New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-25
Sportsmen Eagerly Await Call
of the BugIe at Belmont
Park Track.
PLENTY OF HORSES READY
Golden Days May Not Return
Ali in a Minute, but Sport
May Soon Come Back
to It's Own.


blood stirring strife which comes with
head-and-h head finishes. will be enjoyed at
Belmont Park. on Friday, for the first
time over one Of the big metropolitan
tracks since the gates were closed i'm the
fall Of 1910 because of adverse legisla-
ton
Many days have passed since August %
1910 when Novelty raced to victory in the
last Futurity, transplanted from Sleeps
head Bay TO Saratoga Springs. That was
the last big fixture run before gloom set
tied over the running turf and grass
began 10 grow on the tracks over which
so many horses had raced 10 victory.
The time has been bridged by a num-
Der Of amateur race meetings in this dis
trict. which. by the way have done much
TO keep alive interest and 10 make new
converts TO the sport. but on the whole
racing has been under cloud, and those
who did not have the time or money for
a visit 10 Maryland, Kentucky or one Of
the Canadian tracks have been forced TO
forego their favorite sport.
Needless TO say. many good sportsmen
are awaiting with lively anticipation the
call of the bugle which will bring the
horses 10 the post for the first race, more
particularly for the historic Metropolitan
Handicap of one mile. which will be run
as the feature Of the opening day card
u is too much to expect that the OLD
glories OF racing will return all in
minute. but racing there will be, and that
in itself is enough TO satisfy for the
moment.
Judging by the applications for stable
room, horses will not be lacking for the
first meeting Many Of the stars of other
: DAYS have been shipped abroad, but
some which have earned fame on the
turf will be seen in action. while plenty
Of royalty bred two-year-olds can he
counted on to make new and lasting his
tory There will be no lack of good jock
eys. either. to all appearances. although
some Of them will be comparatively new
TO those who have not followed racing
closely during the last few years Most
Of the boys who have been riding at PIN
leo and the other Maryland tracks VIII
be on hand so that little fault can be
found in this respect
The track at Belmont Park, given over
so long TO the sky pilots and their Tying
machines. has been carefully FURNISHED
and made ready for what promises TO be
a goodly crowd on the opening day. The
steeplechase course has been rebuilt and
the rails Of the main track restored. while
the huge grandstand and attractive club
house have been secured and scrubbed
until one would think that they had not
been in disuse so long. All that remains
now is TO see what effect the long closed
1.slff int
cations. however. point TO a crowd Of at
least ten thousand persons turning out on
Memorial Day 10 welcome the return OF
the thoroughbreds.
This revival Of racing was made pos
sible by a decision of Justice Scudder'
later affirmed by the Appellate Division
on the question of what has come TO be
called oral betting and the criminal Ia
bfity Of the owners and directors OF
racing association for any betting on
their premises. The law itself is the same
which brought about the closing Of the
tracks because those most interested did
not care 10 suffer the ignominy Of indict-
ment on the charge Of aiding or abetting
gambling.
August Belmont and his associates in
the Jockey Club were not willing 10
manufacture a test case. believing that
the law was general enough TO bring
about plenty OF indictments apart from
one Of the regular racetracks, but in
this they were disappointed, and 1t was
not until Paul Shane was arrested at one
Of the amateur meetings that case came
before the court which led TO an interpre-
tation of the law.
q Believing that the decision OF Justice
.Scudder would stand the test Of the
ihighest court In the state. where the case
shas now gone on appeal, the owners OF
the various racing associations decided TO
pool their interests and to conduct three
meetings. one at Belmont Park, from
May 30 20 July s. inclusive; one at the
Jamaica track Of the Metropolitan Jockey
Club, from July To July 81, and one at
Saratoga Springs in the month OF August.
No plans have been made beyond Sep
TENDER I, and the question Of fall meet
ings will not be decided until the answer
comes in the success or failure OF the
meetings now at hand.
II those who love racing will lend their
help and cooperation TO the men who are
working so hard TO re-establish the sport
a firm ana substantial louIludllOi tHc
time is not far distant when racing will
hold the forward place II occupied five
and six years ago. 1t will be different. or
pourse, as public bookmaking is against
the law. and will not be tolerated. August
Belmont has assured the sheriffs and dis
trict attorneys that the associations Will
cooperate with them in seeing that the
law is carried out TO the letter. This
means betting will be restricted, although
under Justice Scudders decision oral bet
ting among friends does not come under
the ban.
No pains have been spared to provide
racing Of the best. even under the many
handicaps which have confronted those
interested in its restoration. The associ-
atoms. facing what seems to be sure
loss. called on friends of the sport TO help.
and Il came in a lavish way. The owners
fund quickly grew 10 a total OF 100000
and this money will be used 10 Increase
the values Of the various stakes, which
will be renewed, 60 as to attract the best
horses in the country. II will be possible
under the conditions for the various own
ers TO race their horses here with rea-
sonable chance for profit, and this means
we'll balanced fields OF good size.
The programme book of the Westches-
ter Racing Association, the controlling