The Washington times., 1911-03-25
TURFMEN SEE HOPE
FOR RACING GAME
Felt at Benning That Drastic
New York Law Will
Be Repealed.
JOCKEY CLUBS ACTION
HAD CHILLING EFFECT
Decision Against Asking for Dates
Led Some to Give Up
in Despair.

The decision of the Jockey Club that
no application for dates will be made
by the racing associationslof New York
this year, came as a shock to the horse
men at Benning.
Some of the horsemen were ready to
sell out at once, and others began 20
figure on a change Of plans for the sea-
son. But later, when the turfmen re-
covered, there was a change Of heart.
The horseman is nothing if not optimis-
tic, and today there were expressions
to be heard everywhere that there may
be racing, after all, in New York.
The oldest of the horsemen, who have
gone through many previous fights
against the game, assured their young
er brethren that in 1904 racing looked to
be gone forever, but that notwithstand-
ing the efforts of the reformers, the
sport of kings" continued to live.
Want Law Repealed.
The recent war on the racing game,
led by former Governor Hughes, it is
admitted by the most optimistic, was
the most persistently waged Of any at
tack ever made on the sport, but there
is an abiding faith that the Legislator
III StSSlOH III We" IbEh VIII iASANh " III
appeals Of the thousands of persons in
jured by a cessation of racing, and re
peal the drastic laws that make the
directors Of racing liable for violations
of the law on their property, wnether
they have knowledge of it or rot.
Many hOrsemen see in the action of
the Jockey Club a good political move
TO hasten Eavora ble, action by the New
York Legislature. They contend that
members Of that body cannot refuse to
relieve situation that means loss or
many millions of dollars and throws out
of employment thousands of men.
There is no doubt, horsemen say, that
if the Objectionable law that makes
officers of racing associations liable
is wiped off the statute books the asso-
Citations will hold meetings this season,
and it is pointed out that If this law
is enforced against State fairs, as II
must be If il remains law, howl
will arise from the farmers throughout
the State.
Farmers Favorable.
That the farmers of New York State
are not unfavorable to racing horsemen
say is indicated by the defeat of Agnew.
author of the bill which stopped the
sport last September. As soon as the
New York legislature settles the Sena-
torial tangle they believe that body
will be ready to give relief to racing.
So confident in fact are the horsemen
at Benning-and they represent the SEN
timent of turfmen oveTywhere-that the
sport cannot be killed that there has
not been an effort made. by any Of them
to dispose of their racers or to make
plans for racing beyond the PimliCO
meeting They believe that before the
Maryland season comes to an end the
New York legislature will repeal the diS
rectors' liability law and that the rae
ing associations will announce plans for
the summer.
At first some of the trainers who have
their horses at Benning concluded to
change their plans and take III the
jamestown meeting, but they have de-
cided to wait for PimIico. Training
and the track was as lively this morn
ing as 1t has been in the last two weeks