The Washington times., 1907-07-28

racing man, anu, 1 must say. II nilS LLlt
nan upon the head. so far as sounding
the subject uppermOst in the minds Of
turfmen at this precise moment.
The fight between the Jockey Club and
Jim Butler, promoter and preceptOr OF
the Empire City course. at Yonkers. n.
y. brings out the cry in effect that the
two factions will cut themselves 10
pieces, but at the same time the turf
Will also suffer annihnatiOn. The best
answer to the Interrogation above is
that so long as August Belmont lives 80
long will racing about New York exist.
august Belmont, Dictator.
There never was a better example OF
One-man-power than that afforded by
August Belmont. chairman of the Jockey
Club. and the upbuilder OF the sport in
this section of the country. He IS not
only one Of the real great money fac
tors Of the world, but Belmont, unlike
J. P Morgan, the VanderbIlts, the AS
tors. and other great financial units. is
as potential a politician. either in State,
municipal. or National politics. as one
may discern upon the horizon Of worldly
affairs. When the chairman OF the
Jockey Club financed Judge Alton Par
ker's Presidential campaign. we caught
a glimpse OF his hand.
In the main he is the foremost silent
politician" in the country today. Though
unheard he is none the less effective BY
the power OF his influence and money.
August Belmont controls the New York
State Legislature with the same voIi-
ton Is the man with mis- thumb on the
electric push button operating mesh
of machinery. He won't see harm come
10 racing. When he dies. how then? Al
this time there is not an individual any
where who can gain the strangle hold
on affairs at Albany. n. Y, possessed
by Mr.. Belmont. Chaos is sure to fol-
low the moment the lines Of control fall
from his hands.
Will Last Until 1913.
When will that be? Well. Mr.. Bel
mont is man OF fifty four years of age
His father lived to a ripe age, and the
son is in fine. health today I should
say racing is a surety in the State o.
New York for the next ten years
Unless a Napoleon arises in the mean
time. the sport is doomed in 1918. for
public sentiment is gaIast it. Just now
the Belmont administration Is endeavor-
Ing TO divorce booknaklng and all sorts
of gambling from the actual conduct
OF the several meetings, a line OF action
inspired from the experience Of English
turf builders. There betting occurs. Of
course, but TattersaIls is without any
connection with the racing courses. Rae
ing in England is an institution and Is
TO-DAY legally invulnerabIe. Mr.. Bel
mont aims for the same condition in
this country.
Empire City Trouble.
In the meantime the trouble between
the Jockey Club and Jim Butler is
holding the stage. Out at the town of
Yonkers. n. Y. is located the Empire
City track. built by the late W. H
Clark at a cost Of $4,000. over ten
years ago. 1t is a fast course. but
grandstand which opens out Into the
afternoon sun glare and totally made
.Quate transportation caused the loss OF
thousands OF dollars when meetings
were held there Then the property was
abandoned For four years James J.
Butler. the millionaire grocer OF this
city. and trOttIng horse enthusiast. has
controlled the plant
With a covetOus eye he has beheId the
golden harvest the eight courses within
the Jockey Club circuit are annually
grinding out Naturally, the Jockey
Club trust has opposed Butler show
ing finger into the pie, but after three
years Of litigation the courts instructed
the State Racing Commission to extend
the Butler course a license to race for
forty days. This was done, the State
Racing Commission. which is really a
Jockey Club creature. meanwhile ap-
pealing the judicial decision to a higher
court.
Frank Bryan Out Of Job.
Frank J. Pryan will not be in the
stewards stand at New Orleans this
coming winter. a circumstance which in
a way comes as a disaster to racing in
Louisiana. Bryan is known In the East
here as not only honest and absolutely
fearless. but as one Of the very few
really competent and expert horsemen
working as n steward or judge on the
turf at the present time.
When August Belmont asked James
r. Keene to name two stewards who
he thought would be acceptable to both
the professional racing fraternity and
the public racing body. the vice chair
man Of the Jockey Club said: Why,
Frank Bryan and Chris Fitz Gerald"
That was at the time when the local
press and public were making a great
.outcry for the employment Of competent
stewards instead OF the honorable. but
totally inexpert, men who were then
acting as complimentary stewards.
Drastic Action.
At that time, two years ago. two we'll
known Jockeys were pulling horses right
and left, while the steeplechases became
farcical through the manipulation OF
betting ring connections. The stewards.
having no practical knowledge OF racing
angles" were powerless to check the
freebooters.
Later on Fitz Gerald suspended two
Jockeys and ruled off the turf a we'll
known trainer. Then the trouble ceased.
Always Had His Nerve.
For many years Capt. James Rees was
reputed the strongest administrator ever
seen at New Orleans. La. but Bryarf's
work at tne Fair Grounds last winter
allowed him to be quite the most idea
official of the times. Bryan knew the
horses and the men of winter racing
lie knew an unwaranted form reversal
when he he