The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-04
HANCOCK SPEAKS
FOR RACING B|LL
Continued From First Pagc,)

UH llHUllaU ulLL
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racing season In New York in 1907
the pool rooms were uble to get infor
nation for less than forty hours dur
ing tho whole season when It would
be OF any use to them. and that betting
in the pool-rooms acknowledged to be
the greatest OF gambling evils, was
practically abolished by the assistance
of the Jockey Club during that period
SO the Gray-Pcrcy bill, which was
passed as a reform measure. has d.
unfinished and helps to regulate gam
bling in New York, instead of promot-
ing 1t. and is so indorsed by minister's
of the gospel, who are thoroughly ac-
qualnted with the situation there.
Evidently. too. from Mr.. Mackey's
paragraph. such is tile lamentable
state OF race-track gambling In Vir-I
ginia at this time" etc, he Is having
d taste right now OF the pool-room
and It's evils in Alexandria county. I'll
guarantee that he did not have mitch
cause to complain OF them during the
New York racing season in 1907. from
April 18th to November 18th For the
reason that the New York Jockey Club
operating under the Gray Percy bill,
would not let the telegraph companies
have any information of any use to
tho pool rooms. Tho Virginia Breed
ers' Association wish to initiate the
Jockey club In New York as far as
possible, and try to help regulate
gambling on races. as there has not
yet been found a way to prohibit It,
and while we are having all OF its
evils at present in the State we want
to get some of the many benefits
', fup nj otvt,,
agricultural fairs, hunt club meeting s
and race meetings OF short durations
in any town that wishes them.
Some OF those benefits can be est.-
mated by the following statement OF
Mr.. James r. Keene, than whom there
Ia no better posted man In the United
States. Mr.. Keene says:
Mr.. Keenc's Statement.
Governor Hughes proposes by his
measure practically to destroy from
sso,O0o.o0o to sSo,Oo0,0oo of racing
property in this and adjoining States.
throw out of employment from 10000
to $4,000 persons engaged in the thor
| oughbred industry. and deprive New
York Of It's chief spring and summer
| pleasure.
Il am inclined to think that the
public has but faint conception OF
the business advantages of the race
tracks of New York and of the loss of
revenue to the city that would result
| from the closing of the tracks. I have
taken the trouble to make pretty care
ful calculations as to what this revenue
Is. and I find the New York business
public Is benefited annually In a sum
from $4,000, 900 to s30,00o.OOo. In the
| first place, there are 3.500 horses in
| training In New York State. and we
| who own horses know that 1t costs
800 month for each animal kept. The
money dispersed In the maintenance OF
the horses in training, counting the
cost of labor, feed and the innumerabIe
other Items, is not less than 100000
a year.
Then we find that 100000 persons
pass through the gates of the race
tracks each season. In addition to
these we have the money dispersed by
the 100000 or 100000 visitors who
come to New York each season from
all points in the country, and to whom
the races arc one of the chief az.
fractions. AS nearly as can be esti'
mated these visitors. some of whor
come from foreign countries. sren.
not less than s1o,o0oo00 while in New
York This money goes to the shops
hotels, restaurants and other business
I<NeIS OHc Vic N'odS e.
this pa'' . = ,
ut is a serious matter. to reduce ff'
money that flows into the bushes:
hopper of one city in each year by s.
vast 81 sum as s25.0O0,o00 or $4,000
1000. In the mind of any man familiar
with the racing of high-class horse
there is no question as to the drawinf
mower of many of the horses we hav'
ION the New York tracks. There Is no
1.-THE slightest doubt that Colin alOn'
brought into New York at least $4,000,
900 from visitors who came here to Sc
this remarkable thoroughbred"
OF these 100000 or 100000 who visl
New York and spend their money man
are virginians and other Southerners
VINO would patronize our fairs and rae
meetings ii conducted on the sam
: high plane.
In regard to Mr.. Mackey's statement
; that crimes follow racing. think tina
the following letter from minister Q
1.-THE gospel will answer them:
Minister'S Letter.
The following letter from Rev. f. "
Dotzauer, rector at queens, L. J., ha
; been sent to Governor Hughes an
also to the chairman of the Codes Com
: mittee at Albany:
"Queens, L. T., Feb. II.
Dear Sir,-I wish to add my word I
that Of Rev. D. ]. Mccarthy. rector c
st. Marks Church, Sheepshead Ba.
, when he speaks so highly of the me
engaged in the racing business
since the advent of Belmont Park, i
Queens, a large number of these me
; have faithfully attended the churc
under my charge; at the track IAN
, elsewhere on my priestly duties hay
: come IN close contact with them, an
: have found them as honorable an
upright and as honest and sincere
their dealings with God and man 8
; any body or class of men in our sc
. ciety. Furthermore, I know Of n
class that Is moro ready to extend tn
s hand of charity to friend In nee
or class more willing to support tt
,church or institutions of like natur
i ITO call attention to q truth $
well known as this would seem hardl
i necessary Were it not for the fact thf
!, /, at the present time there are men
q our State who, in their denunciatio
9 OF race tracks, denounce all connecte
y with 1t. Such a stand is wrong, nj
only In maligning a worthy class
:, = men, but in having tendency to den
means OF livelihood to thousands