The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-09
Horse Racing and the " Front Line :


The racing Of thoroughbred horses,
under the direction Of the Jockey Club,
is at the highest standard ever set up
in the State Of New York. II that stand
ard is to be maintained, there can be no
compromise on important questions Of
policy between the Jockey Club or any
racing association under its control and
the Metropolitan Turf Association or any
other aggregation Of gamblers.
The business Of the members OF tn e
Metropolitan Turf Association is to make
wagers on every race at every track
under the direction Of the Jockey Club
with the patrons of any particular race
course. They are gamblers in every
sense Of the word. The Constitution of
New York absolutely prohibits gambling
within the State. The so-called Percy
Gray racing law cannot, therefore, and
does not permit racetrack gambling, al
though some misguided persons have
the notion that it is legal TO gamble in
side OF a racetrack, while il is illegal to
gamble outside
A situation has arisen in which the
Metropolitan Turf Association has vir-
tually thrown down the gauntlet to the
Westchester Racing Association, which
manages the racing at the new Belmont
Park, and has said in substance TO the
racing associations board OF directors
that only members Of the incorporated
association Of gamblers shall be per-
mitted 10 make books in the front
line at Belmont Park. On Saturday, il
appears, somebody invited 10 the front
line three other gamblers, not members
OF the association, and they proceeded
TO make bets against the public judg-
ment on the various races.
II is now reported that the Metropoli-
tan Turf Association, through its au-
thorized officers, intends 10 serve notice
on the Westchester Racing Association
that the gamblers in the charmed circle
will proceed 10 make books when and
where they please within the confines Of
Belmont Park. If the report is true, a
crisis has been reached in thoroughbred
horse racing in this State.
Il is a lamentable though generally
admitted fact that the racing Of horses
cannot be maintained at any track in
the world, no matter how high the stand
ard set by the directing influence, unless
betting il permitted on the races. Only
an insignificant fraction Of the thou
sands who attend horse racing in this
country do 80 out Of pure love for the
thoroughbred and his development as a
racing machine. The vast majority Of
people 20 to the races, as they wander
into Wall Street, for the sake Of the
money hazard.
The situation, therefore, is: II betting
on the races is abolished, racing will also
be abolished, because not enough persons
will 90 TO the courses 10 return one
half Of per cent. in dividends on the
amount invested by any racing associa-
ton in permanent fixtures and in purses
and stakes. The question Of racetraok
gambling has heretofore been handled
very gingerly by the best friends of
high class racing in this State. When
an incorporated association Of gamblers
throws down the gauntlet 20 a racing
association. and the Jockey Club, II Is
high time that a spade should be called
q spade.
Although the Jockey Club, like every
other racing association in the State, does
not, because II cannot, recognize Betting
on races, the fact is that for years an
unwTitten agreement has been in force,
under which members Of the Metropolitan
Turf Association desiring to make books
on the races at any track have bought a
certain number Of tickets Of admission
10 any particular track on each day Of
the meeting, the aggregate cost Of which
tickets shall represent in theory as well
a. in practise, the cost Of an individuals
license 20 gamble az that track In the