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; i L KENTUCKY RACING COMMISSION STANDS FIRM Refuses to Reinstate Bookmakers at Latonia in Place of Mutuels and Auctions. Lexington, Ky.. October 14. The Stale Racing Commission, all five members present, was in session here today from 11:30 until 2 oclock. The Latonia Jockey Clubs request for the reinstatement of bookmakers at Its meeting scheduled to open Monday next, was under consideration. The majority of the commission decided to stand pat, and adopted the following resolution: "This commission declines to take any further action in regard to any change of the system of betting to be used upon the tracks under tho jurisdiction of the racing commission." Messrs. Joseph L. Rhinock. representing the Latonia Jockey Club, of which he Is president: Thomas C. McDowell. J. Hal Woodford and Barney .Schrei-ber, representing the horsemen who had petitioned the commission to modify its action restricting book-making, appeared before tho commission and made arguments to the effect that the race tracks cannot be operated successfully with pari-mntuel machines and auction pools as the only forms of betting, under present conditions. Mr. Rhinock told the commission that the Latonia Jockey Club would agree to give six 400 purses daily and would eliminate licid books if the commission would reinstate bookmakers. He further told the commission that In the event of their decision to make no change in the ruling against bookmakers, he was of the opinion that the Latonia Jockey Club would be willing to let any responsible party have free use of the track, to operate it for the scheduled twenty-four days wilh pari-niutuels and auction pools, air. Sehrelber told the commission that the tracks in this state cannot possibly break even with mutuels. Messrs. McDowell and Woodford said that they had originally favored the change from bookmakers to mutuels. but that they had seen belting fall away under the use of tihe machines, and that thev were now firmly convinced that the only chance for the tracks and horsemen lies in a return to the slates. Chairman Chinn and Charles F. Grainger, the member from Louisville, supported the reinstatement of the bookmakers. Mr. Grainger said that he had until Die opening of the present meetipg at Louisville been a staunch supporter of the mutuels and believed in the future of racing under that betting system, but that as president of the Louisville Racing Association he had seen enough to convince lilm that the tracks cannot live under it. .Messrs. E. F. Clay. Milton Young and Louis Des Cognets. the other members of the commission, stood firm in their opinion that the mutuels are the salvation of the sport in Ken tueky, that the present falling off in attendance is due to hard times and that the reinstatement of the bookmakers would be a lasting blight on racing In Kentucky. When it came to voting on the question Messrs. Clay. Young and Des Cognets voted for the adoption of the resolution to stand pat. Mr. Grainger declined to vote, explaining that he was opposed to the rcso-" lution and that if he did vote it would be against it. Chairman Chinn has no vote except in case of a tie. After the adjournment of the meeting Colonel Young told Chairman Chinn that if the Latonia Jockey Club would be willing to turn the track over to him for twenty-four daj-s he would run the meeting with mutuels, giving six 50 purses daily. Chairman Chinn transmitted this proposition to Mr. Rhinock and brought him and the Colonel together in the presence of Messrs. Clay. Des Cognets. Joe Pugh and Secretary Rouse in the Phoenix Hotel. Colonel Young here repeated the proposition and Mr. Rhinock replied that he would submit the matter at once to the board of directors of the Latonia .Tockev Club. Messrs. McDowell. AVoodford and Schrelber were near at the time and when tkey heard the 50 purse end of the proposition they said a few things that would not look well in print. These three gentlemen returned to Louisville on the afternoon train. Messrs. Rhinock. Rouse and Pugh left for Cincinnati at three oclock. Mr. Rhinock said that he could not venture an opinion as to what action the directors of-the Latonia Jockey Club would take on Colonel Youngs proposition. Colonel Young is very much of the opinion that he can make money at Latonia if the club will turn the track over to him. The only other action of the commission was the granting of a license to trainer George Ham. who got into trouble at Louisville a couple of years ago, and to jockeys Vincent Foy and John Treubel. The two local members only received notice of the meet-i ing last night.
