New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-10
NEW RACETRAcK BILLS
One introduced at Albany Defines
Bookmaking Without Writing.
FREE IN RACE ENCLOSURES
Jockey Club Seeks to Eliminate
Liability for Wagers Made
on Grounds.

Albany. May 1.-TWO bills favored By the
racetrack interests IN their fight against
the present antigamblins laws were intro
duced to-day 10y Senator Gittins. OF Mag
ara County. One defines bookmaking with
out writing which is forbidden under ex-
isting Law, as the laying or publishing or
odds 10 all corners or the public. The sec
ond wcakens Some Of the restrictions OF the
take racetrack Enclosures out OF the llst OF
places defined la the penal law.
Y. ]. Wilson. jr., who has had talks
With Governor Dix and some Of the iesis-
lative leaders of both political parties about
the cxisting situation from the racetrack
point or view. said this legislation was
sought TO clear up antiquities. No racing
association subject TO the jurisdiction OF
the Jockey Club, he said would open It's
gates this summer until It's directors knew
whore they stood. They were not seeking
any repeal II the AgnewHart laws against
racetrack gambling. but they were asking
for some definite and explicit legislation to
let them know their rights and liabilities
We do not seek 10 restore the law CIV
ing 10 the officers and directors OF racing
associations special immunity" said he
1--WE do ask legislative construction OF tho
extrs ordinary provision which. nv the
amendment enacted last year, imposes LA
bility on the owner OF any place IN which
q bet may be made on a baseball game a
hCrseraoe. polo match or even private
game Of cards. without the consent or
knowledge OF such owner
we have asked the Legislature 70 eimi-
nste last years amendment leaving the
officers and directors OF associations con-
Quoting outdoor sports in precisely the
same position as the directors of any other
corporation. liable for the crimes which
they hid or abet or which arc committed
With their knowledge or consent This Is
merely ar effort on our part TO protect our
selves against unvarra1ted arrests and
continuous expensive litigation resulting
from an ambiguous statute
The bill defining bookmakinS without
writing contained language. once adopted
last year by the Senate. said Mr.. Wilson.
but stricken ont the following day, not
because the Senate had changed It's con-
vlction that the definition was fair, but
because Of an underlined apprehension from
A on-legislative source"
The "non-legislatiys source" happened to
he Governor Hughes. and various advocates
Of the Agnew-Hart measures feared that
tho definition stricken out left too many
loopholes for professional bookmahers, who
might do fat little business ION a friendly
footing with regular frequenters OF the
racetracks whom they could recognize.
The racetracl people. who suffer this
year. rs always, from the fact that what
they want is even moro ardently desired
by the professional gamblers who thrive on
horse racing. are very confident they will
get what they are after They think they
have the sympathy" OF Governor Dix and
tho co-opers ton ~ the majority in the
Legislature.
short time ago a bill was introduced
repeating the so-called directors liability
law. which the racetrack interests now
want defined" This bill was said to be III
the interests OF the State Grange, and TO
be intended 10 release the directors of FAIRS
from liability for bets made oil the lar
grounds.
Grand Master Godfrey Of the state
Grange said the Grange had nothing 70 DO
with the bill and no interest In IT.