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Here and There on the Turf Dunnigan Wins Long Fight Many New York Changes Likely John Day Widely Respected Fitzsimmons Admits Mistake « * Senator John J. Dunnigans fight of quite a few years standing to pass the .pari-mutuel resolution in New Yorks Senate and Assembly finally has proven successful. It took the Bronx architect, for many years the Democratic leader in the Senate, nearly a decade to gain approval of the measure in two successive sessions of the Legislature, but victory finally has come his way and a new order of racing may be expected on the metropolitan circuit next season. The resolution has become a referendum to be voted upon at the general election this fall, but the chances of public approval appear better than they were for a legislative o. k. With the people voting in the affirmative, the state constitution will be changed to make pari-mutuel wagering legal, but a bill to provide and supervise that sort of betting must still be passed. ~~ Considering that the publics approval will be forthcoming, what will the terms of the pari-mutuel bill be? That question is being bandied about more than ever, but no one professes to be in a position to know anything. For the everlasting good of racing, the writer hopes the take out will be as low as possible and believes five per cent, half to the state and half to the associations, would be sufficient as long as the paid gate is maintained as it is now. We also subscribe to the theory of Herbert Bayard Swope, chairman of the State Racing Commission, that the present book making method be continued so the dual system may be in operation. Those preferring the books could continue to do business with them, while the vast majority of the public would use the more convenient pari-mutuels. Proper control of the books shouldnt be difficult to exercise. With pari-mutuel wagering, the Jamaica, Aqueduct and Empire City tracks soon may be found inadequate for the crowds that will be gathering and the construction of another track on Long Island may be expected. A happy solution may be the pooling of the Aqueduct, Belmont and Jamaica interests with the group having the best chance to construct a new track on Long Island. The two tracks conveniently could divide the dates. Empire City apparently will just have to do the best it can to accommodate all the people who may jam its gates, but Saratogas problem is more acute and the outstanding leaders of racing everywhere are hoping that the upstate course will be able to stage its meetings without competition. If it so happens, Saratoga can operate just as successfully as now but a Long Island conflict would make it veiy tough for the Springs course. Preservation of Saratoga with its ideals and traditions means longer life for racing. The death of John I. Day is recorded with personal sadness, and his passing is mourned In racing circles throughout the country. For Continued on eleventh page. HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. many years an outstanding turf reporter, first as sports editor of the Chicago Inter-Ocean and later as racing editor of the Morning Telegraph, Day became one of the outstanding men of his profession. "He was ever friendly but his criticisms were just. He played a very prominent part in the founding of Hialeah Park. The Miami track may have been promoted by James M. Smoot but Days influence had much to do with getting the stables to Hialeah for its inaugural meeting. In ktf er years Day didnt do as much writing, serving as an official at various tracks and being a member of the New York State Racing Commissions staff but the number of his friends became even larger and his death came as a greater shock. James Fitzsimmons is sorry that he hadnt learned about Johnstowns inability to handle muddy going prior to the Preakness, not just on the Kentucky Derby winners account, but in respect to Gilded Knight. The veteran trainer has informed your correspondent that he would have given Ruperto Donoso different orders to handle Gilded Knight, believing the Wheatley Stable colt could have won the Preakness, had he been kept back with Challedon and the others. Before the Preakness, Fitzsimmons, in his dual but conflicting role as trainer of the two horses, believed Gilded Knights best chance of winning the race would be to bring about the undoing of Johnstown by forcing the latters pace. Now Fitzsimmons realizes that Johnstown didnt have to be forced to lose in the mud and if Gilded Knight had been rated farther back his stretch bid would have been formidable.
