Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-01
BOOKMAKERS STRIKE.
Prevent Attempt to Crowd "Mets"
Out of Saratoga Ring.

A strike among the bookmakerS at the
Saratoga race track yesterday afternoon
was narrowly averted. Friction arose be-
tween the layers and the officials of the
track owing to the small betting ring. The
Nets were anxious to place seventyone
members the line. but as there was not
room enough for this number. well as
the ten outsiders who have been operating
In this circle all season. John G. Cava-
nagh, the manager of the ring. decided to
refuse eleven of the Nets to draw chairs.
1t was this refusal on the part of Cava-
nagh to accede to the wishes of the Nets
that started the trouble.
When the organization members of the
bookmaking fraternity realized that all of
their men would not be permitted to offer
odds. while the full quota of the invaders
| as the ten outsiders are called, were recog-
nized. they decided to stand together in
the matter and not to offer prices unless
the necessary space to operate in was
granted to them.
The governing committee of the Nets,
Charles Henry. George Wheelock, Edward
Burke and Sol Lichtenstein, were called
upon by the members to seek the track
| managers and have the case settled. The
governing committee was told to state the
that unless all of the members could have
the space in the ring that they would re-
fuse to make book and would quit in a
body.
strike was being discussed not price
offered on the opening race. Usually the
bookmakcrs begin business forty minutes
before post time is called, but yesterday
not Met made chalk mark on his slate
before o'clock.
The first was scheduled to be called
at 2:l5. The governing committee met
Frank Hitchcock. the president of the asso-
citation, and Andrew Miller, the treasurer,
and H. X. Knapp, one of the stewards, and
placed their grievance before them. The
track stewards said that they could not
recognize the Nets in any respect, nor did
they recognize any bookmakers They de-
| clared that Cavanagh had stated that there
was not enough room for seventy-one Nets
| and ten outsiders and that that was the
reason for a reduction.
| Among the men who were rejected by
Cavanagh were some of the most prominent
| members of the Nets. These men had
| drawn stands beyond the limit number of
| fifty-five. and they were consequently
thrown out by the manager of the ring.
| AS it happened these men were George
WheeIock, the president of the Metropolitan
| Turf Association; Billy Cowen, who makes
the biggest book in the ring; w. T. Dunn.
| Henry Wendt. j. Steiner P. McGrath, NJ
Dinkelspeil, ]. Fay. s. Frank. P. Morgan
| and F. Brewer
| UNI to the stewards of the association that
| they refused to book, and said that the
meeting would begin without price being
| offered by any of the Nets unless all of the
members could do business. Then the
governing committee let the stewards to
discuss the matter among themselves.
Meanwhile Lawyer Herschfeld was In con-
ference with the bookmakers. He told them
| that they had perfect right to offer the
odds on any part of the track and said:
| Make book on the lawn. The associa-
ton can't stop you, as you are protected
| by the state racing laws
When this advice reached the ears Of one
of the members of the Club he became en-
| ragged and said: Make book on the lawn.
| eh; well, let them try it, Well show them
who controls this race track The Sara
| toga Racing Association has the most pow
erful charter of any course in the
country. and any man who tries to cause a
disturbance or breaks the racing laws in
any manner will be locked up"
The bookmakers decided not to accept the
advice of the lawyer. and they again saw
| the stewards of the jockey club for a de-
cision in the matter before taking final
action BY this time members Of the club
had decided not to cause any trouble. and
gave orders to Manager Cavanagh to crowd
the seyenty-one bookmakers into the ring
somehow along with the ten outsiders This
was accomplished after a great deal of
crowding, and the bookmakers thereupon
started the business Of the day by Offering
the odds on the first race.
1t was distinct triumph for the book
makers over the racing association and
| for the time being they hold the upper
hand, but the track officials will make a
| new move today, and it is probable that
| many of the Nets will be rounded and told
that any more talk Of strike will cause an
open betting ring altogether. without the
slightest preference shown to the Nets
1t was red letter day for the asso-
citation in the matter of number of book
makers that operated during the afternoon
There were seventy-one Nets on the line
ten outsiders sprinkled among them In the
big circle and sixty on the back line In
the field there were sixty bookmakers dis
playing the odds-a total Of 2O1 the larg-
est number OF men that ever laid prices
On any day of racing at this place