Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1945-01-05

erS from the most vital OF all
war industrial plants were
wagering as high as 100000
a day from their swollen war
incomes at one track normal
would be 100000 to S600,00O),
absenting themselves from their
work at the machines 10 enjoy
the privilege
COMETHING had to be done.
~ ByrneS called the California
track people in, demanded that
they take some steps. When
no one seemed to have any idea
of how To handle the situation,
Byrnes threatened TO close down
the offending area.
The track people threatened
10 fight. taking the position that
if they were closed down, all
tracks would have to be closed.
That prospect did not shock Mr..
ByrneS much.
Since last October, before the
election. an unsatisfactory con-
dition in racing had been get
ting worse. Trainers and horse
men were asking for more and
more gas and tires to get
around. The betting public was
using gas and rubber in increaS-
ing quantities TO and from
tracks.
Then a new track was opened
in Florida, the GulfStream, and
some new building equipment
had to be obtained there. The
OPA bounced down on gas
users. practically running at
tendance, but the track kept
open for duration OF the meet.
TIIE better or best influences
Il in racing were getting
little sick of conditions them
selves Circumstances were so
plainly running further and fur
Their beyond control that a
quiet death for the whole bust
ness seemed about the only way
out, and insiders had been eX-
peCting ii since the close of the
Maryland meeting.
While the governments eX-
cuse for acting was lame, no one
seemed TO care much. Around
here, for instance, government
authorities are saying manpower
conditions demanded action but
in Florida there are practically
no war industries.
The state there tand hence
the people,, as elsewhere, will
be the greatest loser From the
betting, the treasury of Florida
expected 10 take its usual 81
600, 900 in the few months of
this winter season. The federal
government, too, will lose its
heavy taxes on the income of
the racing corporations which
operate the tracks.
II is my firm belief no one
makes any money out of racing,
except governments. They run
a kitty while fools win and lose
their money by betting. Even
consistent winners never really
are winners unless they quit,
because their winnings are al
ways at stake in the next days
ventures.
A GAMBLER can never be
"A said to really own anything
until after he quits. because his
possessions, while gambling,
only represent stakes, which he
should one day lose under the
law of averages.
The only way gambling ever
made sense TO me is If II pays
off in fun commensurate with
amounts lost that is, if played
for fun and not with the gam
bler's purpose.
But common sense in wager
ing did not enter into this de-
cision. The government had
been wanting 10 close down the
tracks SINCE before the last cleo
tionS when il dare not be done)
and Mr.. Byrnes took the threats
Of the California tracks at face
value during the Christmas rush
of Dec. % when the action
would be least noticed
Whether the government did
the right thing Is open TO queS-
ton This government seems 10
know no remedy for any diff
Guilty except 10 move in grand
sweeps.
Never does it appear TO pos
ScSS the ingenuity to deal with
what is wrong. and cure il and
only II, with justice. To put out
a fire. IL never uses a hose but
starts a backfire.
THUS all horse racing is done
Il for at least a year II am
well informed) and perhaps for
the duration of the war Every
thing connected with il has be-
come a 1915 total loss land
therefore deduCtible from taxes
instead of paying taxes into the
war effort and $4,000 horses
Will feed for a year without
earning anything for any one.
The people IN the business
viii be of no war value as the
Jockeys are too small and the
trainers too old. A large infla-
ton sponge has been lost. And
IL all Is happening because
people made fools of themselves
and their swollen war pocket
books.