New-York tribune., 1908-08-23
RACING AT SHEEPSHEAD
BUT BETTING Is B4RRED.
CoRey Island Club UM Ran Stakes
an Pirate Other1cise.

The executive committee of the Coney Island
Jockey Club met yesterday in the Windsor Ar
cade and decided to hold the fall meeting at the
Sheepshead Bay track planned but it was
also decided that if the provisions of the Agnew-
Hart law against betting could not be strictly
enforced the gates OF the track would be closed
TO the public, and the stake events. no more than
two of which occur in any one day, would be
run in private. This would fulfil the contract obli-
cations of the club to horse owners, but no
overnight purses will he offered if the gates are
closed to the public No stake events are sched-
uled on Friday. September + and Friday
September IL and on those days races will
be run. The meeting is thus reduced TO eleven
days
The meeting opens Saturday with the
twenty-fir renewal of the classic Futurity the
richest of the great two-year-old stakes and the
most valuable stake of the year. The race VIII
be worth probably nearly $4,000. and part1cu-
lar interest attaches to it this year. as. owing
10 the unsettled state of racing, it may be its
last running
An element of the Coney Island cluh was
anxious to call the meeting off altogether. but
after argument this element was defeated
The club lost sum estimated at S150ooo in
the spring when few cuts made in purses
and the prospect Of further great loss, together
With the determination of Acting District AT
torney Elder of Kings to stamp out betting
absolutely. as indicated by the Brighton Beach
indictments, caused some hesitation. Counsei
for the club pointed out that there had been
modified betting at Saratoga and Empire CITY
under the Bischor and Gaynor decisions without
interference and suggested that moduS
vivendi might well be reached. The directors
however decided that all betting in which pro-
fessionaI bookmakers were concerned must be
stopped despite possibilities of technical legaH-
cation of such betting and the spirit as well as
the letter of the law must be lived UP TO at the
meeting unless the gates are TO be shut
There is nc intention on the part Of the club
10 interfere through its detectives, with private
Vagers between individuals neither OF whom Is
a I,ooknnaker. even If a record be made of such
waRers What attitude the police and Sherin
Hobley may take toward such wagers Is un-
known. hut at Saratoga and Yonkers the officials
felt themselves powerless to touch such pettors
under the recent court decisions
The resolution adopted by the directors was
given ONT as follows: 1T is moved and seconded
that the autumn meeting CT the Coney Island
Jockey Club b. run off with eleven days OF rae
ing omitting the two Fridays which fall during
such sessions, commencing on August % and
closing on September r. with open gates pro-
vided that all professional betting can De
stopped but should it be found that 1t Is impos-
sble TO step professional betting the gates will
be closed TO the public and the stakes only
. run of"
Those present at the meeting were H B.
Duryea, Schuyler L Parsons. the manag gtng di-
rector J. A Alexander, C Fellowes and L r.
Hitchcock.
Mr.. Parsons. who gave ont such information
as was available said he did not know whether
the giving out of advance information would be
discontinued or not. That, he said, was a
matter for Mr Cavanagh, who had charge OF
the betting rings to decide The giving Of such
information had a good deal TO do with Mr..
Cavaoagh's Indictment in connection with the
Brighton Beach meeting.