New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-08
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Still! Some Hope for Racing in
This State.
SPORT LIKELY TO SURVIVE
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional

Racing is not dead in New York State
even though the sport for this year VIII
come to an end at Saratoga Springs on
August 81 This statement; is made on the
authority of several men who are cioseiN
identified with the sport and VINO nave
worked hard and earnestly in an effort TO
keen il alive under trying conditions Inc
directors of The various racing associa-
lions felt called upon 10 cancel the IAN
dates because Of the directors habiiitS
,ou- ,rh,c, makes them criminally respon-
sihle for anv gambling their premises
T-rd.~ The advice of counsel. il was con-
sidereo hest 10 have the courts interpret
q measure which Is considered ambiguous
before another meeting is held, as nc one
cared TO run the risk of Indictment and
nossih3e punishment for an offence of
which he, did not consider himself guilty
While il is cause for regret that the meet
tnss cannot be conducted without betting
of any kind and while horsemen and those
interested in the sport are gloomy and
depressed, ] am not alone in the opinion
that the future of racing is not So black
as tainted and that the death knell has
not been sounded. Schuyler /. Parsons
said 20 me at Saratoga Friday that
there was hope for the future and that
everything possible would be done 10 clear
UP the situation. that meetings coulo
be conducted next year without fear OF
violating the statutes
Il has been pointed out in this column
several times that whereas certain
amount Of betting is necessary 10 the me
of the sport. if does not follow tha' Inc
gambling spirit is uppernost II Is I'M
portant however. fer those who go TO the
heir
can be done only by buying a share, so 10
speak If q certain horse for the moment
The endowment Of a running race, lawn
tennis Elstch @ regatta Is lhcreas@u
2 hundredfcld # interest IS localized pE
the appearance f son, brother or
cousin. The same is true in footoah OF
baseball through the ability 10 root LOT
ones college or ones home city W men
Colin Fitz Herbert or some other great
horse which has made turf history goes TO
the post 2 crowd will turn out that can
enioy 2 -ace without the sign of wager,
but in general the rank and file OF race
soe,s are not interested in any particular
horse or any particular owner, in Whlch
case il is necessary, for keener enjoyment
20 centre interest on some particular horse,
which can b. done only by a small bet
There Is no law against Individual betting
and public bookmaking was stamped OUT
three
Citations have worked hard to re-establish
the sport under new conditions, and were
doing fairly well until the passage of the
directors liability law. which is not thor
oughlv understood cast another blight on
the spot.
Interest in the sport may be kept alive
this fail by number OF one-day amateur
race meetings These viii not take the
place OF the regular meetings with the So
called regulars but they will serve their
purpose and keep the way open. 1t is hard
10 forecast Al this writing just what such
men as James p Keene. August Belmont.
John z Madden r T Wilson. jr, and
other big owners and breeders will do to
protect their interests. but it is safe to say
that while some horses may be shipped
abroad. many Will he kept in this country
10 await developments.
Interest in the military race to be run al
Saratoga Springs Oh Saturday is growing
sface- General Leonard Wood has
pressed his approval. and If is just posi-
HE that lie may go up to Saratoga to see
the race decided. The horses, eleven of
mich have been entered 10 date. will be
ridden b. officers in service uniform. and
tho keeneSt rivalry VIII exist between
Various pests. IS. judging from the present
outlook. For Ethan Allen, Vermont; Fort
Riley, Kansas. Fort Thomas, Kentucky:
Fort Never. Virginia; Fort Oglesthorpe,
Georgia. and Washington Barracks will be
represented by one or more horses II
may be said a this point that the United
States : behind England. France, Canada
and Germany, - say nothing Of several
ether countries. in taking full advantage
r thoroughbred stock for cavalry re-
mounts. The inportanCe-one might say
the necessty-of the thoroughbred strain
for the proper development OF stamina
ana good bone is generally conceded by
these who have made a study Of breeding
but, strange to say. full advantage up to
this tine has not been taken of the oDpor-
tuniJies presented by the big thoroughbred
nurseries throughout the country many
Of which may be abandoned because of
the present blight en- racing Under the
circumstances the military race will come
a just the right time and il is hoped
that il VIII serve in stimula ting greater In
terest in the thoroughbred horse among
army men.