri- |
cans who enjoy the sport much that they |
will be ready to keep up costly stables nj loss
But racetracl< owners will not consent TO carry
ION racetr7,c>s n loss very long. And without
"racetracks there can be no racing If the peo-
pie in this part OF the United States will not
go to the tracks In sufficient numbers TO make
racing fairly profitable, the turf cannot live |
1t Is plain. however, that certain owners and
trainers are practically cutting their own throats
by keeping their horses In stables when those
horses should he seen in contests. People will |
not go 10 the tracks in Lirge numbers and will |
not support the turf unless owners and trainers |
start their horses and thus I'LL the fields so as |
10 furnish contests Of high class. Many owners |
and trainers who get their living on the turf, and
have no means Of existence except on the turf |
are so stupid and short-slchted that they lessen |
public interest in racing by their foolish policy |
OF refusing 10 start horses unless they see |
practical assurance OF victory. Certain owners |
and trainers made the Bennngs meeting a |
failure by keeping their horses in their stables |
without sufficient reason. Certain owners and |
trainersare already working serious injury 10 the |
Morris Park meeting In this way Is 1t impos |
siblr 10 teach these blockhcads little common |
sense? If they will not start their horses. the |
fields In the races must be small and the sport |
poor No great numbers Of people will go 10 |
see poor racing, and without large numbers of |
spectators the racctracks will be closed. and |
some of these short sighted owners and trainers |
may find themselves tramping on the highways |
within a short time.