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i ,] i BAD PITCHER -BETTS BILL I Measure Before the Legislature at Albany I Without Reason or Fairness. NEW YORK. N. T.. February 27. — The Pitcher-Betls hill, which would put a tax of 5 per cent t on gross racing receipts of the running tracks of i New York State, is only a modification of the a measure which failed last year when it was t shown by the racing authorities that it was unfair in principal and appplication, and that its enactment 1 would help to cripple the horse breeding industry. Figures were presented at Albany at that time * which showed that under a 12 per cent tax on i gross receipts tracks operating under the juris- : diction of the Jockey Tub — there are no other i running meetings in this state — would have been conducted at a loss. In the case of the Westchester i Ilacing Association there would have been a deficit ] of 2,000 in 191S. a surplus of 2,000 in the ] banner year of 1919 aud a deficit of 4,000 in t 1920. 1 The racing industry is already taxed abundantly 1 with a local levy on realty, a personal property tax, I a state foundation tax of 4j per cent on net in- come, a license tax. and the federal income tax cf : 10 per cent. Further taxation would remove the 1 source from which stakes and pulses must he derived, and there would he no funds forthcoming for ■ the upkeep of the splendid courses contiguous to . New York and at Saratoga, where the racing tests , so essential to breeding are conducted. . Inder the provisions of the Pitcher-Betts bill trotting tracks are exempt from taxation, nor is there mention of a tax on baseball, wrestling or any other sport. There has been an apparent desire to convey the impression that the racing associations are content i to pay an additional burden to the taxes already i carried. At the offices of all the racing associations yesterday there was decided opposition to the provisions of the Pitcher-Betts bill. They all felt that , any increase in their present burdens would work keen injury. The Jockey Club, owning no race courses, and whose function is the regulation of racing and the formulation of rules governing the sport, could do nothing but deplore any movement which Would have a harmful effect on turf sport.
