New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-25
TURF WAR AVERTED.
THE JOCKEY CLUB ACTS.
Empire City Meeting VIII Probably
Be Recognized.

August Belmont, chairman Of the Jockey Club,
addressed letter 10 James Butler president OF
TIE Empire City Trotting Club. yesterday which
indicates that meeting at the Empire City track
near Tonkers Will be recognized. This means that
the threatened turf war has been averted The
letter IN full follows:
As we notified you yesterday. your last com
r,grlcation Of the 10Th inst was received and MA
nov further write in reply thereto
Under Rule ga Of the Rules ~ Racing before
ire Jockey Club acts upon your application for
approval n the Of thu proposed officials Won
should make application in the ordinary form for
rs sanction approval to conduct 4 recognized
neeting UHon dates TO be assigned by it. When
his has been done the Jockey Club will meet AZ
occe and consider your application. The applica-
tion should he accompanied by a programme and a
detailed statement Of The proposed stake events
ard other races.
Assuming that the facts submitted are such as
70 justify such action. the stewards of the Jockey
Club VIII then be prepared to assign dates and 10
authorize the conduct of a meeting subject 10
the existing rules and regulations OF the Jockey
Club or such may be enacted from time to time
with reference 10 the conduct Of races
We are purposng 10 take this action in obe-
d-ence and out Of respect TO the decision Of the
court though we are informed that the decision
q the court as it now stands is in accord with
the opinion Of the Court Of Appeals as 10 the pur-
By the Legislature"
The State Racing Commission, consisting Of
James W. Wadsworth John Sanford and H X.
Knapp met yesterday consider the demands Of
the Empire City Trotting Club that certain rules
Of the Jockey Club pertaining 10 recognized meet
ings be abrogated. The rules in question were
modified slightly by the substitution OF the word
approval" for the word license After the meet
fng Mr.. WadswoTth said:
In view Of The forAeal declaration Of the jockey
Club 10 that # did rot purpose 10 arbitrarily,
discriminate against the Empire City Trot+ing fl,,r
II was not deemed necessary by the commission
u modify the existing rules Of racing Al This time
except II respect u the Of the word license
in certain res were such word was inaccurate
and would indicate an apparent conflict 81 authority
between the commission and the Jockey club sr7
in one or two other minor and unfmportant re-
spects
IN speaking Of this. James Russell Soley counsel
for NJ. Butler said.
The changes in the rules Of the Jockey Club
made by the State Racing Commission sr,cI,n-
practically 70 the substitution Of the ro~d ~
Iroval Tor the word license This is rather To-
fine distinction for the ordinary mind 10 gras0
The commission recognizes that the power 10
grant and withhold licenses in two different bodies
would result IN 2 conflict Of authority and they
have attempted 70 meet the difficulty by calling
one --cerse and the other an approval The
old rule read The stewards Of the Jockey Club
shan have power. AZ their discretion 70 grant and
withdraw licenses % racing associations 10 con-
duct recognized meetings This leaves the rules
as much Of muddle as they were before
The important thing, however, in reference TO
TIE august meeting A. the Empire City track Is
that the commission did not think II necessary 70
modify the rules p this time because the Jockey
Club he'd made declaration to the commission
that II cid not propose any arbitrary discrinina-
ton against the Empire City trick. This declara-
ton IS exactly what the Empire city course has
been asking for"
August Belmont. when asked last night as 10 the
attitude Of The Jockey Club in regard To racing out
SIDE OF Saratoga during August, said
TO promote a healthy and general interest in
racing has bean the object ~ the Jockey Club.
After the experiences preceding 1854 when racing
was becoming a harmful craze and q mere incident
q gambling tracks, the type Of Gutenberg and
Naspetl both day and night. the Jockey Club be
lteved respite IN August in the metropolitan rae
ing district was 2 wise precaution-
L is not yet satisfied that this policy IS rot the
best \ sentimental pity for the so-calIIed small
horse owner must not blind those love racing
and wish its healthy survival 10 the danger OF
encouraging the growth OF irresponsible and purely
ronel---z'aklIg ventures, whose managers will be
e g. times reaGy-for the mere sake Of gain-to
help b-eak down the safeguards placed around the
turf after years OF work by its real lovers and
promotes.
And & must BE- remembered the Jockey club IS
Tot self-constttu-ed body. but prior TO the pas
sage n the Percy-GTsy law was requested at 4
nlassrneeinE II owners trainers jockeys. associa-
tons and others interested IN the turf ncorpor-
&c tselt with limited membership and take full
charge # racing in this section IF the country