The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12
BETTING ON RACE
 TRACKS IS DEAD New York and California Have Settled Matters INTEREST IN POLO An International Game of Polo May Be Played Between American and British Teams Next
 July
INTEREST IN POLO
BY JAMES DoCKERALL

New York, February n.-(Special)-As I predicted weeks ago the prospect of a resumption of betting on the race tracks is becoming more remote. The oppo- nents are determined, persistent and re- scureeful They need sleep.
 Secretary Percy w Treat of the New California Jockey club has announced that the Oakland meeting. in view of the adverse Legislation, would close February fbs Most of the horses will be shipped to Juarez, Mexico. Some will start east ward to be on hand for the opening Of the metropolitan season. few owners Nave arranged to sell their horses.
 Governor Johnson lost no time in ap- proving the Walker Young anti-bettng bill which was passed by the assembly at Sacramento. He affixed his signature to the measure one minute after the bill was presented to him and it will become effective February 15.
 A few. days ago a bill was presented in the New York state senate. It proposes to amend the penal law in relation to the advertising publication of Wagers, pets or stakes It makes the publication or advertising of bets by setting forth the odd laid or offered and the names Of persons making safne a misdemeanor cNS'AAio well as other forms of betting.
 The Polo association a few days ago sent a cablegram to the Birmingham club, London, relative to the proposed international match. The Polo associ9 on is extremely desirous of meeting the Birmingham clubs wishes respecting the date for the international match.
 "The association believes polo condi- tions both in England and America re- quire that the last international game be played not later than July 15 each year. The polo season in New York, Boston and Philadelphia, as in London, is vertu- ally over by that time and we feel that matches of such importance cannot be played on metropolitan grounds at a later date
 We feel also that to play matches in August would be to establish precedent which might prove on another occasion an embarrassing affair to the Hurling- ham club as it would be to our associa- ton this year. We earnestly hope that the Birmingham. club, in the interest of the sport. will see it's way clear to send q team to play on the dates suggested.
 Harry Payne Whitney recently in- structed his polo manager to ship his ponies to Georgian Court, George J. Gould's estate at Lakewood and Set them
 
 be held there at the end of this month. The first scheduled tournament of the season will be played March ' to 21 at the Aiken, S. C., Polo club.
 England has Dolo poney breeding farm which is proving most satisfactory. society might be formed here with good yesults, but it would be many years be- fore much improvement could be noted and would necessitate the importation of polo stalions, most expensive and most difficult thing to do, as England breeders would be very chary of parting ws<A these extremely profitable and not easil found ponies.
 It was only possible, 1t will be admitted, to regain the American club by the judici- GUS buying of noted English ponies, but MT H. P. Whitney or any one else will find it extremely difficult to purchase tke same class of poney in England as long as the cup remains in America, or extremely profitable and not easily found ting or keeping possession of the cup by the purchase of English-bred ponies. No polo player in England will sell possi- ble international pony to an American and no English dealer will dare risk los-