New-York tribune., 1911-04-18
Strong PLEA FOR RACING
State Commission Recommends
Repeal of Liability Law.
POINTS OUT INDUSTRY LOSS
Number of Thoroughbreds Cut in
Half and Purses Reduced
More than a Third.

Albany. April 1.-The repeal OF the Law
enacted last year making directors Of rae
tnV associa tions personally liable FOR bet
ting a. racetraoks Is recommended by TIE
State Racing Commission in its annual re-
rort 70 the Legislature tonight. The COM
mission declares this necessary II racing
is 10 survive in any form whatever IT this
state"
The commission expresses regret az the
enactment OF the amendments 10 the racing
lew Of 1898 The racing law had been
prepared with grear care" saws the report,
end was especially so designed as 20 per-
nit racing and TO minimize betting al the
tracks. No tickets or tokens Of bets were
permitted 70 pass: 40 betting was permit
Ted on races. or on any other matters or
things taking place elsewhere; the time
during which the racing was allowed was
limited 70 one-half the year. and. as mat
ter OF fact. betting was INDUCED in only
during the few minutes interval before each
race. and the average daily attendance at
the traolzs-that Is 70 say the number OF
PERSONS who could by any possibility make
BETS there-did not exceed one-hftieth part
OF l per cent Of the population OF the state"
The commission reviews the anu-gar-
bling legislation enacted in 1908 and 1910
and has this 10 say as 10 It's effect:
III has deprived the state annually Of
approximately the sum OF 10000 which
had been contributed 10 the fair sssccia-
tons: II practically destroyed the value Of
the great racecourses. which had been built
up or the faith CT The act OF 1895. IL has
reduced the purses and prizes annually
distributed by the associations from s26t5.-
900 in 1907 10 $4,000 IN 1910: II has almost
destroyed the New York market for the
sale Of Thoroughbred yearlings. the number
sold tr 1910 being less than one-hftieth of
the number sold IL 1905; II has driven
abroad hundreds OF high class horses 20
the great damage Of the breeding industry
here. and IL has given racing q setback
tron which il cannot recover for many
years 10 come.
This has al been done upon The theory
that betting az = -acecoUrse must be pre-
vented az any cost-though betting gen-
orally has not been made q crime-and 81
al seems 70 be based on the mistaken idea
thai the racecoUrses were maintained solely
for gambling. instead OF FOR stimulating the
breeding and testing OF the best types Of
horses"
The report :asr taxes ~ the loss 70 the
breeding industry. and says:
"As : result Of The end os rte running
races. this Commission feels thar rhe main
tenance cs The breed os the thoroughbred
-acehorss IL the state ard country !s seri-
ously threatened. ncr only because oe the
reduction ir numbers, 5ur tecause CT low
eri.g rhe standard 0: quality due 20 tne
expectation o5 our besr horses AID . lack
OF any stimulus 70 bring about tae i'm
porting q fresh blood.
The average number ot Thoroughbred
horses exported from, this country annual
ly between -5OS ard 1910 vas Ter times as
grear as 5ecveen the Yects -90l and l50-.
u; tte average importation q thorough
5reds between l50S and 1870 w-s less than
one-Af-a CT the average hecwee1 -9U and
.907. carefu, estimates show t.at TIE mum
oer ot thcrougharsds IT. this country r.
1907 was approximately 22.5o. end taat It
had fallen Below 1900 IL 1910.
AZ time when al t.a important "a
tiors q tae world ars giving ser!ous study
10 ire use of Thoroughbred t!ood IL prov-c-
Ing the necessary cavalry -e-:our-s -:.s
state ~ tae enactment ot the existing laws
Nas destroyed 81 chances Of The etac.sr,
roainrena.ce :! Ire props- STANDARD. -1ec
The general oroe5 o. hor5es =: t--s sta:e
Will suffer - consequences the-eo: IS cac
opinion o3 th.S Commission, IotW.r1zra-.d-
ing c.e efforts c: tae creed!1g bureau OF
ne Jockey Club 20 ps-petGate ="
-he report Is signed ~ Commissioners J.
W Wadswo--h. Joan Sanford ard =. =
Knapp.