Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-02
.BETTORS WILL
GET SHORT ODDS

NEW YORK, June 1.-The stewards OF
the Jockey Club have not rescinded their
order allowing the bookmaker5 but ten
minutes in which to do business between
races. This rule was established at the
recent meeting at Belmont Park for the
purpose, so it was stated, of preventing as
much as possible the sending out OF rae
ing information from the track. 1t was
at first thought by many patrons Of the
race track that the stewards acted rather
hastily in the matter and without giving
the subject proper consideration. and that
as soon as it was made apparent to them
that the enforcement of the rule would
work a great hardship to the players the
order would be rescinded. The fact, how
ever, that the rule Is being strictly enforced
would seem to indicate that the stewards
intend to stand pat and make the ten
minute rule permanent MIXTURE Oh the
betting ring for the future.
Unfair to the Players.
1t has already been brought to the at
tention of the stewards that their order
allowing the bookmakers but ten minutes
time in which to book on race was most
unfair to the players. for the reason that it
compelled them to accept pr-ces lar pelo"
what they should be.
There is under the present system. VII
tually no competition among the BOOK
makers. The betting ring to all lntehts ana
PURPOSES is nothing short of syndicate
ring and the longer the present system
lasts the shorter the odds will get ana
the fewer the players will become. III
less bettor is fortunate enough 70 Set
his money from home he cannot possibly
survive very long and play agains the per-
centage the bookmakers now nave over
him. There is no one to blame 1or thls
state of affairs but the stewards, who nave
very unwisely sought to govern the betting
ring by a rule which has placed the race
going public at a very great dlsadFahtase.
The stewards may feel that they are Jnst,,
fled in establishing any rule that Will serve
to keen racing information from belng sent
from the track to the pool rooms OF the
city but at the same time they should not
overlook the fact that those who patroniZe
the race tracks for the purpose of putting
down a small bet on their choice in race
are entitled to some protection
Permitting Added Starters.
The practice of permitting added start
ers in stake races or early closing handi-
caps is one that fair-minded racing men
have decried for years on the ground that
Injustice is thereby worked to the racing
public to whose support the existence OF
the sport is due. If it is now intended to
add over night handcaps to the lists or
events in which starters may be ADDED,
racing will undoubtedly suffer loss OF
popularity-possibly a serious reverse. Inc
innovation opens up an avenue for the con-
cealment of form that will place the ordl-
nary track visitor at a tremendous disad
vantage There is nothing to prevent
sharp owner or trainer preparing horse
for a killing in an overnight handicap.
after a long let-up in which it's form will
have been entirely forgotten. and getting
away with coup at long odds. With the
new order of things it will not be necessary
to enter in stakes and handicap fixtures,
but simply to prepare the horse, pick out
the proper spot, nominate. pass and take
the cream of the market That, at least,
is the way it looks after some recent ex-
periences.
Effect of the New Rule.
The ten-minute betting interval has al
ready succeeded in handicapping the play
ers and helping the layers of odds to an ex-
tent that is causing a rapidly growing dis
like of present methods of conducting rae