The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-06-17
RACING IS NOW
DEAD IN MISSOURI
NEW LAW PROHIBITING RACE
TRACK eAMslINcfwENT INTO
EFFECT FRIDAY.

st. Louis, June 16.-When Judge
Edward Magfnn toIled the bell at the
historic fair grounds track at the con-
c!usion of the sixth race today, ne
sounded the knell of the racing game
in Missouri.
Today the breeders law, under
which betting on the races has been
legally conducted in Missouri since
1897, became dead letter, and the sta
tute passed by the last legislature,
making race track gambling felony,
went into effect.
Not only will it be illegal for Mis-
Sourians TO bet upon races run with
n the state. but it viii be penitel-
tiary offense for them TO make wage-s
on races run outside of the state.
The effect of the new law can best
be judged when it is stated that ove-
s14,000,o00 was wagered at the four
ST. Louis tracks during the racing
season of 1904. OF this vast amount
statistics show that fully one-half
went into the pockets OF the book
makers and track owners.
In St. Louis Celia, TILES and Adler,
known as the big Three" who con
troll the Delmar. Fair Grounds and
Kinloch tracks, have become multi
millionaiTes within few years.
Ten years ago Louis Celia, then
known as the Dago saloonkeeper,"
was a poor man. Today his wealth is
estimated at S5,000.O 600. Ben Adler
and G. A. TILES, his partners, are
equally as rich.
From a saloonist, Celia became a
bookmaker in the notorious pool al
ley" which was permitted to run wide
open in the heart of the st. LOUIS
business district early in the nine
ties.
strong, however. that the police were
forced TO raid the place. 1t was then
that Celia became interested in the old
South Side electric light" track,
where races were run ut night. Later
he associated with Adler and TILES,
and when midnight racing was forced
out of business they secured the pas.
sage of the breeders law.
Under this protection, from 1897
until 1904, the Big Three" had a
monopoly on 81. Louis racing. Then
Patrick Carmody built the Union
track and declared war upon the
Western Jockey club. The venture
was failure. and the plant went into
the hands of receiver az the close
of the first season.
This spring the property was sold
at auction and was bought in by Car
mody, who was backed by Edward
Corrigan. and the new Panama track
ar New Orleans.
The track has been operated this
season In opposition to the Western
Jockey club, and as a result both
places have maintained free gates.
Like Louis Celia, Barney Schneider
probably the best known turfman in
the west. owes his fortunes to the ST
Louis tracks. He has the distinction
of having run a $40 bill up to $1,000,
600 in the betting ring.
In 1885 Schneider was driving a gro
Gerry wagon in South ST. Louis and
was getting $40 month for his work
| He was an unsophisticated boy, and
when the electric light" track wa:
started was einch for the touts. Be
fore making the killing which made
him famous Barney was the victim OF
some ludicrous jokes.
Upon his first visit to the races. g
tout advised Schneider to play Ger
tain horse both ways" The tout
stood beside Scheiber when the bar
rier few up Frighte ned by the fiap
ping net, the horse carrying Barney
money wheeled and bolted in the