The Washington herald., 1908-01-03
TURFMEN TO FIGHT
Hughes StirS Racing Men
by His Recommendation.
McCARREN HEADS OPPOSITION
Weii-knOwn Track Promoters VIII
Meet To-day to Make Desperate
stand Against Anti-betting Law.
VIII BE Aided by BooLmakers.
POOIrOOm Men VIII Back Governor.

New York, Jan. 2-"Long Pat" McCar-
rem will lead the fight against any legis-
lation 20 abolish gambling on race tracks
in this State. as recommended by Gov.
Hughes in his annual message to the
legislature.
McCarren will be ably aided by Sen
ator Grady and win undoubtedly re-
eeive the united support Of the Demo-
cratic representatives in both houses.
The fight along this line is expected to
be one of the bitterest IN legislative his
tory.
While no bill 10 carry out the gov
ernor's recommendation has as yet made
It's appearance. it is certain that there
viii be an influx Of measures next week
when the Legislature gets down to real
work. Encouraged by the utterances Of
the governor and relying on the friends
Of the governor in both houses to sup
port such legislation, the fight for the
measure as outlined in the governor
message viii be pressed to the end.
Expect Formers Support.
The opponents Of such reform in rae
Ing as advocated BIZ the governor hope
10 again have the support Of the rural
district residents. particularly those in
terested in agricultural societies or the
annual county fairs While II is true
that the governor says provision should
be made 10 reimburse the promoters of
these fairs, In lieu Of the support that
they have received from State racing
moneys, McCarFen and his followers will
argue that there Is nothing certain in
such an arrangement. and that It would
be suicidal for them 20 make such an In
novation as favored by the governor.
For the past two years there have been
bills introduced in the legislature. de-
signed TO prohibit gambling on the race
tracks In this State They Were never
taken seriously. but now that the chief
executive Of the State has come out for
such q proposition the outlook for the
race track promoters is not the best
Stirred by the message OF Gov. Hughes.
the heads Of the great racing associations
VIII meet at the rooms Of the Jockey
club IN the Windsor Arcade tomorrow
to begin action.
These men, who have millions Of dol
lars invested in tracks afput New York
City and at Saratoga. believe that should
the governors ideas be Incorporated in
the law their business would be ended.
WouId End Racing.
In my opinion. said Phil Dryer. one
of the most famous OF the racing men,
president Of the Gravesend track and the
Aqueduet track. such a law would mean
the end Of racing In this State"
III the governor Is successful" said
Francis r. Hitchcock. president Of the
Saratoga Racing Association. racing in
this State would in time be killed"
But there are great powers in the rae
ing world that viii come % the aid OF the
governor. The poolroom men. or at least
the chief among them, will do all they
can TO help the passage OF a law that
wiIl stop the betting at the tracks. The"
Allen. who was in the course Of a long
career raided more than one hundred
times. is very bitter against the tracks.
Pete De Lacey. who has probably made
more money out OF pOolrooms than any
other man in the business In New York.
has already spent thousands Of dollars in
lawsuits against the tracks in an effort
to stop the gambling of the bookmakers.
he is counted on TO aid the governor. But
It is unlikely that the poolroom men as a
class will dare 20 go so deep into the
fight that they viii organize TO aid the
governor.