Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22

feTCy-1Tdy law ny lne ieR1SIa-
Nj ture of New York. some years
ago. has racing in the United
States been invested with an air
81 so much expectancy as this year.
The war that was waged upon this sport
in the west within the last three years
was more of an attack of determination
than the recent agitation in New York.
If the words of the agitators are to be
believed. Throughout the metropolitan
section there are many men of prom
inence in professional and in social cir
cles who. while admitting their desire TO
strangle the element of public betting. are
almost as eager i'm the next breath to as
sert that they have no personal desire to
be considered as enlisted against the sport
OF racing for racing alone
In other words. there is an element with
in the reform party which would not be
averse to. public trials of speed or the
part of trained horses, but which would
at the same time make it out Of the ques-
hon to maintain a public betting ring. 1t
IS true there are others more radical who
would abolish racing entirely.
Until the Percy-Gray law became
statute i'm the state of New York and the
Jockey club was formed to control the
affairs of racing. the sport was sur
rounded by an atmosphere of slow for
nation that was thick and foul and dis
,ouraging to gentlemen who chung
through all encouragement TO the good
old-fashioned idea that there is no harm
% breed horses and to race them for the
personal enjoyment of owning an animal
T. little better than that of some friendly
leighbor.
Throngs at Sheepshead.
With the beginning of the reformation
If racing in New York began the increase
# its popularity Whatever it's good
Qualities may be- OF whatever faults it
may possess. it is fact that attendance
las steadily and persistenty increased.
rntn the high water mark has been
raached at the track of the Coney Island
Jockey Club at Sheepshead Bay. when
IS many fifty thousand persons have
lid admission to witness the running OF
tie Suburban-that most popular OF the
nerican handicaps
At the running of other great hanh'-
cps and on holidays when the pleasure
e,ekers of the densely populated metro
rolitan district have sought days out
i;g from the city there have been fire.
cIent crowds of 10000. $1,000 and 10000
SPECTATORS. 1t must not be taken. now
e-er that this is indicative in any way
az the daily average attendance. Which
fills far below those figures.
How many In these huge CROWDS are
r:.trons of the betting ring no one KNOWS
u is doubtful if there is any possible
II ethod by which to arrive at correct
q timaie One thing is certain. Hun
Creds and hundreds of persons who at
tend races on the more important days.
ard on holidays. are never seen IN the
Il ting ring and simply visit from box
tn box in the immense stands or wander
fnck and forth through the crowd meet
jig friends and passing the time much as
right be expected at great social out
touring where almost everybody OF prom
hence is present, partly Tor enjoyment
= I'd partly from curiosity.
Suburban day. Metropolitan day. -Brook-
In day and Brighton day are really So
6 ETY. functions more than they are days
at feverish de sire to wager large or small
Sums of money. OF the four. Suburban
,ty is unquestionably the most popular
It'll those who go to make up that ele-
7 ent of population to which fetes are al
lys eagerly acceptable.
Yet as large as the crowds have been at
tburban day in the United States they
de- not begin to compare in size with those
itch attend the Derby in England. the
g. and Prix in Paris or the running of the
,',lbourne cup in Australia n fact.
cling at its best, and with what popu-
L. vity it may have attained IN the cnted
ates is not as yet the sport OF both
I uses and classes that it is in some for
e IN countries In South America there
(. events i'm the turf world which are pa
oniZed fully as well as those in the
! nited States and with much the same
: enes surrounding them.
Gate Receipts, $4,000, 900.
The total gate receipts at the various
cling meetings in 1907 were about S.
ogl.OOO a little less than that sum, to be
more accurate. representing probably
about three and one-half million patrons.
The amount OF the ) per cent tax paid
by the racing associations under the law
f = the year was sag, 1916, made up as
fC llows:
a., nov Island Jockey Club $54 o01 30
I-ooklyn Jockey Club circumference. 4l,312 %
,; iohton Reach Racing Association 4O, 623 13
ounO "a