The Washington times., 1907-06-02

NEW YORK. June The New York
turf. Just az this time Of the wear, is a
wonderful money mill
With the balmy days OF early June
and the running Of the richest and most
popular fixtures or the turf calendar al
this period. II is hard TO find an average
man or woman In town who is not con-
cerned In some degree with the sport
During the present meeting at Belmont
Park the crowds have been enormous.
and the betting, though lacking the
spectacular color lent 70 Il IN years gone
By by the plungers. Is simply of aston
ishing proportions. on Memorial Day
not fewer than 5000 racing enthusiasts
went out 70 Belmont Park for the run
ming OF the Belmont Stakes, while a
small army OF bookmakers-there were
3i2 layers In iine-handled almost a mil
lion dollars on that day.
Reserve Fund" SIo,ooo,o 900.
The average daily attendance has been
close to 1900 too, with over $50 books
IN the main Enclosure and the field. All
this brings on the Oft-debated question
as 10 the earnings Of the race tracks
under the Jockey Club. Their revenue
from the sport must be simply enor-
nous. Three years ago. when racing in
these parts really commenced 10 thrive.
the principal tracks got together and
agreed 10 give the State a tax OF per
cent on earnings. Also they agreed 70
declare Z per cent dividends. and 20
establish a reserve fund. this latter 20
/ be distributed pro rata after a deduction
for improvements and running expenses
every ten years. Over SO 0iH 90 is now
locked Up in this reserve fund while
It Is next to impossible 70 buy share
OF track stock
How They Figure the Profits.
The average gate receipts from a
crowd OF 1900 racegoers are estimated
at 80. 900: the rate OF admission being
s. TO the main Enclosure and 81 10 the
'held." The programs bring IN s2.O0c
& day. while the bar and cafe privileges
are good for S5.OOO.-In purses. added
money TO stakes and handicaps, track
police, handlers and interest on capital
izadon, and general maintenance, the
racing association pays out $1,000 daily,
( leaving about $4,000 net earnings per
day. Add to this a revenue Of about
s. from each bOokmaker for supplies,
etc. say $500 from this source; all told
the New York Racing Association IS
today making not far short OF $4,000 a
day
This cut up has been going on as
aforementioned, for three yeas while
the tracks have been earning a less but
still handsome income from the sport
for six years previous TO 1904 Observers
OF the money grind at the race tracks
often wonder where ali the wealth
comes from The turf is one of the
really big things in New York life right
today, the betting ring rejecting the
prosperity or the depression OF the
country al large more surely than does
Wall Street
Amateur Stewards Incompetent.
Who owns Mountain? III find out be-
fore I make another bet on anything nc
rides Such was the exclamation OF
one OF the biggest operators on the turf
at the present tins right beneath the
noses OF the stewards a. Belmont Park
few days ago. serving 70 show the sort
OF faith the average race PLAYER here
IN the East holds for racing as II is
conducted under the present comp:i-
mentary stewards.
The rawesr sort of form reversals 20
by unchallenged. while certain Jockeys
nave been guilty Of rides which. had
they occurred under Frank J. Bryan
al New Orleans, La. or Judge Price. in
the West, instant turf expulsion would
have resulted The gentlemen Of the
Jockey Club. 10 whom the duty OF keep
ing the sport clean OF trickery and man.