The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-16
CURRENT SPORTING GOSSIP.
WHAT WILL THE JOCKEY CLUB
no WITH NORRIS PARK?
lie Courccy Forbes, Who Has Asked for
Dates. said TO Have the support Of
james II. keenc-Iake Hoffman To
start Here-Grifith Praises LajOic.

start HeTe-Grinlth Praises Lajoie.
The stewards Of the Jockey Club are er-
pected To settle tho question OF dates some
time this week With the announcement
will come the fate OF Morris PARK tbs most
popular raCctrack In the East. Whether
there win BE- racing at Westchester or not viii
be Officially made known. but nobody seems
able TO secure good limo on the probable
action OF the stewards when the West
chester tracks gates wtra closed last fan It
was generally accepted fact that tho end
had come and that tho 1autiful race course
would soon be cut up into building lots. Ihis
Impression pr vailed because Il was Known
that the lo,k.y cub was opposed to th-
Messrs. Morris because OF their attitude
toward racing when thu turf hung by thread
in the middle COS The MossrS. Morris at
that time positively declined to aid those
who were tha means OF renabiitating the turf
through tho passage OF tha Percy Cry law
Mt Albany. Il IL a matter OF record that the
Mcssrs, Morris closed th'ir magnificent track
when the fate OF racing seemed blacKest
and also declared OF all OF the rich stakes
that would have been run at Westchestcr AZ
that time. In a word they turned their backs
ON the turf when II needed the support OF its
most Influential patrons.
When racing. however. secured sound
footing again. the Messrs Morria had valua-
bio plant which they did not care to operate
themselves Other leading members OF the
Jockey Club. appreciaing It's worth. organ
lied tho Westchestcr Racing Association and
formally leased Morris Park. Under tho
now management the track proved TO be
gold mine. but when the Nrst lease expired
the Ncstchcster Racing Association FOUND
that II was impo ssbe to secure long term
lease OF the property. Stil the track con
tmued In the Jockey Clubs circuit under
short term leases uutIl II was rumured with
no authentic denias. that the racetrack
would soon be wiped out by the proposed
Port Chester railroad. which was slated TO 20
straight through the property. Whle the
rumors continued, the Mcstchester Racing
Association, feeling that the permanency oil
its homo was not assured. decided 10 build
n racetrack Of its own. with tho result that
Belmont Park, now rapidly approaching com
pletion. WIS llii out and contracted Tor
Not long after this decision came the news
that Morris Park would not be intcrfcrcd
with after all. and that the plant would BE-
available for racing for number oil years
TO come. But the matter had been settled
as far as the Westohestcr Racing Association
WAS concerned. and when the lease OF Morris
Park expired tho owners Of the property
were led TO believe that it would not be lenscd
again and would be completely frozen out,
The state Racing Commission composed
OF August Belmont. John Sanford and L. D.
Morgan. received absolute power from the
Legislature several years ago By which
race tracks application for license could
be refused without an appeal. No such case
has ever come before the commission up to
this year, 50 that there has been no test Of
the law in the courts on this line 1t was
confidently believed. therefore. that the
commission would nnd reasons for turning
down an application for license should 1t
be- filed by the Mcssrs. Morris. and turfmen