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REFLECTIONS *y "fLS0N dunsjan NEW YORK, N. Y., May 14.— Racing commissioners from every state where the sport is legalized will assemble at the Hotel Commodore in New York Monday for the fifteenth annual convention of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners. These conventions have "* been held in many of the important cities of the country, but this is the first time since 1943 that it has been in New York. From modest beginnings, the NARC has grown annually in keeping pace with the ever expanding map and increasing popularity of racing. This will, undoubtedly, be the biggest get-together since the association was formed and, besides delegates from the 25 membep states, visitors are expected from Mexico, Cuba, Canada, South America, Europe and Australia. The Association of Official Racing Chemists, which is an associate organization of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners, will also be in session from Monday until Thursday, and, on Wedesday, May 18r a joint session of the two organizations is scheduled. Probably at no previous convention have sb many important problems been scheduled from discussion and action of the racing commissioners. AAA At the Monday morning session, president Ashley T. Cole, who is chairman of the New York State Racing Commission, will step out of office as the by-laws of the NARC read that no president can succeed himself. The ex-presidents become members of the executive advisory committee and Mr. Cole will join with Mark Hanna, Walter Donovan, Ed. J. Brown, John Sloan, Beverley Broun, Charles S. Connors, Maj. Endyfed Williams, Leslie Combs n. and Loyd Wright, a group of men who have unselfishly served their states and racing since the or- ganization was formed. Many of the ex-presidents will be on hand Monday to join in the discussions on uniform rules and procedure, international relations, stimulation and drugs, pari-mutuel taxation, legalized off-course betting, and the other subjects which will be introduced Racing Commissioners Open Convention Today Meetings at Hotel Commodore in New York Off-Track Betting One of Many Problems Jockeys Guild to Ask Compulsory Saying i by organizations vitally interested in the welfare of the turf. Alfred J. Luke, president of the California Owners and Trainers Association, has arrived from the Golden State to give the commissioners his views on a pre-race test to curb the stimulation of horses. Naturally, the chemists who will be in attendance are greatly interested, along with the commissioners, in this subject. AAA On Monday afternoon there will be an open forum for discussions by invited representatives of many racing organizations. Some important subjects will be brought to the floor for discussion and, to our way of thinking, the most important of these will deal with off-track betting, a subject which has engaged the close attention of the lawmakers, racing commissioners and racing officials for the past year or two. During the past year, many bills to legalize wagering outside of confines of the race tracks have been brought before legislative bodies, but, to date, none of these measures have received the approval of the governors. Just this week, realizing the growing demand for off-track wagering, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations passed a resolution strongly opposing the proposition on the grounds that it would constitute a dangerous precedent and holding 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. The commissioners will carefully consider the recommendations — pro and con, and while it is not within our province to anticipate the outcome of their deliberations, we do believe they will concur with the recent statements of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations. AAA Some of the problems presented by racing organiza tions will be new to the commissioners and just one: of these is the plan for "compulsory saving" by apprentices in the jockey ranks. John "Pat" Kelly and Bert Thompson of the Jockeys Guild have gone deeply into this subject and will have many facts and figures to present to the commissioners. Whether it is possible, legally, to compel riders to save a portion of their earnings we do not pretend to know, but the Guild officials must have gone into this phase of the plan before preparing their papers. It is the thought of many with whom he have talked that the plan is not only practical but that it would be one of great value to many of the youngsters it would affect. Many boys of modest means come into the racing limelight and the sudden increase in their income has made them forget that the going will not be so easy when they have lost the apprentice allowance. In this writers opinion, it would be a fine thing for many of the lads if, after they become of age, they found they had a nice nest egg awaiting them. It will be very interesting to see if the commissioners place their approval on the plan to be sumbitted by the Jockeys Guild. AAA When free from committee meetings, the i-acing commissioners will have many social events to hold their attention. On Monday evening, the five New York racing associations and the New York State Racing Commission will entertain the visitors with a dinner dance and floor show in the Jade Room at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the commissioners will be taken to Belmont Park in private cars and, on both days there will be buffet luncheons at the track. On Wednesday evening, Daily Racing Form will stage a dinner dance and floor show in the Wedgewood Room at the Waldorf-Astoria, and at their party will be many prominent racing officials. The convention will come to a close on Thursday morning, but, we understand many of the commissioners will remain over for the .balance of the week to attend the races at Belmont. When the commissioners return to their respective states, they will do so with many new ideas for the betterment of the sport in their home locality.
