Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-17
TURFMEN ARE GUESSING
As to What Jockey Club Will Do to
Empire City Track.

New York, Dec. 16.-Thc case OF the
Empire City race track and it's proba-
bic treatment at the hands of the Jock
cy Club stewards in the way of dates
for lcxt season continues to be the
chief topic among local turfmcn. There
can hc no doubt that there is still
mucI opposition in the Jockey Club I"
tie entry Of james Buffers track into
the metropolitan circuit. the chief OBJ
lection now, il is SAID, being partner
shin relations between Mr.. Butler and
the Western syndicate, of which Joseph
A. Hhinock, Rome Respess and Matt
j. Winn ar" the principal factors.
The Jockey Club, it is said. has look
Cd into this partnership with more than
usual scrutiny II is stated also that
the Jockey Club is prepared to give
substantial proof that Mr.. Butler did
not pat up a dollar to finance the meet
ing ncld at Yonkcrs last summer, but
that Rhino"k and RespesS put up all.
According to Jockey Club partisan.
who is usually well posted. Mr.. Butler
received proposition some time ago
from MesSrS. RhinOck ana I,espeSs.
both of whom are heavily interested in
several Western tracks, to the effect
that if he succeeded in getting a license
by means Of legal proceedings they
they would assume all financial respOn-
Sibility. IT is further set forth that
Messrs. Rhnock and RcspFss, backed
by l.. a. Celia morally if not in a mon
ctary way. proceeded to put up the
cash for various improvements at En-
pirc City which involved an cxpcEdi
tire of more than s3o.00o and also
guaranteed the stakes and added mon
cE. amounting to about 117,0o0 for IS
days. In return for this liberality, it is
said that MessrS. Rhnock and Rcspesa
rcccivcd'@5 per cent. Of the ret receipts
and that Matt VIM got a 5-ycars' con-
tract to manage the track at $500 4
year.
That Messrs. Rhnock and Resress,
no error is shown hy the fact that.
according to official figures, the state
of New York will receive close to
$1,000 az Empire city's state tax.
which Is = per cent. of the gross re-
ccipts. The average daily receipts at
Workers We're more than $4,000. The
purses and stakes footed up $ll1n0.
and after taking out what was paid
for improvements and all sorts Of ex-
pcnscs. the track made a profit of about
$40. 600. OF this amount MesSrs. Rhin-
orl1 and RcSpcss received a trif;e moro
than $3o.do0 as their bit
Under the most unfavorahlc circum-
stances therefore. the track turned ont
to he 4 good thing. so that with rcgu-
lar Jockey Club Endorsement it is
natural for Mcssrs. Butler. Rhin"ck and
RcSpcss to expect Il vast Improvement
in the tracks business next year.
In ruling off George Bolcs. Joseph
Marronn and Boots" Durncll. the
Jockey Club has demonstrated beyond
|peradvcEturc that there was sharp prac-
tice last season. But the Jockey Club
has not finished its labors. A most
searching investigation is under way
and a dozen cases that excited adverse
comment during the recent racing sea
son are being looked into. From what
tho wise men say these days, il will not
bo at all surprising if two well known
Jockeys. three prominent trainers and
half n dozen boOkmakerS will find tho
bars up when they try to enter the local
tracks next spring.
All of which goes to show that the
Jockey Club and it's officials have not
been asleep. but have merely played q
clever waiting game 30 as to he sure
about getting the goods Public con-
fidcncc in the honesty of the sport Is
the life of the race tracks in the state
Of New York. That is why the Jockey
Club j.; so energetic Just now.