The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-24
GOSSIP OF TIE RACETRACK.
INACTIVITY or THE STEWARDS
PROVOkES SOME COMMENT.
Recent Performances OF oxford and Pirate
Polly Passed BY without InNestiEa-
tion-Metropolitan Turf Association
70 BE Smashed, the Latest RumOr.

In some quarters tn ere appears to be icon
slant complaint relative to alleged jobber,
on the turf and persistent demand for re-
forms. II has been charged that glarins
cases OF apparent in and out running have
been allowed to psss unnoticed and con
sequently unpublished by the presiding Of
totals. 1t has been stated that the Jockey
Club has In contemplation the establishment
OF paid professional stewards such as contro
Affairs on the Western tracks. and it has been
even limited that there is likely to be falling
of in the amount Of confidence placed ~
racing by the public In general
That some OF these assertions have been
greatly exaggerated there is no room Tor
doubt. Sensationalism has been ut the root
OF nearly all the reports circulated with the
Idea OF hurting the turf. Yet II would not be
fair to say that racing has been absolutely
free from evil OF such a nature that chronic
fault finders have had effective weapons
placed In their hands without an extra ehort
to obtain them. There have been several
incidents lately it would seem, that warranted
at least the asking of few questions by the
stewards. One OF them vas the defeat OF
James NoIaughlins Oxford at Morris Park
a. week ago last Saturday.
There has been much ugly talk about that
affair ever since, and 1t Is said that the
stewards have not been deaf to some OF the
rumors. Oxford runs in the name of aud
Is trained by James Mclaughlin. He is
conceded to be the best o-year-old maiden
in this part OF the country. At Westchester,
so the story goes. Oxford was prepared for
q small Killing. Certain we'll known plnngers.
who had the tip, expected to get at least
10 to for their money in the opening betting.
The colts phenomenal work was known to
some sharp eyed checkers. however. and
when the layers put up the first prices to /
Was on tap instead OF tens.
The big bettors no had been waiting for
10 to i, it is said. were simply beside them
selves with rage. They snared openly at
the small odds and positively refused to bet
at all. so the report has it. They were angry
because others had "beaten them to the price. "
HIS they put II: but they did not circulate
their intentions in the paddock. so that a
well known Brooklyn politician who bets
heavily went to oxford with confidence for
a $4,000 commission, There were just n
few, however. who knew that the plunRers
were not going to bet penny on Oxford
who were smart enough to bet OH D'Arkle.
the second choice who won. When these
a ID iserable exhibition of horselnanship on
the part of RI. Cochran, they threw up their
hands and expressed the opinion that the
stewards would surely do something. But
only two DAYS ago n statement was made to
THE Sun man that no action had been taken
and that Cochran had not sven been repri-
manded by those in authority. Probably
the turf powers are waiting to see what
Oxford will do the next time he starts.
The rumpus over Lynes ride on Pirate
Polly on Friday. following severe criticism
Of his handling Of Molly Brant and Tradition
in recent races, was OF sufficient magnitude to
warrant some sort of action, but to date there
has been nothing doing on the part of the
men In the stand. Not that Lyme has been
guilty Of any criminal wrong. but rather that
the public clamor for some sort of redress,
even in Q mild form, be respected. 1t would
he difficult to recall more than one or two
instances this whole campaign when Jockeys
have been called before the stewards and
reprimanded for either incompetent or ma
hcious performances. Yet not a day passes
that II is not possible to criticise this Jockey
or that for poor or rather unsatisfactory
horsemsnship G
Persons insist that there is sonnet hing rsdi-
cally wrong In the conduct Of the turf by the
Jockey Club. and that the attendance is fall
ing Of even though there has been a daily
81 Saturdays. when that number has been
doubled There were more than $1,000 who
passed through the turnstfles at Jamaica
on Saturday. which does not indicate q gen.
ersi lack Of interest But at that IL cannot be
denied that there is q decrease 10 the amount
Of business In the betting ring some OF the
books handling nothing but the smallest kind
Of bets. This lack Of money in the ring has
been source OF worry on the part Of certain
persons. Incidentally it has been the means
of starting the story that the Metropolitan
Turf Association. which Is a close corpora
ton OF leading .bookmakers controlling the
prices and affairs in general In the ring will
be effectively smashed.
On excellent authority THE Sun has learned
that when the new Belmont Park opens next
spring the Nets" will not be recognized at
all. In other words. anybody with sufficient
capital can make book in the big pa vilion
provided. at the daily cost OF SIS instead of
$50, the RI to now paid by the Nets" There
will be no discrimination as to who shall sit
in the front line and the back line, and
the ring will be free to all 1t is said that the
president OF the Nets" George wheeock,
was. officially notified OF this change some
time ago and that there has been much i'll
feeling 10 the ranks Of the Nets" as a result.
When the Metz" were first organized the
racetracks we're assured that the 200 members
would make book the greater part of the
season at S57 day. to the exclusion of non
members. 1t was simply guarantee that
the tracks would receive a certain revenue
bUp ING h1eb nave NOT DPen able TO make
rood. Nowadays not more than forty OF
them are doing business in the ring all occ,,-
pying the front row and Offering combination
prices that in many cases have disguised
the big bettors and the public alike. For
this reason the tracks. with Belmont Park
taking the lead. have decided to turn the
Nets down good and hard for purely bust.
ness reasons. Will the Nets" fight? That
remains TO be seen. Some wise men insist
that they will.
In accordance with the exclusive state
ment IN THE Sun three weeks ago, the plan
now under consideration to take care of
Morris Park In future is nearing accom-
plshment. The various tracks have prac.
tically decided to set apart percentage O,
the receipts to the amount OF about $4,000
which will be sufficient to pay the yearly renta
OF the Westchester track. to be used hereafter
as training ground only. until such time
as its owners, the Messrs. Morris. decide
TO cut II up into building lots. Their scheme
will be OF benefit to oil the tracks, as It will
epnble them to have the full quota OF dates
next season. and will also eradicate any chance
OF legal complications.
So far the Jamaica meeting has been very
a better class Of horses has been
sseb on the new track than before and the
SPORT has been correspondngly good. Yet
form has not been in the hest Of running gear.
there having been 9 daily average OF four
losing favorites since the opening day. The