The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-12
Srsofus DsspsfcA TO The SUE.


LHx1NoroN, Jan. 1.-THE racing stu
alton in kentucky. that has made It i'm
perativs to bring about radical changes
In methods ana management and has
inspired the motive OF . few men to take
II from those in whose charge IL has
been for several years. u on the face Of
1t serene enough. but underlying the APP
parent prosperity there Is and has been
FOR some time an unhealthy atmosphere.
growth Of evil that has threatened to
destroy a sport that is a part OF Ken
lucky LIE form of pastime that ap-
peals to thousands Of the hest citlxens Of
this Stats.
At the time tbs bill authorizing the
Governor TO appoint State racing COM
mission was introduced racing the thor
oughbred had fallen from it's once high
estate and become a game Of chance, IN
which the players had. in the parlance OF
the green cloth, much the worst OF It.
The tracks were controlled by mon
whose only motive was an Interior one.
who cared little for the public and less
for the sport except insofar as their
profits were easily made ana large
enough to satisfy their greed for gain.
The bookmaker was supreme. dictated
the conditions, forced track managers to
do his bidding. and 40 completely domi-
mated the impecunioue owners that II
was not unusual for the fields to be made
up of entries in which no one horse was
running free from tho manipulation OF
the layers Of odds.
A sport 1t was In name Only. a
merry -go-round with all the evil In
fuences dominating from the beginning
10 the end OF each season. Horses were
owned In many instances by men vino
were under the bar but who managed to
evade the racing laws by running in the
names Of others who were not branded
as outlaws. The attendance had fallen
to a few hundred. except on days when
some important event attracted the real
admirers OF the thoroughbred who wero
eager to witness a spirited contest be-
tween horses OF genuine ability and
where the stake was OF such value thrt
the incentive to win was paramount 10
a desire to proat BY sharp practice.
Track Bookmaking stopped.
The bill providing for IL racing COM
mission also called for tie abolition OF
bt,ok1n aking on racetrack enclosures
and permitting the use OF pG!-mutuel
machines and allowing the tracks TO
charge a 5 per cent commission. Al
associations in Kentucky Were placed
under the control Of the commission rs
far as dates discipline and compliance
with he regulations of racing We're con-
cerned. After the bill became n law Gov.
Beckhayn appointed as commissioners
Jack Cniun, who had introduced the
measure and was well known as turf
man; Charles T. Granger. Milton Young,
one OF the most progressive breeders IN
America col T.. f.. Clay. owner OF
Runrymede Farm, the breeder of Han
over and one Of the most highly re-
spected men in the state, ard Louis des
Cogne.. a proT.ncn; business man.
Tie AFFAIRS OF the turf in KENTUCKY ~
once took on new a-Spe I. thr Tubi'r
cu'ckly lea med the vast Improvement of
the .-nrutuslS cvnr tAc form pr - stem
under which the bookmakt-s ru.'d with
an iron hand. and racine Waa tor the
Hrst time in many years q sport and not
game.
After The term Of Gov. Be,Ghan was
az al end the newly elected Governor.
Augustus +. Wilson, appoir'ed George
j. Long to tine place o! Jack Nhlnn,
sportsman OF international reputation
and Major FoXhall \. Da.nSerHeId In
stead OF Charles r. Grainger.
That the pe.sorne' of that commission
was OF the highest character - seen ~
, the statement published IN the LONDON
Sporfspian 20 the effect that the Ken
I tfchy state Racing Commission was the
finest leg lslative turf body in tho world
and this In view %: the fact tGst the
JOCKEY Cab II E"F.ano ~ composed o.
several " The most distinguished sports
men in Great Br!taiG.