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THAT WEST INDIAN RACING SCHEME How it Originated and Grew Promoter Planned American Invasion and Failed Kingston Jamaica Septemlwr ITi The an ¬ nouncement that an American syndicate may decide lo go in for racing on an extensive scale in Jamaica has aroused widespread interest in the colony A few months ago several Americans ar ¬ rived in Jamaica with a horse that proved a veritable tiler at tha August meeting of the Jamaica Jockey Club at Knutsford Park lie raced us Little and carried all before him experiencing no difficulty in winning all his engagements The animal was sold to a local turfman Being apparently pleased with the reception accorded the party Mr Delisser one of the numl er brought up the question of a syndi ¬ cate of American racing men securing an interest in the sport in Jamaica Being aware that the antigambling law was be ¬ ing enforced In New York State Mr Delisser looked upon Jamaica as a place where some American owners could be induced to send tlielr horses and then if they ared to make bets by cable from New York A proposal was made in writing to the Jamaica Jockey Club that a syndicate composed of Americans should acquire a large share of the local concern and arrange for 100 days of racing in Ja ¬ maica each year When the proposal was brought before the directors of the Jockey Club It was discovered Uiat It was unsigned It stated among other things that Americans would in order to In ¬ duce large numbers of visitors to come here to wit ¬ ness the races build n laftie hotel at Kuutsford Park the property of the Jamaica Jockey Club ClubIn In turn the Jamaica Jockey Club submitted coun ¬ ter proposals to the local representatives of Mr Delisser It was desired to have the American syn ¬ dicate pay 15000 cash to join the combination the Jockey Club to get 55000 wortii of preferred shares Interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum to lie paid as first claim on all dividends and assets In the event of failure of the scheme all the buildings erected at Knutsford Park to revert to the Jockey Club free of cost The Jockey Club lielnc affiliated with the English Jockey Club the American syndi ¬ cate must be bound by the rules of the Jamaica concern The American syndicate must agree to give twenty races each year to the value of 375 each exclusively for Jamaicanbred horses horsesTo To say the least the terms of the Jamaica Jockey Club are souiewhat hard but In the course of an interview with one of the leading men of the organi ¬ zation a few days ago the Heralds correspondent was informed that the directors of the local con ¬ cern felt obliged to protect themselves against any unforeseen circumstances Jamaica said the officer of the Jockey Club Is too small to stand one hundred days ot racing each year and on this score alone it was thought in certain quarters that the scheme was too preten ¬ tious The colour would welcome some of the rac ¬ ing men of America but the elass that we would like to get would not waste the time and money to come here They go to England and other places where the s ort is far keener It would not pay them to come here hereThen Then again said the gentleman interviewed the proposal of the American syndicate If carried out might have a disastrous effect on the com ¬ munity One hundred days of racing would mean a great increase in gambling here Could the resi ¬ dents get money to go in for racing one hundred days In the year Local yearLocal horse breeders are also exercised over the proposal for they contend that if American run ¬ ners arc brought here the breeding industry of Jamaica will become n thing of the past Native turfmen would be forced to send abroad for racers to meet the American horses on equal terms There ¬ fore they do not relish the idea of the American syndicate coining here hereThere There are others however who would hail with i delight th coming of the syndicate Turf followers would like to se a long season of racing in Ju iiTalca aiid everything Is being done by this faction toget the Ameriians to come here While endeav ¬ ors are being made by this class to attract the syn ¬ dicate an agitation bus been started by various Clergymen to put an end to the negotiations negotiationsThey They Theyare are calling upon the government to take action They point out that if gambling is not good for the United States it is surely not good for Ja jualea Just how the matter will end is difficult to say In the meantime the governor ot Jamaica Sir Sydney Olivier lsin iulrlng how tiie parimutuel i i conducted at local race meetings
