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A OEPEN ON THE STAND STANDOttawa Ottawa Out January 22 The trotting horse was discussed before the committee considering the Miller bill for the suppression of betting and the testimony showed that the standardbred horse was no less de ¬ pendent than the thoroughbred on racing Mr Raney on behalf of the promoters of the bill explained that his contention was tlint racing did not depend upon betting for its success Two witnesses called by Mr Raney were Mr Spurgeon Gammor horseman from Glasgow N S and A Orpen of Toronto Mr Gam ¬ mor described racing in the maritime provinces where trotting races only arc conducted He testi ¬ fied that racing was as essential for the standard bred horse ts it was for the thoroughbred Book making privileges Mr Gammor said were not relied upon for revenue by the Nova Scotia tracks although it might be different in New Brunswick Pools were sold on some Nova Scotia races but not on all The purses in Nova Scotia rarely exceed 00 00Mr Mr Orpeu although called by Mr Raney did not favor the bill but iMslIeved on the contrary that bookmaking should be clearly legalized He pro ¬ duced a number of sheets showing his winnings and losses on various books and in so many cases was there a loss shown that some member of the commit ¬ tee rather sarcastically asked whether he was run ¬ ning a benevolent institution Mr Orpen said that he was a large contractor and that bookmaking had been only a side issue with him He resented the term gambler being applied to him or any other bookmaker that stuck to his business businessHow How many handbook men would you say there are in Toronto asked Mr Raney Probably RaneyProbably four replied the witness Mr Omen said he believed that some cigar store men and barbers took bets but he did not consider them hand ¬ book men Some grocers often took bets He saw no evil in bookmaking poolselling or handhook making if the business was done on the square There was a Canadian Racing Associations which was comiwsed of the various units of racing asso ¬ ciations throughout its dominion dominionThe The Metropolitan Racing Association is not as yet a member of the Canadian Racing Associations asked RaneyNo Mr Raney No replied Mr Orpen amid laughter we have not yet made application applicationMr Mr Orpen asserted that there was not a profes ¬ sional bookmaker in Canada CanadaIs Is RaneyYes that quite true asked Mr Raney Yes replied Mr Orpen in this sense A man may follow bookmaking for three mouths and then go back to his own business businessThe The witness instanced the case of Mr Saundcrs ot Toronto who when the racing season was over went back to his business of conducting a billiard room There were he believed about a dozen men in bookmakingMr Toronto who made a business of bookmaking Mr Orpen said that hookinaking was a business re ¬ quiring training and judgment It did not involve taking any chances beyond those involved in any legitimate business such as insurance insuranceMr Mr Orpen favored race meetings at the Woodbine of thirty days a season fifteen in the spring and fif ¬ teen in the fall He urged that the law be changed so as to allow betting and betting in comfort List us make bets without getting our clothes torn off
