The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-31
SPORT Of KINGS
MAY Be REVIVED
Quietly and Unostentatiously Are
Preparations Being Made
in New York.
HACKERS SILENT ON PLANS
Racing Not Expected to Jump
Immediately Into Magnitude
ENJOYED Before 1907.

New York. March SO Quietly and
,nostentauously preparations have
been made toward rehaeilitatins the
sport OF kings in the State OF New
York
in the quiet little village of sara
,osa. once known throughout the
world rs tho Mecca OF Western racing
men, the first warm days OF spring
fo,i,ld a small army Of lnborers ready,
assembled 10 repair the weed-grown
race course
st Benniues, Gravesend, Sheepshead
Eay ana Belmont Park. which once
harboled The kings and queens Of the
equine world and the elite bf society,
700 ihoroughbreds are in active prep
a-ation for the opening OF the metro
poiitan season about juno 1. Here
also repair and restitution have been
G progress for some time
At the AQueduct and Empire city
racks black hostlers, rarheels. West
Nirginians and kentuckians, sub. are
likewise engaged in putting their
blankcted charges through their daily
PAGES. while handlers loll about the
Paddock and swap yarns ancnt past
successes and failures.
Yet back OF all these prima facie evil
donccs Of the resumption OF the sport
S sflence-silencc and a vacant stare
when definite news is sought from rae
INK 1maghat-s irsaruihS thH program
Tor the coming summer. On the other
hand. from the ranks of the antlrace
track men rises q ciamorous denial
thnt the sport Will again ruin the
YOUNG and breed bankruptcy among
TIE old"
II is the old story of tho hawk and
the squawking parrot. You pays
Nour penny and takes Your choice
between the noisy denials OF the clergy
ana the quiet effectiveness OF the own
crs whose good money is not TO be
jeonardized ny an untlmclY word, but
whose millions are responsible Tor the
unnlstakablc evidences of racing ac-
tivitics to be seen to day.
leaders In Movement.
August Belmont, VINO is regarded as
the head o. horse racing in this coun-
try Phi! Dwyer. owner OF Gravescnd
and Ac,luadu James Butler. who
controls the Empire City Course, and
william A. Engcman, who holds a
heavy interest IN The Brighton Beach
circuit. are men snId 10 be the lead
ors, active IN the movement to rchnbili-
late the sport in New YORK Their
provocaton lies in the decision OF tho
Appellate Division Of the State Su-
premo Court that oral bettinE is legal
Before this momcntous decision was
made In the case OF the state w. Pau
shane, the old Hart Asncw, anG-race
tack laws, which passed the State
c-islatuTc and Was siguea by tn'
Governor in 1905. made IT possible t'
direct prosecution against the owners
OF The race tracks for any infringement
Of the anti-be;ting law II was thi
phase Of the legislation which opcr
ated against the continuance OF tn,
snor-. Under me Paul shane ruling
form OF betting Will be possible with
out attendant prosecution.
As Yet the utmost secrecy surround
tuc plans Of the racing magnates
rncy have made public definite avowa
e. their Intention to resume the spor,
prcferrinc TO await legislative develop
mcnIs and proceed with caution Ill
public sentiment has been sounded
Following this course ii is improb
rle that racing viii at once reacl
the magn!tude enjoyed by /, during IN
fullsome years preceding 1907 whe>
over a million ano half dollars an
uually accrued TO the various Stat
racins associations In fees. and owe
Hvc millions changed hands in the bet
1.ns ring Rather a steady growth I
looked for
The monetary loss to the Stat
through a four year lapse OF interes
III equine gambbls. "has never been os
tnated and can never be, accuratel!
lu Saratoga alone II Is said that mil
Tons nave been dissipatod by tn
hart aenew anti-rscing laws
The famous little Watering plaC
rcsped harvest from the annu;
meets held within IS cnvuops va.
>otels woro reared at enormous G,
pense along ITS elm shaded avenue
taa municipality expended vast sun
Improving lis natural beauties. an
tue inhabitants erected great shops
dare for Jhc trade that once yea
locked to It's streets.
WITH the stoppagc or racing rcah
values fen TO = panic figure. shoI
Keepers We're bankrupt the hotels e.
INTO decline and tho busy town hccan
sleepy little village
lll the Vicinity Of other great tract
similar devastation was wrought on
smaller scale, while tina farmers. wi
hnd heou the recipients or over 500
"f' aarra!ly from the tax on racin
10 say nothing Of thn blooded stock p
~ their disposal by tine breeders. foui
lneluselv>as pressed for funds vi
which 10 carry on their state fairs a
robbed OF their sales 70 tho owne
and handlers Of horses