The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-01-30
OPPOSE MACHINES
FOR RACE BETTING
Villa Tells What New Workers.
Want and Explains Sims
Gambling Bin.
BY JOE villa.

NEW YORK, Ian. 3o-Men vhn
play the horses at the local tracks
or with city layers strongly favor the
individual betting system, which has
been In vogue since the passage Of
the Agnsw-Hart measures at Albany.
When the State racing commission
last week recommended the adoption
Of the parl-mutuel system In its an
nual report to the legislature, I pro
ceeded to interview turf followers OF
high and low degree for the purpose
Of obtaining q line on public opinion
discovered that there was much
opposition to the muteuls. Some per-
sons favored the machines, but they
were few and far between.
The prevailing opinion seemed to
be that the racing commission might
have asked the legislature to inter
pref the present anti-bookmaking
laws, which have been pronounced am
biguous by eminent legal experts.
Never Been Defined.
The term shook making with or
without writing never has been de-
fined either by the legislature or the
courts, hence much confusion and mis-
understanding on the part Of the au-
thorities whose duty It is to enforce
the law At the New York tracks.
Advocates of the individual betting
with whom / have talked declare that
racing would regain much Of the old
popularity IL the legislature would
define q bookmaker as Q person who
openly lays odds, accepts wagers from
all Corners, and stands In q fixed
place where he or his clerks record
transactions.
The courts decided some time ago
that 1t was legal to make an oral
bet, and to settle 1t In cash after the
running OF race. Spectators always
have wondered why IL IL not legal
to make q cash bet, but no legal opin-
ion has been forthcoming. With in
dividual betting greatly restricted
last season. the attendance, figures
at the New York tracks showed an
increase. thereby indicating renewed
public interest.
Sims Bill May Pass.
A bill introduced by CONGRESSMAN
Sims of Tennessee in 1915 may be
passed by the House of Representa-
tive at an early date. The bill has
been advanced to a third reading and
so far has met with little opposition.
1t Is entitled "A bill to prevent the
OF State anti-rarnbifnw
laws by international or interstate
transmission of race gambling bets
or racing odds"
As generally understood this meas
ure Is aimed specifically at a growing
evil known a. the come back money
practice, which thrives chiefly on the
partmutuel system in vogue In Mary
land, Kentucky, and Canada
VIII Conane Betting.
According to expert legal opinion
In Washington, the Sims measure is
intended to connne betting On horse
races to the tracks where the various
events are decided and will forbid the
telegraphing OF large sums OF money
to the handbooks in leading cities T.,
be wagered on certain horses.
The manipulation Of come back
money" is supposed to be arranged BY
sure-thing players At the parI-
mutuei tracks 1t is comparatively easy
to operate on these lines, inasmuch AZ
the machines do not provide concrete
proof of sharp practice.
II several Spectators want to &C
complish their purpose, they wager
little money in the IRA
chimes In order to avoid q reduction
In the price. They wire heavy com.
missions to the city poolrooms and
all over the country for
the purpose Of cleaning I'D without
suspicion.
Send Back Surplus.
II the poolrooms and handbooks can
not handle all the money wired to them
in this way they promptly telegraph
the surplus right back to the race course
to be vagered In the pari-mutueI ma
chimes In many instances this prac-
tice has resulted in the in-and-out run
ming Of horses which have been handled
under orders from the sure-thinE oper-
ators.
The public meanwhile is kept In the
dark, the bulk OF the money wsEered on
fsyorites and second choices being rob
bled up By the Insiders when one Of the
coups is successful
The Sims BILL also is calculated to .
cripple betting In poolrooms and
II it becomes a law, the
odds quoted at the tracts. together with
the pari-mutuel prices cannot be wired
away to the city operators. who must
settle their transactions the next day In
accordance with the quotations publish
ed in the newspapers. But the chief
object of the pending legislation Is the
come back" game. which from all ac-
counts, has prospered as a result of
sharp practice.
Didn't Exist Then.
Sporting men who have stood exist
ing conditions say that the come back"
evil did not exist when betting at the
tracks was confined to bookmakers.
Then It was possible to wager money
on supposed good things with the lay
ers on the ground.
IL also was a difficult task to arranxe
a fixed race because the bookmakers'
records always were at the disposal of
the racing officials.
II a beaten favorite received q Door
ride and certain bookmakers laid
against" the horse an official investiga-
ton followed. sometimes with dire re-
suits. But the pari-mutuel system at
fords no line on the doings OF the smart
set.