The Washington herald., 1908-01-06
SetpoAts Of

Saratoga ........................... S0009 5900)
Jamaica .................--......... rocco ll000
AGHNduf os3-uyJ litN1i
KenilWorth PARK iBuTalol....... $4,000 50G0
Empire Track fY0ukcrsi --.-.....- $4,000 10000
The racing season averages less than thirty days
Tor each track.
Arrayed Against Hughes.
Against Gov. Hughes. therefore, to-day
are:
The owners Of the nine race tracks Of
the state. which cost about $uo0o005
and bring in an annual return of from s
90 Is per cent.
Alongside Of them are the owners OF
thOrOUghbTeds, or men affiliated with
them, who represent a $5000G00 industry
in various portions OF the Union.
Behind those is an army of 5000 men.
bookmakers and their assistants, track
employees and hangers-on. who derive
their livelihood from the races.
Behind the distinguished company is
still another. made Up OF lawyers. ad-
viseTs. agents and the ike. who find rich
pickings from the sport.
With the governor are:
The lawmakers and IaWgivers with
some notable exceptions. like Senator Ne
Carren) Of the various counties and
municipalities in which racing is con-
Quoted. There viii be vacant places in
these ranks as time wears on.
Following these are the societies that
have been ciam0riug for the abolition Of
the sport for years. There VIII be- some
defections in these ranks before the battle
is decided
Behind these is the strong division Of
.be public, whose knowledge Of The game
and Of its effects has been gained by read
ing paragraph after paragraph in the
newspapers telling OF the embezzlements,
defaUltng. and dishonesty brought on
by a devotion 20 the sport Of kings as
conducted I'm New York And then there
.are the revengeful poOl-room interests that
have suffered through the Jockey Club.
Tracks Finest In Land.
The race tracks of New York City are
worth more than all the other courses of
the United States put together. AS a rule.
they are in the midst Of thickly settled
communities. and their intrinsic value. if
cut into building lots. would more than
make up for the destruction Of their
lawns. their grand stands, stables, club
houses. and courses.
The racing Of New York IS under the
direct supervision OF the Jockey Club,
which obtains its power from racing
commission, brought into existence when
d way was found Of lodging the cOnsti-
tutional provision which forbids race
track gambling. The members Of the rae
ing commission are all very weil-known
men. II is headed by James H. Wads-
worth with II. X Knapp and John San
ford Z 5 associates
Tn. Tgnf-Evs CTrrT, rgTfaT info ayfurrsrFn
in 1852 By the desire Of owners and train
ers. is headed by August Belmont and is
a most exclusive body. James r. Keene
is vice chairman Of the body, and its
membership includes men all of whom are
very well known. The rules Of the Jockey
Club are Draconian IN their severity, and
the power of the club is absolute over
owners, trainers, and every other person
connected with the sport
Officially the Jockey Club has never
recognized betting on the Jockey Club
tracks, although the different associations
which own the tracks are compelled 10
know OF It as a matter of fact. That the
members of the Jockey Club as rule
make up the owning associations has not
brought the knowledge any closer 10 the
controlling organization.
Owners Share Is Small.
It has been estimated that 100000 is
put IN circulation every summer by racing
in the East, and this includes Benning,
at Washington which belongs to the
same coterie. Of this amount the horse
owners get s., 10000. The bookmakers get
large proportion. and the various tracks,
the railroads and the army mat profits
indirectly or directly get the rest. The
nine tracks of the State are held very
closely.
Sheepshead Bay track. officially owned
by the Coney Island Jockey Club, is in
reality owned by William X Vanderbilt.
There is a large number of small share
holders, including August Belmont, the
Hitchcocks, the Keenes. Philip Dwyer,
the Bradfords, and others. Sheepshead
Bay is perhaps the most valuable of all
the tracks. for it is in the heart of a
rapidly-growing district To prevent the
city cutting streets through it it has been
made a park. and as such is supposed TO
be open to the public except when there
| is racing. II il were cut UP and sold as
building lots il is believed that $1,000, ,00C
would be realized.
Belmont Park is the most costly race
track. Its principal owner is August
| Belmont, although the Westchester Rae
ljng Association, which formerly conduct
ed Morris Park, owned by the family OF
/ that name, is the titular owner. Belm0n;
! Park cost $1,000, 900 to open to the public
and it is the society headquarters fol
! racing 1t is farther away from the cen
ter of population, so that it's 642 acres are
not so valuable for other purposes. MIR
| Belmont is a heavy investor in other
| race-tracks. He owns the control OF
KenilwOrth Park, at Buffalo, and the
Benning track, at Washington, besides
stock in a majority of the other enter.
prises.
Phil Dvyer Owner.
The Brooklyn Jockey Club apparently
controls Gravesend, but Philip Dwyel
owns the property. Mr.. Dwyer also OBJ
tained control of the Aqueduct course
several years ago.
The Brighton Beach Jockey Club con
\ trolls the track of that name, and this is
| the only one in which members of tht
| Jockey Club are not in the ascendant. il
is owned by William Engman. who cares
nothing for racing and doesn't care
whether it continues.
At Jamaica the Metropolitan Jockey
Club holds forth, and this is the political
| track, allowed as a sop TO Patrick Me
Carren and Timothy d. Sullivan, long