New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-03
SPORTS AND
SPORTSMEN
THE RACETRACK.
ENGLISH. FRENCH AND AMERICAN
METHODS CONTRASTED

Racing in America differs much from that IN
england and France so far as methods are
oo,ned that It is almost impossible 10 explain. In
r,eland there Is Jockey Club that is all the
,ame portends There rules OF racing that
ere implicitly obcyed. Everybody who races
horse in England does under practical contract
% obev all the rules and mandates of the stewards
=. The Jockey Club. The present stewards In Eng
,,,d are vscount powne. the Earl OF Hardwood
,5 the Earl Of Durham. The members Of the
Jockey Club are the foremost men in England, and
hoav ever questions their actions in regard TO the
.,rf AT the different racing meetings In England
,.uards are appointed who serve for the meeting,
rbo nossess knowledge OF racing who familiar
With the rules Of racing and who never hesitate 10
act when occasion requires them to do so. In
rnsand the racing stewards are sporsmen- They
re not men whose associations and methods are so
,,uch like those of the sport gambler that
orlv an expert define the difference. No stew
ard IN England attempts to his position for his
ne-sonal benefits Racing officials are looked up
- and respected IN England and France, because
,bo nuhlc has confidence In their ability. All men
are equal on the English turf. and the humblest
stable lad can appeal directly to the stewards and
oh,ain q hearing Stewards who bet on the races
A. not express surprise when a single layer-of-odds
.ocents their entire commission for the Jockey Club
- England takes cognzance OF bookmakers. nut
6oes take cosnzance OF betting. In Engand
sootsvs 40 not frequent the bettng-ring. neither
ne trainers. lnere
hookmakers by the racing clubs in England
:, rrancA the Government abolished bookmak-
.rg and all betting ia done through the medium
=, Paris mutuel pools. from which per cent Is
deducted In England the racing clubs derive
handsome revenue without contributions from the
,.vers-of-odds Many Of the gate-money courses
nav handsome dividends but the Jockey Club COM
IS thssA racing clubs 10 add all over per cent
s,vidend 10 the racing fund To be sure many OF
the richest stakes IN England are composed OF the
subscriptions OF horse-owners. but on the o'her
ha,s here are many stakes and purses which are
.x,rAr,ely valuable TO which the entrance rec is
r,srev nominal There are many selling races on
,ha nrosrammes and II may be safely said that
that class Of races in England furnishes hrstclass
snort In selling there is pront Tor the rae
ing clubs and for the owners OF seiing-platers'
IN. winner is invariably bid TO his real value
while In nearly every selling race several of the
oo,.es.ants change hands 1n-and-out running Is
not tolerated IN England. The ''in-and-outer IS
moor property and soon becomes a sellns-piaNr'
unless he is like Surefoot. who was an il-tempereo
brute or Glashiels whom Sloan mastered. WIN
Ming two races with him at Newmarket last week
Horses which lose invariably when at odds-on ana
Win when liberal ODDS are laid against them are
NOT wanted on the English turf. A leading trainer
in England was unable TO get license because
horse trained by him ran unoacked AT !" 10 l. anu
fhe next time heavily backed AT snort
odds against his chances That trainer ala not
rAcsve license for two years. This is only a
single instance Charles Wood, who Is one oil the
bes Jockeys IN England, stood on the GROUND nVe
years because circumstantisl evidence inoica'eo
mat there was something wrong about his rldlhs.
Samuel I,oates who is now undergoing punish
rpept for interfering with Sloan in race at New
market last year bad opportunity TO enjoy hin-
self for two years because his oanK account VOC
not in aeeordance with nus ear nirS pnases that
might be cited. but space foroids giving ns' u
The stewards In England do not fear turf scan
dals and invariably act With energy aho Neoii
no1o,,ousIy suspicious in-and-out running or where
the riding OF jockey is pecuar me naarir "a
Protest. against his assignments Of weights without
preiudice 70 himself In England racing is spolt
90 not hobnob or associate with persons who have
aTsG' Or ars ware of the fact Net6er do they
discriranate when the rights OF horse-owners are
The stewards Of the English Jockey Club would not
entertain for a moment the idea of consulting with
LAYERS in the ring who pay tribute than IN the num-
Der and quality of the contestants engaged IN the
II is sad state Of affairs for It may be said that
the betting rings dominate the turf In America II
Is a we'll known fact that public favorites IN races
al the tracks in this neighoorhood nave Deen re-
peatedly crossed. foued and otherwise lInpSueo
without single question being asked In England
the jockey who did the foul rldns w9Lio nds Ie
severely punished The stewards in England might
possibly surnlise that somebody in the oetths-
ring had something TO do with H. BUY II SRd1
10 a whale that they would not wait 10 estap.sl
the connection; lOr EngNSh stt"dlue ma
burglars unable 10 rob banks or break open
safes without tools. and thai II their tools are
taken away the burglars are compelled 10 resort 10
picking pockets or some other species OF sneak
thieving The gulf between the American turf ana
that OF England is wide TO span. II a rev
more men Of the stamp of William c. Whitney
would go in for The turf it~might be possible 70
bring about such good results that the rascas VINO
infest the American turf might be forced TO the
rear outside the gates and the sport placed upon
equality with that Of any other country on the
globe When II is possible 70 form combinations OF
I'VE or more men TO accept the large commissions
Of wealthy turfmen Il Is high time that stewards
OF sufficient backbone to act were appointed. and
that the turf burglars be deprived Of their tools
land the stewards OF the Jockey Club take ex-
cellent that they receive all that is due 70
them. and that they have equal chance with the
natve-born rurfmen.