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HAS HOPES OF LEGISLATION AUGUST BELMONT GIVES INTERVIEW ON NEW YORK RACING SITUATION. Intimation Conveyed that Legislature Now In Session at Albany Will Be Asked to Come to Relief of Persecuted Sport. New York, March -"!. Commenting on the decision of the representatives of the racing associations of this state not to apply for racing dates until the obnoxious directors liability law is repealed or declared unconstitutional, August Belmont, chairman of the Jockey Club, declared that he lias hopes that proper legislation will make racing again possible, but that there is little hope for it in the iminediat; future unless the state legislature should take rational steps in that direction. "Our only hope is in the legislature," said Mr. Belmont. " It is not impossible that we will have racing again in this state." .Mr. Belmont would not discuss the future plans of the Jockey Club, but gave the Impression that its members are not hoping that the desired legislation may be had in lime for racing during 1111. "In trying to destroy the bookmakers," said Mr. lielmout, "the reformers have gone too far and haw injured a groat industry and popular sport. Those who arc responsible for this situation gained the confidence and support of many by a disavowal of hostility to racing Itself and expressing an admiration for the horse. I am now conviuccd it was hypocrisy and that they have accomplished what they sought. It is to be iioped. however, that wisdom will prevail and the rehabilitation of racing become possible. "The race course is the test ground for the breed- ers guidance. Every good American would like his country to have the best of everything, especially that which is produced in competition. The Auieri-cah race horse was gradually working his way to equality with the English thoroughbred, if not to preeminence. "The crusade of the last live years has crippled tiie American breeder so that he cannot today hope ror more than accidental success for years to coins. Our army oliicers testify constantly to the widespread InjurytHolie efficiency of the nrmy the do-. struct lou df- ruling is working. I am sure General GraufwiU suUsclle to this opinion if you ask him." While the stewards of the Jockey Club and the owners of the trucks are unwilling to discuss plans for ti0 future it is believed that an attempt will Hindu to have a bill repealing . the directors liability law passed by the legislature at Albany before the present session ends. If this move is unsuccessful there may be court proceedings later. But meanwhile tlie tracks will remain closed. The meeting at which it was decided to keep the tracks closed until such time as relief from the directors liability law is obtained was attended by August Belmont, representing the Westchester Rae-ing Association; James Butler, president of the Empire City Racing Association; 1. J. Dwyer, who con trols the Brooklyn and Queens County Jockey Club tracks at Oravesend and Aqueduct respectively: Andrew Miller, treasurer of the Saratoga Association and Victor Schaumberg, secretary of the Ooii;v Island Jockey Club. The Metropolitan Jockey Club of Jamaica was represented by proxy. Brighton Beach was not represented because the Brighton Beach Racing Association lias taken no part in the affairs of racing since lt0S. After the formal announcement of the decision not to apply for racing dates, August Belmont addressed the representatives of the press. "The race track owners." he said, "regret keenly that they had to take such action, but circumstances comiiellcd it. They have been singled out bv the legislatures as targets for the most vicious kind of special legislation and they feel that tiler are being outrageously treated. There is just as much reason today for their declining to open the gates of their tracks as there was on the tirst of last September. Appeals Tor relief have been made to the courts, but the machinery of justice moves slowlv, and right here, at the time when we should begin racing, we do not know where we stand. "Inder the circumstances it is impossible for us to announce a program because the race track directors cannot possibly prevent betting, for which under the law they may be held erlmiuallv liable, in such crowds as go to Belmont Park to witness the running of a Metropolitan Handicap, or to Gravcsend to see a Brooklyn, or to .Shcepshead Bay to see a Suburban, no matter how many special policemen they may employ. The tracks about New York have conducted racing at big pecuniary loss since the adoption of the first or Governor Hughes anti-racing measures in 1UQS, and they would be willing to keep on for the good or racing and-the improvement of the breed of horses if nothing more than pecuniary sacrifices were asked. "But to subject their directors to the chance of imprisonment for permitting alleged violations of the law of which they cannot iiossiblv have knowledge, much less prevent, is putting a severer trial up to them than they should be asked to bear. Even If lltoy were willing to take every chance, racing under such onerous conditions could not be conducted with advantage to the thoroughbred or to the country. "Having arrived at tills decision, it Is only fail-that we straightaway inform horsemen that thev have little or nothing to expect in the wav of racing in this quarter. They will probably want to make arrangements to ship to other parts of the country the horses they hoped to be able to race on the tracks acknowledging the authority of the Jockey Club." While nothing was given out for publication to indicate that the track owners were not unanimous in the opinion that there should be no application to the Racing Commission for dates, it is an open secret that one or two of them wauled to go ahead. It is understood that the Belmont Park and Saratoga tracks were anxious to proceed with the usual meetings, but when the matter had been thoroughly discussed it was evident that the majority was in favor of keeping the gates closed under the existing conditions and Mr. Belmont and the Saratoga Association submitted to the decision of the majority for the sake of harmony. They reluctantly agreed that if most of the tracks wanted to keep their gates closed none should attempt to race. No person connected with the race tracks cared to say what they hoped for from a Court of Appeals decision on some of the many cases involving the constitutionality of the Hart-Agnew and Perkins Agnew laws, now up for linal adjudication, but it was intimated that if the Democratic legislature at Albany stepped to the front and upset the obviously unconstitutional directors liability law the situation might be relieved to such an extent as to enable the tracks to open their gates later in the year. A point which will be urged in favor of racing if bills for its relief are brought to the attention of the legislature at Albany is that the state authorizes racing for nurses and intrusts its control to a regularly appointed and responsible commission, yet prevents race tracks licensed by that commission from satisfactorily conducting Dicing by subjecting track owners to the chance of prosecution under the dliec- tors liability law for not preventing .betting of which they cannot possibly have kuowledge. Not always have thoj officials to whom the authority of enforcing the anti-betting- laws is given performed .their duties with scrupulous regard for personal honor or tlie dignity of their offices. In Kings County especially their work has neon marked by shameless exhibitions of demagogism and playing to the grandstand for political advantage. It would be easy under tlH"ocfirtiOrr "the directors liability law for unscrupulous officials in a county hostile to Jliu-fuurt to frame .up a case which would subject rn,ce tract officials - trying, to obey tin! law in letler-nniUln spirit to HUiiiUiatiug prosecution as aiders and qbliotors of illegal gambling. Nothing could be more simple than for? a. couple of hired private detectives to-frame .up a. little betting arrangement between themselves at the back of a crowded grandstand and hale the ignorant and innocent race track owner to court on the charge of permitting gambling. A race track man who did not care to have his name published, makes this comment: "The attitude of the tracks is not a surprise. Thy were forced to close last September because the directors and owners wore unwilling to run the risk of arrest. Under the "liability law it would be possible to frame up a case, even though every bookmaker aud professional bettor should be barred from the race courses. The making of a single wager in private If proved to the satisfaction of a prosecuting attorney would be sufficient ground for the iudict-mont of directors and otlicials, even though the wager was laid without their knowledge or consent. It is legal to race horses in this state between April 1." and November 13. the prizes to be stakes or purses, and there is a state racing commission appointed by the governor which has the power to grant licenses and dates to the various associations, but the tracks cannot open so long as this freak law remains in effect. "It Is worthy of note that the state fairs will have to be closed as well as the big tracks. Tlie directors of the fairs can be held criminally liable for bets made on trotting races, and according to reliable information they will not run the risk. This will be a hard blow to tlie farmers up state, for the letting at "the fairs has always been a feature. Racing could go on though on a small scale if this law could be annulled, as there would be enough patronage to almost cover expenses. There has never been a desire on the part of the Jockey Club to re-establish open gambling or so-called organize! Iwokmakiiig. but it is a question of law whether it is a crime for individuals to make a private wager. Tlie tracks have lost a lot of money since tlie passage of the Agncw-Hstrt bills in 1008. and even if they should re-open there would be a slim chance for dividends." August Belmont announced today that he planned to. ship to England a baud of his best two-year-olds. Most of his racing hereafter will be in Great Britain and Canada. "I do not mcaii to withdraw from racing in this country entirely, however." said Mr. Belmont. "I will be represented at Norfolk and Pinilico. but I have not made entries to the stakes in Kentucky. If racing should be revived in New York state, I will have my stable ready for the usual campaign." Following the announcement of the decision of the New York racing associations not to apply for racing dates comes another announcement that the Aero Club of America has made preliminary arrangements for a lease of Belmont Park for a series of summer aviation meetings.
