New-York tribune., 1920-05-30
Moguls Cooperate tor
First Time;Five Months
forThoroughbred Here
INDIVIDUAL BATTING
Bv w. 7. Macbeth

Now that the various racing assocla-
tions of the East have decided to CO.
operate in future both with horsemen
and the public, there is little doubt the
current season Will prove the mos'
popular and profitable for all con-
cerned in turf history.
The increase in purse money has al
ready shown vast Improvement in the
quantity of the fields. and the quality
also is bound to improve in due time.
There are plenty of good horses IN
training around New York to provide
excellent sport, now that there wilt be
an incentive to send them to the races
1t is not likely that stables which have
shipped to Kentucky and Canadian
tracks will return to the East before
the big annual pow-wow at Saratoga
through the month of August. But
after that time it is a certainty the
metropolitan tracks will command the
lions share Of the best horses in train
ing.
This is but natural. Offering purses
equivalent to those that are "iven AT
the tracks which use the pari mutuel
machines, the metropolitan circuit can
easily outbid either the Kentucky or
Canadian circuits. Especially in Cam
ada, where the meetings are short and
more or less long ship shifts frequent,
transportation expenses cut trench
dous figure.
Five Months Of Racing
New York will now be able to guar.
antee more than five months contlnu-
Gus racing between the spring and fall
campaigns in Maryland, where, with the
exception of Saratoga, there will be no
railway shipping whatever. Indeed,
with the exceptions of Saratoga and
Empire City, horses may now be CAM
paigned at all the metropolitan tracks
while remaining at their winter stables.
a fact which eliminates transportation
entirely and simplihes the stabling
problem.
If the assertions of the various rae
ing promoters are TO be credited (and
the solons seem to have awakened at
last to the great opportunities that lie
before them), an era Of reform is
about to set in. A step has been taken
in the right direction to curb the big
bettors whose clubhouse operations
more than once in recent years directed
the breath of scandal against the game.
Those in control of the various rae
ing associations have at last awakened
to the interests of the small owners
rather than to the rich stables, as for
merly. Already one meeting has been
held where views were exchanged open
w. And those who own or train
horses have been asked to submit sug
Eestions for the Improvement OF con-
ditions generally. The associations seem
to feel they should do something for
the intermediary classes OF thorough
breds, which have not had look-in
for some years, but which are the only
bread winners Of many OF the obscure
followers Of the turf.
1t is also planned by the associations
to promote. if possible, the develop
ment of endurance and stamina in the
thoroughbred which in America of
late has been developed too highly
along sprinting lines only. AS an OBJ
ject to this end rich cups and stakes
are to be provided for distance events
at the various fall meetings.
There. is great room for improve
ment for many racing conditions
disposition to be fair in the matter
They are going about it in the right
way' by giving the poor horsemen a
sincere desire for cooperation mutual
understandings for the best general
good will be arrived at in short order.
1t is sincerely to be hoped that pub
lie opinion will have some weight with
President August Belmont of the West
chester Racing Association in eljn;nat-
ing the chief source ii object ~ al-
mont Park meetinss TINS -. 90, -