New-York tribune., 1908-01-03
RACING MEN In GLOOM.
FEAR GOVERNOR'S STAND.
If Betting Stops Tracks Close, Ihey
Soy-Reformcrs Etated.

III the legislation recommended by Governor
Hughes for tho abolition Of betting at the race
tracks is enacted il will probably mean tue emu u
horserscing in the state
This is the unwilling opinion expressed yesterua!
by q well known horsemar on the probable enect
,I,, Oh. r,,esI Of the Percv-Ciray law would have
And that same view is shared by other men inter
ested and the racing people are in q s'ste Oh se
agitation the prospects None via pI'uioe
that with the executive ishuence and support iol
Tho enactment of law abolishing betting II Will not
succeed. -,
o. course the racing associations VIII opPose
such legislation as they did last year nut o'iH IA
q manner that is entirely legitimate II i "
nounced such as the employment OF counsei y
present their and safeguard 'heh ni!1 80
Tas. xear "a on was Appropriated lot tiS P0n
nose On the other hand Governor ffusa ~.
not be without strong support in ms oetei NJ.
stand against racetrack betune Inc Se,e -
reform organizations and refornlers WHO Nd. -
,.;,~ q cer,naien for the abolition OF oettihe AZ
enthusiastic in their praise Of Governor f,ue' ,
will lend him every possible aio VIII INC > -
cna of those who received with much shllIo1'
,bo recommendations of the Governor was Dlstilcl
....,o,- Jerome who is largely responsive TOT
+be abolition Of the poolroonns in New Aorh Noh.'
and who had several bills introduced a, tAioans =. -
tbe last session OF the Legislature "Illo" i,i
: ,,-o u,itb these recommendations He TOO wiz
r,robstly lend his aiG. aithcusi ii0
mis- official Jurisdiction ...,-,.v
..I sincerely hope said the Dlstrlcl A''oiH
..tbat Governor Hughes Will see ms fue -, =
into laws I did not have chance to hsfl ioi .i'e
massage Of my bills. because OF the Ihaw una ".t
n can find an opportunity TO make mn ''''
,--io, T ce-rainlv will get into the ring Such Sh
acr can he enforced. just as the laws against p
rooms in New York City have been enforced. i0
1.,,s that Governor Hughes desires VIII not ollS
,,-obib;t rscatrack betting but they VIII put the
racet-acks out OF business. year atteT the eaI'
mont ~ such legislation there would not ne race
,rack running in the state. It's the gambling mat
draws the crowd. Imprisonment loT tie 'ooA
makers will step it where fines Will not
While tho poolroom interest will welcome such
legislation as will drive their enemies out OF onsi
,,es= they can take no part in the fight that is TO
he waged The poolroom keepers viii simply re-
gard the abolition of bookmaking at the tracks as
we'll merited retribution for those largely respoh-
sitle for their own troubles. The Allen. leader
among poolroom men, was one of those VINO eA-
rreseed his satisfaction over the situation.
Philip Dvyer president Of the Brooklyn JOCKEY
Club and of the Queens County Jockey Clup' ana
Francis r Hitchcock. president of the saratoga
Racing Association. were among the horsenleh VINO
expressed the fear for the end OF racing III ll's
state If the recommendations OF the Governor are
carried out.
II cannot say what shall do said Mr. Dwyer,
but we must do something. If such bill as the
Governor advocates is passed the tracks must
close"
Said another racetrack official: IF such bill
were passed we would try TO continue racing even
without the betting feature. However. the situa-
fion in New Jersey ought be of interest TO the
rerorroers Racing was abolished there by popular
vote but the gambling is more widespread now
than before the Monmouth Park. Guttenburg and
Gloucester tracks were closed Ihere are no"
many handbooks and poolrooms in several cities OF
New Jersey, although there is no racing in that
state
There will be meeting Of the racing associations
al the Jockey Club to-day for the purpose OF ap-
pointing racing dates. and il is possible that the
situation may be discussed
DR. Walter H I-aidlaw, secretary OF the Federa-
tion of Churches and Christian Organizations, spoke
In warm praise of Governor Hughess attitude and
denounced the racetrack betting ring as a refuge
for criminals. He said:
Governor Hughes's message has the ring OF
righteousness and common sense The awakened
moral conscience of the commonwealth, dsap-
pointed by the action of last years Legislature, and
the homes Of the state where the gambling habit
has claimed its victims. will approve his action
The law purports to improve the breed Of horses,
but really degrades the breed Of boys"
Dr. I.aidlaw said that the Federation Of Churches
would take up racing at its next meeting.
The Brooklyn League also indorsed the Cover
uor's recommendations YESTERDAY John B. Creigh-
ton secretary Of the league. issued statement in
which he said the league would exert all tho in
fiuence il possessed to put end 20 racetrack
gambling in New York. Senator McCarren. who
lead the gambling forces in the Senate, is a
member of the league.