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NATIONS REVENUE THROUGH RACING RACINGMoney Money Is Provided for the National Government from a Dozen Different Sources New York July 3 What revenue will the government receive from racing during the year This question was put to President James Shevlin of Aqueduct recently In reply he mentioned fig ¬ ures that are astonishing astonishingThe The actual amount cannot at this time be more than estimated he said In the first place the ten per cent tax on gate receipts will figure up to well over 100000 on the New York tracks alone and that is but one item There are dozens of sources which provide revenue outside of the gate receipts The Bed Cross brigade will add consider ¬ able to the amount through the sale of gift horses boxes and seats for entertainments bouquets and other offerings all of which mean clear profits for the government The governmentThe sale of Liberty Bonds and AVar Saving Stamps has been enormous among racegoing people and those connected with the turf and racing interests But Ixjnds and stamps have to be re ¬ deemed by the government The taxes on receipts do not They are all clear profit Ked Cross con ¬ tributions are gifts which do not have to be re ¬ deemed deemedI I estimate that the minimum taxes and gifts to tiie government from racing sources will not l e less than 2r 0000 from this state and the purchase of bonds by horsemen and those connected with the turf will run up into the millions Then there are the taxes on incomes derived through the thorough ¬ bred indnstrv the excess profit tax and other items which make a direct revenue to the country countryAMOUNT AMOUNT WILL BE A LARGE ONE ONENo No one will ever know just how much the turf has contributed towards the wars expenses It could not be accurately figured but it is sufficient in the aggregate to convince the most skeptical that the sport of racing and the thoroughbred industry i of unquestioned importance to the government in providing revenue for the present and the future Revenue alone however is not the only important thing in connection with racing The perpetuation of the American horse and its improvement for economic purposes is of even greater importance importanceIt It is only in late years I might say the past two or three years that the importance of the horse has been acknowledged by the national authorities for military purixiscs There is no question in my mind but this country in years to come will be grateful for the unstinted efforts of the groat men of the turf because of their untiring efforts to keep up the standard of the American thoroughbred and to the government in aiding as far as possible the perpetuation of this most useful animal which would have been practically obliterated if a few Continued on second page NATIONS REVENUE THROUGH RACING Continued from first page The racing question has been discussed in all countries since the war began and in no instance lias it iKen deemed advisable to abandon the sport On the contrary Jt has l een encouraged l y all governments excepting Canada and I am told that for economic reasons it will soon be resumed in that country No well founded reason can bo given why it should be curtailed curtailedIf If it were detrimental to the welfare of the country I would be one of the first to close the Kates of Aqueduct with solicitation As it is it lias provided healthy men for the ranks as well as intelligent officers and it is daily contributing to the national strong lw x But what is more im ¬ portant is the fact that it is providing desirable The importance of this General Leonard Wood who recently said The best horses will help win war And it is in admitted fact that such cs can only lie provided through the intelligence r our breeders and the proof of efficiency obtained through contests
