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OPTIMISTIC CONCERNING THE FUTURE. August Belmont Expresses Satisfaction Over the Patronage Accorded Racing at Belmont Park. I The first two days of racing at Belmont Park. sinoolhly conducted a:ul successful in every way. have cleared the turf atmosphere at New York and in the iniiuls of horsemen all over the country established the fact that a season of good sport is on at the several New York race courses, which means much to breeders and race-goers everywhere. "I am agreeably surprised at the support accorded lining this season," August Belmont is quoted as saving. "The attendance on Thursday and Saturday proves conclusively that the citizens of New York want racing, and that they are willing to patronize the spoil as it is now maintained. "Among our pal runs dining the two days that we have raced vuu will UuU many who have paid the 1 ■ a track a visit just for the outing and for the pleasure of siiiug the horses run. They are not Inter-esicd in betting at all. They simply enjoy the racing. Last year many of the club members refrained from visiting the tracks, not because they could not bat, as many persons supposed, but be-cause they were the objects of unpleasant surveillance. Nobody cares to have his every movement watched, and our members, knowing that they had •Jot committed a crime, objected to this espionage. "Now that the racing atmosphere has been clarified and the doubts removed by decisions of the courts, the men and women who enjoy racing are turning to the courses again. If they will live up to the conditions now clearly defined by the courts they an- welcome to visit the tracks every racing day. But it must tie distinctly understood that not even the slightest breach of the law will be tolerated." While Sheriff Foster, of Nassau county, and twelve deputies have been zealously trying to detect any infractions of the anti-public betting law at Belmont Park they have so far not found any. The reason for the failure is due to the disposition of the betting men to live up to the courts decisions ami to accept only "oral bets." The racing officials have prevented any "book-making" or registering of bets. The Pinkerton track police, under orders from the Jockey Club stewards, have circulated freely among tin- race track patrons and have repeatedly warned them that the slightest violation of the betting laws would cause the ejectment from the grounds of men caught defying these rules. Consequently the track has basal free from "bookmaking." and Sheriff Foster and bis deputies have had little to do except to mingle with the crowd and "look at the horses race.
