Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-08

20 round and round.
The annual report Of the New
York State Racing Commission just
reached me through the courtesy OF
it's chairman. Mr.. Herbert Bayard
Swope, and it is statement that
would make the directors OF the
Chase National Bank roll their eyes
in envy.
In New York alone, those daunt-
less stormers of the pari-mutuel
bastions wagered 75,158,374 buck
eroos and all over the country
1894, 900, 900 was bet The New YORK
tracks kicked back more than slo,-
600 600 in taxes to the State. In a
wear of global war, racing broke all
records - attendance, purses and
amount of money wagered.
Think of how the money would
roll in if Uncle Sam could only build
himself dozen or more tracks all
over the country. And think OF
| how these Government-owned tracks
would please every one. Those
citizens who frown on horse race
betting would take much satlsfac-
ton from the knowledge that the
suckers were not only losing their
money at the tracks, but also losing
it for worthy cause.-the raising OF
money TO combat the Axis.
Horse Sense, Too.
The suckers. themselves. would
| love it. When their horses lost they
would be comforted by knowing that
their money would soon be paying
for bombs, Flying Fortresses, tanks
and carriers. For once, they would
| be able to lose a photo-finish with
a grin, or laugh as the jockey on
their horse decided to catch up with
sleep during the run down the back
stretch.
1t seems to me that it's about time
the civilian horses did something
for their country. Certainly they
can't use ignorance of the national
crisis as an excuse. They certainly
must have horse sense enough by
now to be cognizant Of what is 60
ing on. For years owners Of tracks
have maintained that they operate
tracks for but one thing-the i'm
provement of the breed of the horse.
Well, the horses must be sufficiently
improved by now to have almost as
much gumption as the humans who
run them.
The Government wouldn't have
any trouble finding enough horses
to run at its tracks. 1t wouldn't get
great many Whirlaways, Alsabs.
Count Fleets and the like, but the
people wouldn't care about that.
am convinced that the average race
track customer doesn't care what
kind of horse he wagers on, just
so it has the standard name and
tail equipment and has strength
enough to hold a jockey on its back.
NO Emo 10 Side Lines.
have often wondered, as I
watched the field come out for the
Kentucky Derby, how many of the
people in the stands at Louisville
would know the difference If IS or
is claiming platers were substituted
for the regally bred 3-year- Odds. My
guess Is that fewer than thousand
of the patrons would know that
something was wrong
There are no end to the side lines
from which money can be made out
Of racing.
The Government could have an
official racing paper, with past per-
formances of the patriotic steeds. If
you don't think this sheet would
outsell the Congressional Record by
100 copies to l, then you don't know
the American public.
There could be a national handi-
capper, national scratch sheet,
and perhaps members of Congress
could sell their inside dope, with
the proceeds going to the war ef-
fort.
Could you refuse to buy Madame
Perkins Picks" or Happy Chand-
ler's Choices for Today-Our Man
Is Straight From the Bluegrass"
"Ickes' Inside Dope" or Donald
Nelson's Feedbox Specials"
Boots and saddles!
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