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REFLECTIONS *y nelson unstan NEW YORK, N. Y., May 17.— Shortly after Secretary of State Thomas J. Curran welcomed the delegates to the convention of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners at the Commodore Hotel yesterday morning, the large body present heard noter" speakers on subjects that are of vital interest to the American turf. The one thing that struck this writer most forcibly was the frankness on subjects which, up to this year, have been handled with kid gloves, and we refer especially to Loyd Wright, chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, who spoke on off-track betting and also Earl J. Moyer, who was elected to succeed Ashley T. Cole as president of the organization. Moyer lives in Madison, Neb., and, although still active in the law business, he has given unselfishly of his time for the past five years as chairman of the Nebraska State Racing Commission. Racing has, indeed, been fortunate in the type of men who have been selected as presidents of the National Association and, judging by yesterdays meeting, the sport of horse racing is certain to improve under the guidance of this man, who, like many of his predecessors, have been prominent in the legal profession of their various states. AAA When Earl J. Moyer took the floor as chairman of the committee on pari-mutuel taxation, he suddenly switched his remarks to the lack of public relations that has been racings lot since the pari-mutuel wagering was introduced into this country. He pointed out that the public has an entirely erroneous conception of the workings of pari-mutuels, and stressed the fact that many people are under the impression that the track retains all of the monies that passes through the mutuel machines. He said that we cannot hope for tax relief unless the public is acquainted with the facts. He deplored the attacks on racing people who had very little knowledge of the sport, despite the fact that no sport is better regulated and no fairer system has as yet been devised in dealing with the patrons who are the support of racing. "Why, he asked, have the lips of racing Commissioners Discuss Vital Turf Problems Moyer Stresses Need of Public Relations Off -Track Betting Strongly Opposed by Body • Chemists Offer Data on Doping of Horses been sealed?" And then he went on to say that the people who are antagonistic to the turf are so because of the bad public relations — or,. he added — the very lack of such public, relations. Moyer contended that while the public is well informed as to the amount of money that is bet at a race track, that very little is ever said about the sums that are returned to the public. AAA Moyers talk on public relations drew a keen response from every commissioner present. They realized that this gentleman from Nebraska had hit upon one of the weakest spots of the American turf. When Ashley T. Cole was about to bring the matter to a close and introduce Loyd Wright to speak on off-track betting, the chairman of the California racing board said, "Mr. Cole, why* dont we continue this discussion about public relations. I do not think that any subject I can possibly speak on is so important as the one that Mr. Moyer has been placing before us." Walter Donovan, vice-president of Garden State Park and a former president of the NARC, took the floor to endorse Moyers remarks, and he was followed by Loyd Wright, and then Alfred J. Luke, president of the California Owners and Trainers Association. Every one of these men urged that racing form a public relations bureau, so that xthe public could be better informed than it is on the sport today. They all admitted that the plan would have to be worked out very carefully, but it was obvious as they spoke that they realized how woefully weak racing has been in its attitude toward state political officials, and also to the release of magazine and newspaper stories which are not only contrary to the facts, but give an entirely wrong conception of what racing means to the state and to the community in which the sport is conducted. A - A A Last week, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations publicly denounced "off-track betting" as a menace to horse racing. They were mild, indeed, when their objections are compared to those which were offered by Loyd Wright at yesterdays convention. Wright said, "Whether we like it or not, betting at the track is the life-blood of racing. As a result, millions of dollars each year are put in circulation through legitimate business, and, in many states, many millions, not otherwise available, are furnished through charity days to alleviate the suffering of the sick and poor. Now, in many states, and for obscure reasons, we are asked to discard a tried and satisfactory system, and in lieu thereof enter into partnership with the bookmakers. Those who advocate off-track betting place their case solely upon raising additional revenue for the state. If the predominant thought is to maintain racing only as an instrumentality of raising money for the state, you must, inevitably, establish alegalized lottery which has no relation whatever to the merits of the sport — as a sport — or as a legitimate business. We, therefore, strongly urge and recommend that the National Association of State Racing Commissioners here assembled go on record as being opposed to off-course betting." AAA The report from the committee on dope stimulation and drugs was one of the most interesting offered yesterday. This report went on to say that they are making more certain the system of detecting the unlawful use of drugs contemplated to stimulate or depress a Horse. Within recent months, Harvard University has issued a report saying, "Doctors at the Harvard Medical School have announced that research on animals has given Boston hospitals new ways of helping humans. After a year of research, undertaken at the request of the Massachusetts Racing Commission, the Harvard Department of Legal Medicine have developed improved techniques for detecting the presence of minute amounts of drugs in animals. The research has given race track officials new weapons for combatting the illegal administration of drugs to racing dogs and horses." The subject of dope and stimulation will be discussed again at the Wednesday morning session of the convention, and we understand that further data on this subject will be released.
