The sun., 1908-04-13
GOSSIP OF The RACETRACE
YLTROPOLITiN CAMPAIGN OPENS
nv WEDNESDAY 1T AQUEDUCT
General Belief That the Jockey club win
Inaugurate Numerous Reforms, IN.
rluding a Curtailment Of the betting
Big Field IN the carter Handicap.

bis Field W the carter Handicap.
Arer much suspense and worrment the
r-'ropolitln racing season win begin
o, Agueduct next Wednesday with more
general public interest in the turf than ever
store While Gov, Hughes Is still carrying
,Iu. warfare there Is a consensus Of opinion
na, here viii be no adverse legislation after
sd, ,ud that racing, under a new plan Of gov
,rrn,ut TO bc instituted by the Jockey Club. -.
.,,Il be- improved and bettered from several
'Df0' NJ view
The Jockey club, as The SUN outlined
too weeks ago to-day. probably will be re-
r-auled from top 20 bottom. II appears
10 be an accepted fact that August belmont
will withdraw from the Craftsmanship be-
cause of the serious trouble that his leader
sHp is said 10 have caused. But 50 far moth
Ing Official has been given out on this point
those who arc In touch with the situation
say it ould not be at all surprising II James
q Keeue succeeded Mr.. Belmont as chair
man, for the reason that Mr.. Keene's prac-
teal kuovledge OF racing and his extreme
popularity with horsemen. high and low.
have made him the logical candidate for this
important place.
II also il believed that Schuyler L. Par
,1Ys. close friend Of W. X Vanderbilt
End big man IN the affairs Of the Coney
aauI Jockey club, will be able to WELD
considerable mower IN the future control
~ racing Mr. Parsons is a broad gauged,
lose observer uf racing matters and has
frequently onlciated In the stewards stand.
Ir ,s further hiuted that John Sanford will
'7Ae more active int crest IN the workings Of
the tocsry Club al the same time remaining
member ~ the State Racing Commission.
Uo,a Who ha,c a pretty good line on the
a'lq''or predict that several men who have
uarn unn-rlll, autocratlc in their dealings
n.h horscmeu and others Identified with the
,rorf olli soon take place in the background,
.,hHr Younger and more act i've men will
,rppllni them
Inst " ha' sort Of reforms tho Jockey club
v.. institute, beginning with the opening Of
'Hc season on Wednesday, nobody can say
vtb authority But the prevailing opinion
seems 70 be that . vigorous policy With the
Iiea OF suDpressipF various forms Of specua-
''on Wi be adopted. In the first place. II
Fl, believed that many obstacles will he placed
10 the path OF the small bcttors. There
zppe3rs 10 he in some quarters a strong
opposition 20 the continuance Of the dollar
7sld for the reason that persons who poss-
lily cannot well afford 70 play the races are
10 the habit Of pltroniling that enclosure
From So versl good sources II was learned
i.t week that the turf governors feel the
lime has a rriyed when the man Who goes
70 the track 10 wager a dollar or even less
mus bc checked.
b. abolishing the fold. or rathef by
hrowlng opeu tho field TO the public free Of
barge yet prohibiting the laying of odds
here, some persons believe that good results
rould accrue, while others contend that a
uniform rate Of admission to all parts Of the
'rack-i3 a head would surely eliminate
he poorer element. Under the latter plan
A, is contended that man who could pay 81
:or badge would he able financially to bet
and perhaps to lose without Gripping him
eli, while those who were In straitened
circumstances would think twice before
aying this hgh'tsrifr at the gate.
Others who have studied the situation say
tbat II the bookmakers we're forced TO refuse
al wagers Of less than IS the pikers would be
forced . give up the game. But such A rule,
II is thought. would be diflc,llt in its enforce
ment.
There is no doubt that unusual vigilance
rll be exercised In keeping minors and per.
sons known to be impecunlous outside the
track portals while II is said that women
yithout escorts will not be admitted But
nth reforms In the air II Is pointed out that
any attempt 10 do away with the present
Gystem Of doing a cash business in the ring
yould prove decidedly unpopular.
The system has heen perfected 10 the point
'ha, the racing public has the utmost conf
dsnce IN Il and for that reason has increased
ne patronage Of the tracks to remarkable
degree To substitute the credit system
'rould simply he a matter Of returning to the
tyudlate methods which prevailed before
he betting ring was declared open two
ears ago. That move. In the estimation
n competent judges, was one Of the best'ever
made IN tho Interest Of the public and the fact
hat since then there has been a semblaIoe
NJ healthy competition in the market Is taken
o mean that no error was committed.
m the government of the turf itself there
tiI be- an oven more vigorous policy, II u
understood. The idea Of having no scan
ua appears o De q Gead letter. the stew
pfds hereafter Mill exercise greater care and
ru act promptly, 1t is said. IN dealing with
r4sss that arouse suspicion, II Is declared
hat some OF the biggest Western bookmakers
and operators when they arrive here will be
0Via'lr informed that unless they conform
. the new conditions they will he compelled
n 20 elsewhere. Plungers who have in
roars gone by attracted too much attention
ind also have brought racing into much
Unpleasant notoriety will be warned 10 cut
down their business 10 q minimum or stay
avsv. There viii br no deviation from this
Nan OF action. Il Is said, and unless the plung-
orc pay herd to The warning some Of them will
'ael rbc grin Of an iron hand
The crusade against big betting will not
rId WIN o warning TO those who want Ia
Hsee heavy vagers for it is understood
'ho' hookm1kers who consent 10 handl G
such vagers quickly will find that there =
Iy room for them IN the ringS In a word,
bs powers that be seem determined TO eep
'hc betting end Of the game 80 completely
70 check that the WI gering viii merely be
natter of amusement instead Of business.
The fact that the Jockey Club already
0ss refused 10 license several well known
ocke-s aud q number Of trainers would
'asn ~ indicate that there will be reforms
'vsn . bis direction. The use Of stimulaHts
ecgsleratinR the speed OF thoroughbreds
an evil that will receive some attention,
'hile t is believed that some Of the riders
I'll be compelled to sever their business
'lst!Ons with so-called managers who are
llder surveillance before they can secure
heT usual employment The Jockey club
llvavs has been the champion Of clean rae
"a snd IN these dark days II Is evident that
aereased efforts will be made 10 eradicate
'vsn the smallest evils Al OF which mea M
,ha, racing probab bly, will be OF a higher class
and more popular with the public than a
inyprsvious time 10 lie historyin this country
HundIsds n turf enthusiasts visited
iravesend and sheepshead Bay Yesterday
@ watch the thoroughbreds who are being
prepared for the Aqueduct and Jamaica
nssupgt The tracks we're In nue condi.
top aud there were some fast trials. There