The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-11
lord D0wNE on FACE BETTING.
Senior Steward Of English Jockey Club
Sncaks nj GimCrAck o

The York Gimcrack Dinner. famous the
world oyer at least wherever the sport OF
racing has found a home. was celebrated for
the one hundred and fortieth time a little
more than a week ago. Turfmen OF all
shades watch the event eagerly. for II has
come TO be a custom for the English Jockey
Club to treat OF racing matters which need
reform at the function and to touch on mat
tiers OF importance generally. Lord Stanley
was 10 have been the main spokesman. but ne
did not attend and. at the last moment. Wis
count Downe, c. B., c. I. E.. jumped into the
breach and responded to the toast OF the
Jockey Club" His address was remarkable
for brevity, sarcasm and humor. but IL dealt
on the betting bill with force and the growing
tendency OF fouling on the part OF jockeys,
He said, unfortunately he belonged to three
Of the most abused positions possible, he was
a landlord, a member Of the House OF Lords
and not alone a member Of the Jockey Club
but a steward as well. He said he could tell
those present what was thought OF the Jockey
Club in general, for after the last meeting at
Newmarket he received an anonymous letter
which contained a single sheet OF paper. IL
had a rough sketch Of four donkeys. Three
OF these looked over the rails of a racecourse,
and he ina gined they represented three
stewards OF the Jockey Club, and behind them
was a fourth. which he thought was Mr..
Weatherby. But he added that in spite Of
all this adverse opinion the Jockey Club would
continue doing its best to keep abuses out OF
speaking Of the betting bill, he was thankful
S thSt nit I, had %Sb6 md B BSs,snSs: b m1r i one mem m0 %oeId Be Be-
to be broken of their folly. One way was 70
legislate. but nobody was ever made good
question was the funniest Of all, Looking a!
Il from a legal point OF view ne could hor
he believed il was perfectly fair, but II ne
went out into a public place. he believed ne
might be arrested The act Of betting was not
d p not i! seem to I know &sn always wSs Would 81
from suffering foo much, for their folly, He
assured them they would never be able 70
law he was convinced betting would stIll
continue. but IT would then be on the ely
PETIT II. where he got so badly Jumped and
a warning, Since that affair, he said. the
Jockey Club had taken great interest in the
AS ! need not tellI you. = said Lord .Downe.
stance Of which is Get on 2, fast as you car:
anyway. The result Of ali this Is a scramble
Is not the one at fault. The rider who cannons
into another is often not the one to blame
What the Jockey Club has told the Jockeys
and what il means to do is this: n a man
draws No. 2 and after two or three furlongs
YOU ind him on the rails, IL is certain he has
done something wrong. Therefore unless
they finish more or less in the positions they
ha We drawn there il sure to be trouble.
give the Jockeys fair warning that II they
continue to crowd each other on the rails
some of our most distinguished riders will be
suspended for a certainty. Several gentle
men who understand wholly the art Of racing
will agree that II will not be a bad thing TO
observe either. Jockeys must be persuaded
by words. or. IL not by words, by stronger
measures. that they must keep their places"
year-old Polar Star, and who won the Gin
crack Stake this year. responded TO The
winner Of the Giincrack Stake" at great
length.