The Washington times., 1931-03-16
GUARANTEES
H|GH-CLASS
OPERATION
By TOM THORP

JAChSONNALLE, + ld', NAaECAA
left the lawmakers will give
racing the proper sort Of legis-
IatiOn next month, Florida will
be able to boast of the finest
racing plants in the United
States"
Thus declared Joseph E. Wide
ner, chairman of the board OF
directors of the Miami Racing
Association, at a testimonial din
ner rendered by the hotel men Of
Northern Florida.
"YOu have the climate and
natural surroundings to be-.
come the playground Of the
entire world. No place on this
universe is better adapted for
recreatiOnal purposes. You have
the finest bathing, fishing,
yachting, gOlfing and auto
roads of the entire country.
"AIl this attracts people from
all over the country, especially
during the winter months. The
latter come to Florida to be
amused. You must offer them
clean, wholesome recreation II
you intend to keep their in
tereSt.
Highest Standards
Racing, properly conducted,
is the finest, cIeanest and most
enjoyable of all sports. l say
this with full knowledge that in
some sections racing is not con-
Quoted as it should be. However,
under the jurisdiction of the
Jockey Club, it cannot possibly
fail to measure up to the high
est standard of SpOrtSmanship.
feel sure we have demcnStra-
ted to the people Of Florida
during the past and present
season at Hialeah that racing
can be conducted on such a
plane.
"TO my way of thinking, the
final day at Hialeah was the
finest witnessed on any amer
ican course in many years. We
had representatives from all
walks of life present.
"AlI expressed themselves
gratified with the days enjoy
ment. I feel sure after such a
colorful and successful admins
tration racing has established
itself firmly enough to ask the
support of the lawmakers.
"If the proper legislation Is
had next month, / pledge my
self to put at least 700 idle men
to work in renOvating the Hia-
leah course, also spend upward
of S5OO,OOO. The people of
Florida know what the Jockey
Club stands for.
Pledges Clean Sport
81 pledge you that if your
representatives pass a law legal
izing the pari-mutuel system Of
wagering they will never have
to regret the moment such legiS-
IatiOn was enacted.
Belmont Park is the &C
,knOwIedged garden spot of the
entire racing world. 1t repre-
Sents an investment of $1O,-
100000. Not a single stock
holder has ever received a cent
in dividends.
every cent earned at the
Long Island course has been
placed back in the plant for
it's improvement. 1t is a worthy
monument to racing in the
United States. You can have
the same sort erected here.
"The bill which will be pre-
Sented is not aimed at Grip
pling any other branch of
sports. It is a bill which will
give the legislators the right to
IegaIiZe pari-mutuel wagering
on all branches of sport in
Florida. E
"YOu need not become timid
about fly-by-night track promo
terS fIOcking to your State. If
this bill should become law.
1t is drawn in such q manner
that only those who are now
interested in sports are to have
any standing in the future. At
least, for a certain period of
time, the action of others are
to be limited. Also, the revenue
to the State would help to re-
1uno tho yNroSonf fov burdens -