The New York herald., 1922-02-25
RACING BODIES TO
OPPOSE TAX BILL
Say It's Enactment Would
Ruin Stakes and Breeding
Industry.

Christopher ]. Fitzgerald. represent.
ra cling associations. issued a long state
ment last night attacking the Pitcher
Belts bill at Albany. which wouid I'M
pose a tax of 8 per cent. on gross rao-
Ing receipts on all running tracks In
tlis State. The statement reads:
The Pitcher-Betts bill, which would
impose tax of 6 per cent. on gross
re cling receipts Of the running tracks
in this State, Is only a modification
of the measure which failed Of pas
sage last year when 1t was shown
by the racing authorities that 1t was
unfair in principle and application
and that it's enactment would be
ruinous to the horse breeding indus
try.
Figures were presented at Albany
at that time which showed that un-
der IL per cent. tax on gross re-
ceipts tracks operating under the
Jurisdiction of the Jockey Club
there are no other running meetings
In this State-would have been con-
Quoted at a loss. In the case of the
Westchester Racing Association
there would have been a deficit of
$4,000 In 1918. surplus of $1,000 in
the banner year 1918 and q deficit
Of $4,000 in 1920.
Are Already Overtaxed.
Racing. which is an industry first.
because OF the part 1t plays in the
development of the horses, and a
sport secondly, Is already taxed
abundantly with a local levy on
realty, a personal property tax, a
State foundation tax of 4 n per cent.
on net income, a license tax and the
Federal income tax Of 10 per cent
Further taxation would remove en-
tirely the sodrce from which stakes
and purses must be derived, and there
would be no funds forthcoming for
the upkeep of the splendid courses
contiguous to New York and at Sara
toga. where the racing tests SO essen
tial to breeding are conducted
Under the provisions of the Pitch
er-Betts billl trotting tracks are ex-
empt from taxation, nor Is there men
ton of a tax on baseball, wrestling
or any other sport. There are scores
of baseball games played daily in this
State during the season, while from
tho opening to the close of the har-
htSS IdCiuS ptIIou IlltiC SpOlI
many trotting tracks every day.
The thoroughbred which the Fed
eral Government is seeking for it's
remount service in every part of the
Union to supply acquisitions calling
for 5S7 stations to improve the breed
of general purpose horses Is selected
for a tax, though there is only one
track operating at a time, and that
under a restricted schedule of thirty
days a year instead of tho forty al
lowed by the law. Surely. no charge
of commercialism can stand against
the racing associations Of the Empire
State.
To Oppose the Bill.
There has been an apparent desire
to convey the impression that the rae
ing associations are content to pay
an additional burden to tho taxes al
ready carried. At tho offices of the
Saratoga Racing Association for tho
Improvement of the Breed of Horses.
the Queens County Jockey Club.
Westchester Racing Association. En-
pire City Racing Association and the
Metropolitan Jockey Club yesterday
there was q decided opposition to che
provisions Of tho Pitcher-Betts bill.
Stake programs for 1922 have been
announced, and there is a definite OBJ
legation to be kept with the horse
men and breeders of the country.
Any increase In their burdens. the
associations argue, would work an
irreparable injury.
The Jockey Club. owning no race
courses and whose function is the
regulation of racing and the formu-
lation of rules governing the sport.
could do nothing but deplore any
movement which would have a harm
full effect on the sport.