The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-03-28
PREPARING TRACKS
FOR RACE SEASON
Rehabilitating the Sport OF
Kings in the State OF
New York.

NEW YORK. March 27.-Quietly
and unostentatiously preparations
have been made toward rehabilitating
the Sport Of Kings in the state OF
New York.
In the quiet little village OF Sarato-
pa once known throughout the world
as the mecca of western racing men,
the first warm days of Spring found
small army of laborers ready assem-
bled to repair the weed grown race
course.
At Bennings, Gravesend, Sleeps
head Bay and Belmont Park, wnlcn
once harbored the kings and queens
of the equine world and the elite OF
society, 100 thoroughbreds are In &C
tive preparation for the opening or the
metropolitan season about June l.
Here also repair and restitution has
been in progress for some hme.
At the Acqueduct and Empire City
tracks black hostlers, Tar Heelers,
West Virginians and Kentuckians, SUM-
are likewise engaged in putting their
blanketted charges through their daily
PAGES, while handlers loll about the
paddock and swop yarns anent past
successes and failures.
Yet back of all these prima facie
evidences of the resumption or the
snort is silence-silence and vacant
stare when definite news is sought
from racing magnates regarding the
program for the coming summer. On
the other hand, from among the ranks
of the anti-race track men rises clam
orous denial that the sport will again
ruin the young and breed bankruptcy
among the old"
1t is the old story of the hawk and
the squeaking parrot. "You pass your
penny and take your choice"-between
the noisy denials of the clergy and the
quiet effectiveness of the owners
whose good money is not to be jeopar-
died by an untimely word, but whose
millions are responsible for the un-
mistakable evidences of racing activi-
ties to be seen today.
August Belmont, who is regarded as
the u6du VI uOIoo ldSlAS III Shlc Souh
try; Phil Dwyer, owner of Gravesend
and Acqueduct; James Butler, who
controls the Empire City Course, and
William A. Engeman, who holds a
heavy interest in the Brighton Beach
circuit are the men said to be the
leaders, active in the movement to re
habilitate the sport in New York
yy,l.~ linC in 1oNicinr
of the Appellate Division of the State
Supreme Court that oral betting is lie
gal. .......
Before this momentous decision wa!
made in the case of the state VS.. Pau
Shane, the old Hart Agnew, Anti-race
track laws which passed the STATE
legislature and was signed by the
Governor in 1908, made it possible t.
direct prosecution against the owner
of the racetracks for any infringement
of the anti-betting law. 1t was thi
phase. of the legislation which operat
ed against the continuance of th'
sport. Under the Paul Shane ruling ;
form of betting will be possible with
out attendant prosecution.
aS yCJ thS utiAooI oSCiOSS sui iouhu
the plans of the racing magnates
They have made public no defnit
avowal of their intention to resum
the sport, preferring to await legisls
tive developments and proceed wit
caution till public sentiment has bee
sounded.
Following this course it is improt
able that racing will at once reach tn
magnitude enjoyed by It during tn
fullsome years proceeding 1907, whe
over million and half dollars al
nually accrued to the various stat
racing associations in fees, and owe
five millions changed hands in the be-
ting ring. Rather a steady growth
looked for.
Tie monetary loss to, the stat
through a four year lapse of interes
in equine gambols has never been est
mated, and can never be, accuratel.
In Saratoga alone it is said that mi
lions have been dissipated by tn
Hart-Agnew anti-racing laws.
The famous little watering plac
reaped a harvest from the anims
meets held within it's environs. Va:
hotels were reared at enormous e.
pense along its elm shaded avenue
the municipality expended vast sum
in improving its natural beauties an
the Inhabitants erected great shops I
care for the trade that once a yea
fiocked to it's streets.
With the stoppage of racing, realt
values fell to panic figure, shopkee
ers We're bankrupt, the hotels fell in,
decline and the busy town became
sleepy little village.
In the vicinity of other great tract
similar devastation was wrought {
smaller scale, while the farmer
who had been the recipients of ov,
100000 annually from the tax on ra
ing, to say nothing of the bloodt
stock put at their disposal by tt
breeders, found themselves pressed Fl
funds with which 10 carry on the
state fairs and robbed of their sal
to the owners and handlers of horse
Fishing do Luxe.
Captain George Walker. an amate
yachtsman OF Savannah, says he us
to have darby hand on his Georg
nj 70 ton xrha lovod ooSo onH 6Shin