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THE KENTUCKY RACING COMMISSION. Important Measures Pending for Consideration at Its Approaching Meeting. Lexington, Ky., Xovcmber 15. The next meeting of the Kentucky State Racing Commission will be held here November 25, when the chief matter for consideration will be the first report of the commissioners to the Kentucky legislature, which is to convene in December. This report is now in preparation by Secretary Rouse at his home in Burlington. The last meeting of the commission was held on Tuesday, October 15, and at that time Colonel Milton Young presented two Important measures which will come up for adoption or rejection. One reads: "That associations licensed by this commission shall not recognize gambling" during the race meetings granted by this commission," and the other reads: "All persons who desire to race, train or ride upon the tracks licensed by this commission shall first procure a license to race, train or ride." That there will be opposition to both of these measures is certain, but ,It is not easv to predict whether or not they will bo adopted. It mav be said, however, that they will be passed if one other member of the commission votes with Colonel Young and Colonel E. F. Clay. As vet the track-owners have said little about the proposition to cut orr their revenue from bookmakers, but that little has been sulticient to indicate that they have no fancy for the proposed rule. They may not come out broadly against it, but they will not sit still and see it go through. The proposition to license everybodv is not fully understood. It -is not indicated in the resolution whether or not the Racing Commission means to charge for the licenses it will issue to those who race, train or ride, but it seems to be the understanding among horsemen here that it does, and in consequence there is a kick. "With license to pay in the east, in the south and in California, we are already overburdened with taxation," say the horsemen. "What need has the State Racing Commission for a fund? The law creating the commission provides for the payment to its secretary a sum not exceeding ,200 per annum by the racing associations of the state, the amount to be paid by each association to be hxed by the commissioners. The only other thing ,r,w "3C" tlie commission could possibly be in need or funds would be for the rent and maintenance of its general office not over 500 per vear. The law does not say how this shall be paid, but it is presumed that it comes with the secretarys salarv." iihiI She la.w ,loes not say tI,at the commission shall not create a fund, it does not sav that it shall do so, unless it can be construed to "have that right under the following expression, which is the lirst part of section three: "Said commission shall have the power to prescribe the rules, regulations and conditions under which running races shall be conducted in this state." It has been suggested by a conservative, thinking turfman that if the commission will amend the resolution to read-All persons who desire to race, train or ride upon the tracks licensed by this commission, shall lirst secure the. approval of this commission." Colonel Young said at the time the measure was offered that it was his object to wipe out rule 40 of the Racing Commission rules and secure a firmer control of the people who race, train or ride in this state. Rule 40 now reads: "Any owner trainer or jockey having a license from anv reputable turf authority shall be allowed to race train or ride on any track licensed bv the State Racing Commission without securiug further- license." Unless it in part be the desire of the commission to create a fund from licenses, it would seem that the "approval" of a license from the Jockev Uub, the American Turf Association, the Western Jockey Club or the Pacific Jockey Club would suf-lice. For. without the commissions approval, the license would not be in force and undesirable persons could be just as effectively barred from the privileges of the course, as if the desirable ones had paid a fee for another license. As to the report of the "commission, it Is understood that it will be an ample document and there is little fear here that the legislature will be inclined to undo the work of the general assembly o 1000, which created the commission.
