The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1896-01-25
PARKER,BRIDGET&Co.
ClothierS. 315 9TH ST.
TURF In new YORK STATE
An Eastern Horseman Talks About
the Racing Prospects.
Owners of the Running Tracks Lost
Money Last Year-Report to be
Sent TO the Legislature.

New York, Jan. 25.-There is not an in
telligent turfman in the East but has I'M
bounded admiration for thework that has
been accomplished by the Jockey Club, and
yet more than one practical racing man
is dubious as to the future The men who
form the bone and sinew OF the turf are
naturally inclined 10 look at the ma tier
from business point Of view. Said one OF
them yesterday:
Il am not a pessimist in racing matters.
! have followed the sport for score OF
years, have made my living at it as Jockey
and trainer. and there is every reason why
] should desire to see it thrive. All the
same, believe in looking the facts square
ly in the face, and a close-range view OF
what / conceive To be the exact status OF
racing is not reassuring in SO far as l
personally am concerned.
Consider the matter from business
point of view All the race tracks lost money
last year. How long will they continue Ia
TO put their hands in their pockets to pay
deficits? Last year they Were encouraged
to go ahead in the hope that they might at
least be able to pay expenses. This year
they are again encouraged in the belief
that By careful management they may
b
tain to be short lived.
ITO my mind, it Will be of very short
duration. Unless there is some relief. iun-
less matters are so arranged that the pub
lie can go to the race track and bet with
some degree of satisfaction. l, for one, do
not expect to see very much racing in the
vicinity of New York in 1897. AS a matter
of fact, know a real estate dealer who
,lr hos nrn frp1
not thousand miles from New York. and
another track could be disposed of at
almost any sacrifice and still yield a
profit to its stockholders.
Now, the whole matter resolves itself
into this. and it is a very simple PROPOSE
ton: How long will the various associa-
tons continue to give meetings ut loss,
OF with no prospect of paying some profit
to their shareholders"
Col. Lawrence W. Kip. the president,
with August Belmont, John G. Hcchsher,
E. d. Morgan and Lawyers Bowers, Pat
terson and Aucrbach, We're present at a
meeting of the Coney Island Jockey Club
yesterday The principal business was to
review the report to be presented to the
legislature by the State racing commission.
eDce::
The report is a very able document, and
reveals exactly the present condition of the
turf in this State. II is a chronicle of
losses on the part OF the racing associa-
tons, and there is little hopeful in the out
look for this season.
I'VE also discussed the individual losses
Of the COney Island Jockey Club. They
nave been very heavy. Under the Percy
Gray racing law a further loss is Ger
tainty. The centre breeding intere SITS OF the
country have suffered from the restrictions
placed on racing here, as demonstrat ted by
The failure of yearling sales. Some radical
step will have to he taken, possibly gen.
erareduction of the purses and added money
In the guaranteed events, or else the racing |
associations will be forced to close their |
ates.'