The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-03-24
HoRseMEN THROW UP SPONGE
Raeetrack Men Say Sport is Dead In
New York State

New York, March 23-Horse racing
is dead in New York state for this
year at least The Jockey club is
sued a statement Tuesday night say
ing that because of adverse legisla-
ton, it had been decided to make no
application for dates. This news
came out almost simultaneously with
reports from New Orleans that horse
owners believe the sport beyond re-
vival there. The Jockey club an
nouncement signed by A. Daingerield
secretary, follows:
AT a meeting OF the representa-
ives of the Coney Island Jockey club,
the Brooklyn Jockey club the West
Chester Racing association, the Sara
toga association, the Queens County
Jockey club, the Empire City Racing
association and the Metropolitan Jock
ey club, held today, it was decided to
make no application TO the state rae
ing commission for racing dates; as
the socalled directors liability law
remains on the statute books the
same reason exists Is in September
1910, for keeping the courses closed
and it is further decided to make this
public announcement"
The abandonment of racing in New
York has been expected for some
time Since the passage of the anti
betting bills urged by Governor Hugh
! es, the sport has been on steady de-
cline and with the passage Of the law
making directors of racing associa-
tons responsible for betting, it be-
came apparent that barriers had been
raised which threatened its extinc-
ton.
The falling off in attendance with
betting eliminated was pronounced
and this meant a corresponding de
crease in gate receipts At this, op
timistic opinions were expressed that
racing would weather the gale bul
several weeks ago 1t was apparent thai
the Jockey club was undecided as to
its future course.
In an endeavor to bolster up the fl.
nancial end of the game the race
track owners raised the prices of adj
mission, reduced the overnight pur
SEES and cut almost to nothing or else
abandoned altogether the stake ev
ents that for years had been regarded
as the classics of the American turf
An indication of the falling off in
attendance may be cited in the run.
ming Of the Suburban handicap at
Sheepshead Bay last year. Whereas
in previous years 10000 persons had
witnessed the event, scarcely more
than $4,000 attended.
Betting there was, but it was most
ly ION the nod The casual atten,
dant with a roll in his pocket and a
supposed winner in his brain was al
lowed to keep both, for the memory
brokers'" as the bookmakers were
dubbed, would take few chances OF
accepting bets from persons they did
not know. Thus il was at all the race
courses, no betting to speak of and
slim crowds. The tracks are said tc
have lost heavily last season.
The closing of the courses means
that the futurity, the Brooklyn handi
cap, the Saratoga handicap and al
the big events will not be run anc
that racing plants in the state valued
at many millions OF dollars will liz
idle. 1t probably will mean also thai
thousands of race track followers
such as trainers, jockeys and stabl,
boys, not to mention the large mum
Der Of ground keepers, will be thrown
out of employment
What effect the decision OF tn,
Jockey club viii have upon the grea
breeding establishments cannot b,
foretold but the breeders of thorough
breds, with the racing game dead IL
New York, California and Louisiana
doubtless will be forced to seek othe
markets than the few remainin,
tracks in this country and those il
Canada and Mexico for their horse
or else curtail production.
August Belmont chairman of tn,
Jockey club, said tonight Racing 4
a victim OF adverse legislation, an,
unless the directors liability law 4
repealed II will mean the abandoninl
OF racing in this state. Those BIZ
stakes for which nominations have a.
ready been made, will probably b.
| run off in DriVate with the nuhlic av