The Washington times., 1905-02-08
EASTERN TURF
WAR PROBABLE
Empire City Track and
Jockey Club May Clash.
TO BE FOUGHT IN COURT
No Dates Have Been Awarded Aque-
duct, But New Belmont Track Will
Get Meeting-Morris Park.
TO BE FOUGHT IN COURT

NEW YORK, Feb. S.-A turf war is
threatened in the East now.
It IS due to the action OF the Jockey
Club in refusing the Empire city track
racing dates fer the coming season IN
the Metropolitan district. Lawsuits are
sure to result, and it is as likely as not |
that an outlaw meeting Will be held at
the Yonkers course. no matter what the
result of the civil actions. The Empire
City track is controlled by James h.
Butler.
What is more. there will be no racing
at Aqueduct this year. There viii De
at the Morris Park track, and it Is said
that the same dates which heretofore
marked the races at the Long Island
] track will be taken up by the old west
chester course.
The passing of Aqueduct has come
! about by the men behind the new Bel
mont Park track, near Hampstead. Al
present there is difference in figures
between the prospective buyers and sell
ers. but that matter it is expected will
be adjusted within few days.
Ten-Year Lease.
The New York Jockey Club. the official
name for the owners of the Morris Park
track, has been leased for term of ten
years at $25.000 a year. and the twenty
days which viii be allowed them Will
about cover expenses.
No dates We're announced by the stew
ards Of the Jockey Club after its meet
ing, but they will in all likelihood be
published Thursday, the date set for the
next meeting. In the meantime the deal
for the purchase Of the Aqueduct track
may be closed.
Benning Dates.
It was made known, however. that the
Benning track. at Washington, would
begin the racing season in the East on
March % and close on. April Is. Then it
is expected, will follow either Jamaica
or Morris Park with the next set of
dates, with the new Hampstead track
to follow in the line formerly held by
the Morris Park track. That means, of
course, that all the classics, such as the
Metropolitan Handicap, the Withers.
and other events of the sort, will be
raced for at the new track.
James H. Butler, principal stockhoIder
IN the Empire City track and president
of that club, IS confident he will receive
from the State racing commission
Incense TO give a running meeting there
this summer. In the event Of a refusal
however, he viii bring suit IN the courts
to decide the constitutionality of the law
which grants control of racing In this
State 70 August Belmont q n AfnretT1
and John Sanford Mr.. Butler last night
gave out the following statement:
Made Regular Application.
1.-THE Empire City Club made a regular
application on January % last to the
State racing commission for a license
to hold running meeting during the
racing season of 1865 That body has not
met officially since the date on which
our application was filed and | under
stand its first meeting will be on the
14th or 18th instant. This will be the
first opportunity that the State racing
commission VIII have to pass upon our
application for license. In view of our
absolute rights to hold a running meet
ing and our readiness and ability TO
comply with every legal requirement. [
am advised thai the State racing com
mission has no option in the matter ex-
cept to grant the license applied for
Having applied 10 the State racing
commission for license, We considered
II only fair that the stewards of the
Jockey Club should be appraised of our
acton, SO that in arTau ging the dates
OF the various meetings of their affiliated
members they might form their plans
50 as 10 avoid any claShing OF dates
between Empire City Club and the other
tracks.
Tried to Be Friendly.
This was a courtesy on our part. We
held out the olive branch and wished to
get along anicabIy and friendly with
the Jockey Club Tie Jockey Club, in its
infinite wisdom, has not seen fit to
recognize our friendly oVertures. They
have denied our application 10 them for
dates-a very strong intimation that
We are not wanted in that clique.
This denial. however, does not affect
our legal status nor our rights to q
license from the State racing commits
SIGN Properly speaking, the licenses
should first be granted and then the
licensees, II they see ut can meet togeth-
er and arrange dates To their mutual
satisfaction. Apparently this natural
business method is reversed
Should the State racing commission
refuse 10 grant license to the Empire
City Club we Will then ask the courts
to review their decision. We have mott
fed the Jockey Club stewards that we
propose to do this and have again, in
the interests of harmony, asked them
[ defer n a1Iy is
issued or, III the event of its refusal
until the matter IN question has been
passed on by the courts and ali rights
OF the several parties determined. We
have also minated in this communica-
ton that any complications which may
arise from their refusal 10 defer the
giving ONT Of aaLa. -LulLl IL rl...t-s .a1-a