The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-03-22
RACETRACKS WILL NOT OPEN
DIRECTORS LIABTLITI LAW -
TIE STUMBLING BLOCH.
Owners Of Al New York Courses Decide
Not 10 Ask the state Racing commits.
sion for Dates Under the Present Con-
dItious state Fairs In the same Boat.

uittOus-StAte FAirs IN thc same bOat'
Unless the Legislature or tho courts
grant some relief there will be no racing
on the Jockey Clubs tracks in the State
of New York this year. The so-called
directors liability law. which was
passed last year. is the obstacle which
the track owners cannot surmount at
present. This law holds directors or
criminally liable for any form of betting
that may take place within their gates,
with o. without their consent II applies
TO the State fairs as well as to the Jockey
Club race courses and il it s strictly
enforced it will he impossible for trotting
tracks run in conjunction with the fairs
to be operated.
While the stewards of the Jockey Club
and the owners OF tracks are unwilling
to discuss plans for the future it is be-
lievcd that an attempt will be made to
nave bill repeating the directors liability
law passed 10y the Legislature at Albany
befo.e the present session ends. II this
moe is unsuccessful there NAV he court
proceedings l,.r. But meanwhile the
tracks will remain closed.
The track owners held an unexpected
meeting At the Windsor Arcade yester-
day. August Belmont representing the
Westchester Racing Association. pre-
sided. james Butler. president Of the En-
pire City Racing Association; P.J. Dwyer.
who controls the Brooklyn and Queens
County Jockey Club tracks at Graves
end and Aqueduct respectively; Andrew
Miller. treasurer of the Saratoga Racing
Association. and Victor Sohaumberg,
secretary OF the Coney Island Jockey
Club. were also present. The Metropol-
tan Jockey Club of Jamaica was repre-
sented by proxy.
1t is understood that the Belmont Park
and Saratoga tracks were anxious to go
ahead with the usual meetings. but when
the matter had been thoroughly dis
cussed it was evident that the majority
was in favor OF keeping the gates closed
under the existing conditions. The result
Of the conference was embodied in the
following official statement, made by
Assistant Secretary Daingerfield Of the
Jockey Club:
A. meeting OF the representatives of
the Coney Island Jockey Club. the Brooklyn
Jockey Club, the Westchester Racing Asso-
citation. the Saratoga Association. the
Queens County Jockey club. the Empire
City Racing Association and the Metro
politan Jockey Club held AT the Windsor
Arcade II was decided TO make no appli-
cation 10 the state Racing Commission
for racing dates. AZ the so-called direc-
tors liability law remains on the statute
books the same reason exists a. IN Sep
tembrr. 1910. for keeping the courses closed
II is decided therefore to make this public
announcement
When August Belmont. who is chair
man OF the Jockey Club. was asked about
the situation he said that the racing
assoc iations had been targets for class
legislation and that il would be unfair
to expect them TO race under the cir
cumstances Mr. Belmont declined to
discuss the pos sibility oi an appeal TO
the Legislature. He said that the trao X
owners had formulated no definite plans
for the future and that the above an
nouncement had been made in spirit
of fairness TO horsemen and breeders
50 that they could make their arrange
mrnts for the coming season accordingly
Mr. Belmont went on to say that the
directors of the various racing associa-
tions did not feel like running the risk
of criminal prosecution for the acts of
others; that il would he impossible Ia
prevent betting of a private nature II
the tracks were reopened and that under
such conditions il was deemed wise to
remain closed for the present at least
He stated further that with more favor
able conditions prevailing the track
| owners would have been ready TO proceed
regardless of financial losses Another
! ra ret rack man who did not care TO have
his name published said last night:
The attitude Of the tracks Is not II sur
prise They were forced TO close last
September because the directors and
owners were unwilling to run the risk
| OF arrest Under the liability law il
would be possible to frame up case
even though every bookmaker and pro.
racecourses The making of single
wager in private il proved to the salts
| faction OF prosecutin g:attorney would be
sufficient ground for the indictment OF
directors and officials. even though the
| wager was laid without their knowledge
or consent 1t is legal to race horses
| in this State between April IL and No
vember 10, the prizes to be stakes oi
purses, and there Is State Racing Com
mission appointed by the Governor which
has the power to grant licenses and date,
| TO the various associations. but the tracks
cannot open so long as this freak law
remains in effect.
1t is worthy OF note that the Stat'
, fairs will have to be closed as well as th'
big tracks The directors Of the fairs
can be held crminally liable for bet'
made on trotting races. and according
to reliable information they will not rur
the risk. This will be hard blow to tn,
farmers up the State, for the betting a
the fairs has always beon feature. Ra-
cling could go on though Oh a small scale
| if this law could be annulled, as there
would he enough patronage to almos
cover expenses. There has never been t
desire on the part Of the Jockey Club IL
reestablish open gambling or so-callet
organized book making. but it is question
| OF law whether il is a crime for individuals
70 make private wager, The tracks hav,
lost lot OF money since the passage o
the Agnew- Hart bills in 1908, and even il
| they should reopen there would be /