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STATUS OF NEW YORKS RACING TURMOIL Jockey Club Not Disturbed by Threats of Efforts to Close the Tracks New York August 4 Acting District Attorney Elders recent conference with Governor Hushes has been followed by wild reports and vaguely out linell suggestions of new things impending for the discomfiture of racing men and the Imperiling or race tracks Nothing Is very definite It is said th6 governor for one thing may remove the sheriff of Saratoga County and for another that the shenit of Kings County is in danger of similar action There does not soem to be much substance to the reports in general The only really definite thing Is Governor Hughes calling of an extraordinary term of the Supreme Court to try the pending cases of alleged violation of the bdtting laws with an upstate presidingIn Judge presiding In explaining the appointment of Justice Watson M Rogers to try the race track cases at the ex ¬ traordinary term of the Supremo Court to be held in Brooklyn Mr Elder casually remarked that Judge Dike who has been sitting throughout the session of the grand jury intends to sail for Europe August 20 and the lirst race track eases are not scheduled for trial until live days later it was deemed advisable Mr Elder said to assign au upstate judge to the cases casesTalk Talk about nailing up the gates of the tracks does not appear to alarm the Jockey Olub lawyers Several of them when asked for uu opinion as to the report that an effort would be made to close the tracks altogether said that each track was operat ¬ ing under a Jlcense issued Mv the State Racing Com mjssiori that It was stipulated In the PercyGray law that the tracks could legally conduct horse races and that the grand jury in its presentment last week admitted that there was no way to close the tracks unless by special legislation which would make crimeIf the racing Itself a crime If a move is made to close the tracks said one attorney heavy damage suits will be brought against the county of Kings Furthermore operat ¬ ing under a state license the tracks can easily get an injunction What has the new law accomplished It has absolutely killed bookmaking It has killed open betting with cash and has reduced attendance figures and gate receipts about 70 per cent The betting ring is empty There are no bookmakers any more because sheet writing and the posting of odds are Impossible Then what is going on at the tracks Credit speculation among friends who trust one another and who bet in accordance with the Bischoff decision It is true that men who were once bookmakers are there and that they bet with friends on the nod but they do not violate the law in any way That point will be shown clearly when some trialJustice of these cases get a trial Justice Blanchards refusal to grant a permanent injunction against the police department restraining the bluecoats from dispersing crowds and groups at the Sheepshead Bay track has caused some anxiety among race track patrons but a police official said yesterday The police will preserve order at the tracks when racing is resumed here We will arrest all persons who record wagers or accept cash wagers but we cannot interfere with persons who may make oral wagersvwith one another under the provisions of the Bischoff decision Our instructions prob ¬ ably will be to allow patrons of the track to do what and go where they please after they enter the enclosure provided they do not violate the law
