The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-06-16
BETS At RACES STOPPED
IN NEW YORK STATE
New Law Makes Wagers on the
Tracks a Felony.
KEENE SAYS SPORT IS DEAD

Governor Hughes Won After a Long
Contest to Force the Legislature
at Albany to Suppress Horse
Race Gambling.
Albany, NJ Y.-The most sensa-
tional legislative battle that the En-
pire State has known in generation
came to an end when the Agnew-Hart
anti-race-track betting bills were
passed, by a vote of rs to rs, in the
Senate BY the immediate signature
of the Executive the bills were made
statutes of the State. and the placing
of bet upon horse race felony.
The new laws will have tremen-
dous effect upon the sport of racing.
Most racing men say that the Jig is
up and the sport dead; others are
less pessimistic and believe that the
race tracks can continue without bet
ting rings, though none of them is
sanguine enough to predict that the
halcyon days of big purses and great
crowds will ever be known again.
James r. Keene has calculated that
the new laws will practically destroy
racing property in this State to the
amount of $S0,000.000, and will
cause an annual loss to New York
City of something like $50, 900.
Supporters of the bills hold that these
figures are exaggerated.
The new laws resulted from cam
paign conducted by Governor Charles
e. Hughes, and the fact of his final
victory was made possible by the
dogged determination and heroism
of Senator Otto Foelker. of Brooklyn,
who, repelling the advice of his ply
rician, rose from a bed of sickness,
came to Albany, staggered into the
Senate chamber a few minutes before
the bills came up for passage, and !.
his voice husky and quivering, voted
for the bills. His action, at the risk
of his life, saved the day, for the bills
passed the Senate by majority of
one. His work done, he almost COLI
lapsed, and supported by his physi-
clan and his pastor, he Immediately
left the Capitol
Governor Hughes said when in
formed of the passage of the bills
II am deeply gratified at this re-
suit 1t is victory for law and or
der, the Importance of which cannot
be overestimated.'
Referring to Senator Foelker, who
left his sick bed to cast his vote for
the bills, the Governor said:
The act of Senator Foelker in
coming to the Senate in his weak
condition was most heroic and wor-
thy of the same praise that we give
to distinguished service on the bat
tlefield."
Thunderbolt For Racing Men.
New York City.-The news that
the anti-race-track gambling bills had
passed the Senate and we're signed by
Governor Hughes to make them law,
was received with CONSERVATION by
the followers of horse racing in the
metropolitan district
James b. Haggin said he thought
that the death knell of horse racing
in this State had been sounded. II
think the bill will kill horse racing
In New York State he said land
am surprised at its passage. ! don't
see how purses can now be paid"
Kills a County Fair.
Poughkeepsie, N. Y.-The passage
of anti-betting bills, particularly the
repeal Of the Percy Gray bill, under
which agricultural societies received
large revenues from the State, will
make it impracticable to hold the
Duchess County Fair this year The
Executive Committee of the Fair AS
ISOLATION, which is one of the oldest
and largest in the State, has practi-
cally decided to abandon the fair.
Meets to Be Held, Says Belmont.
London, England When seen on
the subject of the anti-gambling bills
passed in the New York Legislature,
August Belmont, chairman of the
Jockey Club, said
II cannot say what the various rae
ing associations will do eventually.
The associations, however. have rae
ing features to run off this season,
which constitute sporting obligations,
and they will undoubtedly live up to
them. No one can well predict
whether or not the prohibition of bet
ting at races will ruin horse racing
irretrievably, but it is a severe blow
to the best interests of the turf in
any event 1t will ultimately throw
many men out of employment and
cripple the breeding and improve
ment, of thoroughbred horses in the
United States.
A Hard Blow in Kentucky.
Louisville, Ky. - Kentucky prob
ably will suffer to a. greater extent by
the passage of the race track bills in
New York than will New York. Many
wealthy Fasteners own large farms
and operate breeding plants in the
Blue Grass region.
Millions of dollars are invested in
these plants and a small army of men
is employed. The thoroughbreds
raised on the places of these Eastern
capitalists are culled over each year
and the best of them retained and
raced exclusively on the tracks near
the metporolis.
The operation of the law passed in
New York probably will mean the
closing of these breeding establish
ments, throwing out of employment
more than 5000 laborers and the loss
of many millions each year to the
Blue Grass region.
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