Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-01
REVIVAL Of RACING
BY END Of APRIL
New York Assembly to Amend
Liability Clause, Which
Killed Sport.

NEW YORK, February If the repub-
lican members of the assembly will vote
according to the way some of them have
intimated in conversation, the friends of
racing declare that there is an excellent
chance of the sport being revived on
the tracks around New York before the
end of April. A bill has already been r-e-
pared which proposes to amend the pres
ent law by lifting the so-called Owners
liability clause If that is done racing
can be resumed. This will be introduced
in the assembly and the senate stimuli
taneously, but the main fight will be
made in the lower house.
Friends of the proposed measure say
they have canvassed the members of
the legislature and have found that
there is no question about 1t passin g
the senate. 1t will also get the votes
of most of the democrats in the as
sembly. If the republicans will come
to the aid of racing, as some of them
have intimated they would. the amend
ment can go safely through the house.
state senator who was in New York
yesterday believes that Gov. Dix will
sign it.
No attempt will be made to establish a
loophole through which the bookmakers
can ply their trade. In fact, the Law
against bookmaking will be stronger than
ever, as an attempt fill be made to define
matchmaking without writing The
courts have already decided that it is
legal for two men to make a personal
wager on a race and keep a memorandum
of the details, and the friends of racing
believe that the privilege will be suffi-
cient to give the races enough sporting
flavor to make them a success financially
Such men as Senator Stillwell, chair
man of the codes committee; Senators
sullivan, McManus and Frawley. from
New York, and Senators Gittins and
t1ero. from up the state, are sincere In
their belief that the Owners liability
clause, which makes. the owners legally
/ responsible for violations,of the law over
which they have no control, is unfair and
too severe. They believe that ought to
be repealed, whether racing is resumed
or not. 1t is said that a number of legis-
lators, even those opposed to racing. are
inclined to agree with that sentiment
This disposition on the part OF the So
called OPPOSITION. has given rise to the
fresh hope that the bill will, be amended.
If the liability clause is taken out OF
the law. the race track owners will re-
vive. the sport. regardless Of. the anti
betting clauses which will remain in the
law. They say they can get along with
out the bOokmakers. In fact, they are
quite willing For the law to be- made SO
strong that 1t VIII be impossible for
the bookies to ply. their trade.
Betting on the races is custom as old
as the sport itself, and if the patrons
are permitted to make individual wagers
it Is believed this will attract enough OF
them to make the sport pay. Hundreds
of sport lovers go to- the tracks and
never make a bet. but there are some
who do not feel as IL they were having
enjoyment unless they can back their
favorite horse.
Now that the racing people themselves
are willing to conduct the sport for
sports sake, the legislators friendly to
the horses are of the opinion that the
law can be 50 amended as to open the
gates of the local tracks 1t will never
be like it was in the old days. The men
who are advocating these necessa ry
changes in the law going about their
work quietly. They declare that no fund
will be raised to conduct their campaign.
and that the question will ;be submitted
on the, ground of fairness alone.
The, op.nion has been freely expressed
that t..e track owners cannot conduct the
business successfully unless bookmaking
is permitted, but long they are will
ing, it is believed. among the democratic
legislators, that they should be given the
chance.
The hope OF renewal of racing has
spread to all parts Of New York. and sew
eral conferences have been held during
the past few days between the interests
friendly to the sport.