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ADDED STARTERS IN RACES. C. K. ITeney, one of the best bookmakers operating in the New York rings, in the course of an article on modern betting has tlie following comment on the "added starter" evil, which is a growing one: "There is very little to find fault with in the way racing is now conducted, except in the matter of additional starters. It seems that it would be a good policy on the part of the layers if they were all to agree to bar horses that are added to the list of starters just before the race is called. In nine times out of ten these added starters work a hardship on the race-going public. I have had several cases where casual visitors, men who were not familiar witli the operations of the betting ring, came to me and demanded payment on the second horse, which had finished behind an added starter. These bettors were unaware that a new horse was in the race, and did not know it until after they saw the horse flash home in front. "Frequently horses that are added at the last minute are entered with only one object in view to deceive the layers as much iis possible, and for manipulation purposes. Tlie failure on the part of an owner to announce his horse as a starter is not fair, either to racegoers or race tracks. Roth depend on a good program. When an owner neglects to name his horse among the original list of entries he fails to keep faith with both tlie racing association, which depends on tlie horses as drawing card, and with the patrons of the track who pay a day expecting to find a race decided as originally sent out in the entries." Hy way of comment it may be said that in stake races, except when otherwise provided in the conditions, owners in the west as well as in tlie east, have had the privilege of adding or withdrawing any of their nominations up to specified number of minutes prior to Hie race. This is because a starting fee. sometimes of considerable magnitude, is involved. In the days of the American Derby, for instance, it cost an owner 50 to start a horse in the big race. To enable him to exercise his horse. and note its condition carefully prior to making up his mind pay this big fee or not, he had up to forty-five minutes prior to the race in which he could add or declare from the race. In the cast it is thirty minutes. The position of the Jockey Club is that lietting is not in any way recognized, hence the inconvenience wrought to bettors by added starters is a matter Ignored utterly. To the Jockey Club, people who bet and their rights or wrongs occupy no place on the menial map. All the same, what bookmaker Heney says concerning added starters is well considered and correctly stated. In more than one case on the New York tracks this year a starter was added at a time savoring of sharp practice to gain a betting advantage. It is not to be expected that the Jockey Club will take any formal action in the matter but a rule requiring declarations by 12 oclock each day, except in the cases of events of great magnitude; would be salutary and effective. I ; , I I 5 I . C a d 1 i i ii r a a . f s n o i- to o e d y t e y !g e ir P t :e r- it Id
