Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-08
Ten Years of Racing

Ten years of jockey club control of racing in the east have effected n wonderful improvement in the status of American thoroughbred affairs, It is, almost to a day, ten years since James k. Keene stood up in one of the parlors of well known hotel and argued for the establishment of a governing body whose rulings would be respected by all. Thanks to an un- fortunate affair at Monmouth park sn 1893, there was chaos ill the ranks of the racing associations of that day. The Coney Island Jockey club declin- ed to concur with the Monmouth park executive in celebrated case, and the late J. k. G. Lawrence. then president of the Coney Island Jockey club, resigned as member. of the board of control, which organization had taken the place once held by the old American Jockey club as the chief racing association of the north, one whose rulings were respected all over the country.
 Tn ten years the status of the Amer ican turf has been transposed from a highly insecure foundation to the most solid institution that any one could require. Capitalists are eager to invest their millions, confident of large returns for years to come, whereas, in 1894 stockholders in metro politan race courses would have been only to be glad to unload upon any buyer at almost any price.
 Racing matters seemed at the low est possible ebb in 1895. This was the time and opportunity for the we'll wishers of the turf, to bring about modification of the laws which were throttling the sport.
 In the third year Of the jockey club, August Belmont became it's chairman. He had been. and still is one of the three state racing commis- sioners, his associates being E. D. Morgan and John Sanford. Then fol- lowed remedial legislation, slow but effective. The old method of betting with bookmakers ensconsed in wood- en pulpits, shouting the odds at the people, had become thing of the past. It was against the law. A man with ready money in his hand in tic old betting ring was fit subject for arrest. All betting was done on cred it, and hundreds of thousands of dollars were thus wagered by persons utterly unable to pay when they lost, as they did, and they became 'welch- ,ers.' But in spite of all the discour- 'agements, racing went on, the prizes each year became more valuable, as the gate money and other legitimate revenues gradually improved, until at last owners of horses now find themselves in position to race for almost as much money as ever before in the history of the American turf. The formation of the Metropolitan Turf association played an important part in this success.
 Eloquent evidence of the growth and increase of interest in the sport is afforded by the fact that in 1903 the state tax on all receipts at race courses amounted to $200.O00, or about 30 per cent more than in 1902. Tn face of such state of affairs, who would be so ungenerous as 10 attempt to withhold from the persons responsible for it the full credit to which con- mon fairness entities them? Owners of race tracks owners of breeding farms agricultural interests in general all over the country persons who in- vested heavily in thorough stal- lions and mares-all owe heavy debt to the representatives of the jockey club who have given so much time and influence to the present gratifying state of affafrs.-Joseph H. Burke in Illustrated Sporting News.