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TRA Voices Opposition To Off-Course Betting Holds Plans to Legalize Such Wagering Are Unwise, Unsound NEW YORK, N. Y., May 12. — The Thoroughbred Racing Associations of the United States, Inc., again voiced its opposition to off-course betting. At a meeting of the board of directors official cognizance was taken of the current movement in several states to enact legislation permitting such wagering and it was condemned in a formal resolution. The directors of the turf organization, which represents 35 race tracks, major and minor, throughout the country, set forth their objections in detail to off-course betting and hold that it is "unwise, unsound and not in the best interests either of the various states, their citizens or thoroughbred racing." The resolution follows: "Whereas, passage of such legislation would constitute a dangerous precedent as regards similar legislation in other states, the board of directors of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of the United States, Inc., having studied the proposed legislation does hereby resolve "That there is a definite distinction to be made between betting at the track and thereby participating in the contest and betting with an off-course betting agency solely for the sake of gambling. "That there is a serious moral and economic issue involved. "That legalized off-course betting would make gambling dangerously convenient to hundreds of thousands of people who cannot afford it. "That legalized off-course betting would lead to excesses in gambling which would violently react against racing generally and ultimately kill a traditionally fine sport and an economically significant industry. "Therefore, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of the United States, Inc., is vigorously opposed to any legislation which would legalize bookmaking or the establishment of branches at points away from the tracks where races are run, where wagers can be made under the pari-mutuel system for transmission to tracks or otherwise, notwithstanding the fact that additional revenue would accrue to the tracks if such legislation were adopted. "Be it further resolved, that such legislation is unwise, unsound and not in the best interests either of the various states, their citizens or thoroughbred racing." The acceptance into the TRA of the Inland Empire Racing Association, operators of Playfair at Spokane, Wash., was announced after the meeting.
