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i •SMMpdM -11 ,- A , V * jfl* GEORGE D. WIDENER— Representing The Jockey Club chairman, William Woodward, the Belmont Park head, addressed yesterdays session of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners. Rose Rose Bed Bed Never Never Headed Headed in in Gibbons; Gibbons; George George Widener Widener Lauds Lauds N N ARC ARC Stand Stand Voices Off-Track Betting Objections Marshall Cassidy Addresses Commissioners on Various Procedures of Jockey Club NEW YORK, N. Y., May 17.— George D. Widener, vice-chairman of The Jockey Club and president of the Westchester Racing Association — Belmont Park, and Marshall Cassidy, executive secretary and steward representing The Jockey Club on the New York tracks, were the principal speakers at this mornings abbreviated session of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners, currently convening at the Hotel Commodore. Mr. Widener, representing The .Jockey Club chairman, William Woodward, who was detained at his Belair Stud, spoke with brevity befitting the occasion. The assembled delegates and their wives had followed an exhausting day-long session yesterday with a cocktail party and dinner dance at the Waldorf. After welcoming the commissioners representing the racing boards of 21 states on behalf of Mr. Woodward, - and speaking of the happy relations prevailing between The Jockey Club and the New York Commission, Mr. Widener expressed his pleasure at the action of the NARC in taking a unanimous stand against * off-course betting yesterday afternoon. Night Racing to Hurt Sport Everything that can be said against off- - course betting can be applied equally well, Mr. Widener said, to night racing, which has been proposed in some states. Belmont Parks president said that he believed that the same people who now object to off-course betting would eventually come to have the same objection to night racing, however they might feel at this time. Mr. Widener said that he believed that night racing would drive out of the sport many of the breeders and owners who have been the standbys of racing for many years, and would also eliminate those persons who have attempted to operate race tracks with an appreciation of racing as a sport. Mr. Widener went on to express his disapproval of the tendency among race tracks to compete for stake horses in various Continued on Page Three George Widener Lauds NARC On Off-Track Betting Stand Marshall Cassidy Addresses T Commissioners on Various Procedures of Jockey Club Continued from Page One ways, and particularly by offering exaggerated stakes money. "I dont believe any stake should be worth more than 0,000," Mr. Widener said, "though I am in favor of higher purses for other races. There is no reason why any one race should be worth more than 0,000." Speaking extemporaneously, Mr. Widener ascribed a large part of the decrease in pari-mutuel wagering in New York to the 5 per cent "ODwyer tax" which has been imposed the past three years, and is on the books for three more years. Mr. Widener indicated that he was dubious as to the prospect of the tax being removed at the expiration of the five years for which it was originally scheduled remarking that "It seems that we never get rid of taxes, once they are imposed." The lower take at New Jersey tracks and in other nearby states results in damaging competition for the New York tracks. Mr. Widener also echoed the sentiment of yesterdays sessions when he urged an improvement in public relations, which he felt could best be carried out by the individual states, rather than by any national program. He then invited the delegates and their wives to be his guests at Belmont Park, placing himself and the track staff at the full disposal of the visitors. In response to a question from retiring president Ashley T. Cole, as to the type of information he would be prepared to furnish the delegates, Mr. Widener said "no winners"! Mr. Cole then introduced Marshall Cassidy as "A man of outstanding probity, afraid of nobody, and one who doesnt like crooked people on the turf." Cassidy then read a prepared statement in which he discussed a "clearing house" for racing colors to prevent duplication, stricter inquiry into the ownership of horses, identification of horses by their nighteyes, or chestnuts, development of officials and other subjects, outlining the procedure of The Jockey Club in such matters. For text of Cassidy s address, see page 2. * Mr. Cole then reintroduced the question of holding the 1950 NARC convention in Mexico City at the invitation of Oscar Obregon, Sr. It had been feared yesterday that there might be something illegal about such a convention being held outside of the United States. Mr. Cole said that he had since been advised by counsel that these fears were groundless. Put to a vote, Mexicos invitation was promptly accepted. After complimenting the assemblage on the judgment they had displayed in the election of new officers, Mr. Cole turned over the gavel to Earl J. "Speed" Moyer, of Nebraska, newly elected president. Mr. Moyer introduced in turn the other new officers, Al Drew, of Louisiana, first vice-president; Leo Edwards, Florida, second vice-president; Mrs. A. E. Smith, Kentucky, secretary, and E. E. Dale Shaffer, Kentucky, treasurer. Joseph Chinn, Jr., Delaware, newly elected third vice-president, was not present. After being introduced, Mr. Edwards interpolated a motion to award the wives of the commission members with a badge that would entitle them to admission to the nations racetracks. Mr. Cole pointed out that the New York state law makes such a badge valueless in this state, while Alex Dumestre, of Louisiana, said that a recent federal ruling by the Internal Revenue Department acknowledges the right of wives of various badge holders who assist their husbands at the race track to badges of their own. It was voted to "Let the ladies have their trinkets," though they would not be recognized in all racing states. The report of the committee on constitution and bylaws having been received with a divergence of opinion when introduced yesterday by Frank Small, Jr., of Maryland, it was decided that the newly elected executive" committee, headed by president Moyer, would hold a meeting with dissenting members, then bring the report to the floor for further discussion at a later date. Mr. Cole then asked that a vote be taken on the final amendment to the constitution which reads as follows: "The members of this committee, not less than five nor more than 10, in the discretion of the president, shall be selected and appointed by the president from the past presidents of this association, whether active or honorary members thereof, and each shall serve for the term of one year. The retiring president shall be ex-officio a member of this committee." This motion was adopted unanimously. Upon adjourning, the delegates and their Wives boarded buses provided by the Olym-pia Parking Service and were whisked to Belmont Park with a police escort, which was gratefully accepted from the mayor as some measure of return for the revenue the city derives from the 5 per cent tax on racing at the local tracks. Tomorrow night the delegates to the commissioners convention, as well as to the third annual meeting of the Association of Official Racing Chemists, race track executives and officials will be the guests of Daily Racing Form at a dinner dance in the Wedgewood Room of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at 8 oclock. An elaborate program of entertainment has been arranged by the hosts.
