New-York tribune., 1906-04-01
THE TURF AS 1T Is.
What the Jockey Club Has Done
for Racing IN This State.

Among the followers of racing and the lovers
of the thoroughbred who have not gone to WASH
ington for the Bennings meeting the action Of
the Senate Committee on Codes, which voted
not to report the Cassidy Lansing Anti-Betting
bill on Wednesday. has been the one subject OF
conversation. 1t is the general opinion that this
ends for this year at least, any adverse leSisla-
ton at Albany which might be inimical to- the
sport
The growth Of the turf in this state in the
last ten years has been little short of remarao oe
and it is largely due to the Jockey Club, which
has placed the sport such high plane. The
turf was hardly in a healthy condition when the
Jockey Club was organized, February 8, 1894.
as a governing body. and that season opened
with promise. Everything seemed to be going
smoothly. when. in the fall of that year, an
emergency arose which fully disclosed the value
Of the club Then in its very infancy, 1t saved
the sport, and since has builded well and sound
ly In the fall of 1894 the constitutional conven-
ton of the state passed article which in effect
would repeal the Ives Pool law. This statute
the under which racing as conducted
was tolerated, and which made bookmaking on
the racetracks possible by suspendng the pen
aIties for the same from May 10 to October 15
each year. The article was embodied in the new
constitution. and submitted to a vote of the
people and carried.
More than racing association WIS disposed
TO concede the situation and let the sport die a
natural death. but the Jockey Club was not so
easily discouraged, and on the ruins began to
build anew. A bill was drafted with tho purpose
of not only restoring racing. but OF lifting 1t
out of that equivocal position of mere liberation
In which 1t had been and because Of which many
good sportsmen had held aloof. 1t was argued
that law which would assure permanency Of
10 nOki w
development of the breeding industry and which
would insure its proper discipline and conduct
would meet with favor. The present Percy
Gray law was the result
Condensed as briefly as possible. the chief
features of the law that racing is recognized
as a legal sport recreation; that its regu-
lation is placed absolutely in the hands OF the
State Racing Commission appointed by the
Governor: that all associations, as condition
to their right to race must obtain q license
from the commission, which license is revoca-
BILE at any time and that all racing SO licensed
must he under the rules of the Jockey Club or
the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association
Every safeguard is thus thrown around rae
ing through the State Racing Commission and
the rules of the Jockey Club which have all the
effects of statutory regulations. was held by
the courts in the Riley Grammar case. Racing
raised from mere matter of liberation into
a right, and reputable citizens might engage
in it, while the Legislature created for its gov
eminent an expert board of men, with power
ample in all particulars to guide 1t along lines
which would not only assure popularity but
would create stability without which the
breeder would not be justified in continuing the
industry or the sportsman who sought the
recreation Of a private breeding establishment
in making the large expenditures incident TO
such an undertaking
The first state Racing Commission was ap-
pointed by Governor Morton on May 9, 1888. 1t
was made up of August Belmont. E. D. Morgan
and John Sanford. These are still in office.
although their term expired almost year ago.
For some reason Governor Higgins did not ap-
point a new commission and the old one held
over under the Public officers act The first
license was issued to the New York steeplechase
Association. The Westchester Racing Assocla-
ton (formed that year,, the Coney Island Jockey
Club, the Brooklyn Jockey Club, the Brighton
Beach Racing Association, the Saratoga Racing
Association and the Queens County Jockey Club
also held meetings that year. During the year,
however, questions affecting the consttutionallty
of the law in it's vital points raised. These
questions were all carried TO the Court of APP
heals and In an opinion which unanimous
the law was sustained in every particular.
This litigation having resulted faVorably, the
Jockey Club was in position to go on with the
work so we'll begun. 1t was able TO invite the
participation Of men who had the wealth and
inclination to indulge in such recreation; 1t
cOuld the breeder or a market Tor his
produce and guarantee to the public sport that
would be interesting and wholesome This
marked the new era of the turf in this state.
The racing associations made plans for new and
rich stakes which were carried out; courses
were enlarged, more elaborate appointments were
provided and new tracks built, while racing
folk showed their appreciation by responding
with their patronage.
The Westchester Racing Association built the
MAGNIFICENT course at Belmont Park without
considering the cost, the Metropolitan Jockey
Club constructed a new and approved course at
Jamaica, Aqueduct was practically rebuilt, and
the other associations have improved and en-
Iarged their plants to meet the requirements of
the ever growing popularity of the sport Each
wear in proportion to their receipts the associa-
tions have Increased the number and value Of
the stakes and overnight races. Eight years
ago s4OO purses were, common at AQueduct and
$500 purses were offered at the more pretentious
tracks. Now 5000 Is about the lowest purse
offered. the average purse being fully $1,000,
while the value of the stakes runs all the way
from 81 00N 20 close to $4,000
Under the law the various associations have
paid a 8 per cent tax their gross receipts into
the state treasury for the benefit of the agrt-
cultural societies. In the last ten years this has
amounted TO more than s1.000,000. In 1895 the
tax was $27 220 "a in the last three years IL has
amounted TO close to 100000 year. This alone
shows the growth of the sport and bespeaks its
popularity. IL nothing else did.
All this the Jockey Club has accomplished In