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REFLECTIONS by nelson dunstan NEW YORK, N. Y., June 13.— Racing commissioners who attended the national convention at Boston returned to their respective states equipped with reams of material for further consideration. It was a constructive confab, but so many different phases of the sport were discussed in. open forum and in committed reports, it is not surprising that some misunderstandings resulted. Since leaving Boston, we have found confusion •isome quarters regarding the address of the publisher of this paper, whose theme at the convention was "equitable purse distribution." It is one thing when a speaker definitely suggests a change in the prevailing distribution of purses and quite another thing when he says that a study should be made to determine "if such changes are necessary. Publisher J. Samuel Perlman said, "I offer the opinion that the changes in distribution put into effect in California, whereby first money was reduced from 65 per cent to 55 per cent, and the 10 per cent added to third and fourth money was definitely a step in the right direction. I also think it is advisable that fifth money and the payment of jockey fees of all other starters in the race should be studied." Later in his talk, Perlman again said, "as stated before, a keen study by qualified officials should be made before any changes are contemplated beyond the fourth horse." A AA This writer is one of the thousands in complete accord with the California plan of taking 10 per cent from the winners share of a purse and adding it to the sum that goes to the third and fourth horses. We are completely opposed to any changes that would include the fifth horse in the payoff. There is no reason we can see why the fifth horse should be included. If he should then why not every horse that starts in the race? If such a plan were ever Aftermath of Commissioners Convention Opposition to the Payment of Fifth Money Distribution Like Santa Anita Park Favored Over-Taxation of Racing Aroused Delegates adopted, it would make a mockery of the sporting side of horse racing and would simply encourage men to race horses that are broken down and should be retired. There are entirely-too many lame horses in racing today, but as long as an owner or trainer could obtain some part of the purse, he would continue to clutter up the stables with animals that depreciate, rather than elevate the quality of racing day by day. Should a committee be formed to study whether the fifth horse should be included in the payoff, it would be derelict if it placed its stamp of approval on payments beyond the fourth horse. It is perhaps a foregone conclusion it turn the proposal down cold, and it would be eminently correct in doing so. AAA The National Association of State Racing Commissioners has no legal powers and therefore cannot pass rulings. Delegates go home however with a wide variety of subjects to discuss with fellow commissioners in their own state. Besides purse distribution, they heard talks on uniformity of rules, stimulation and drugs, over-taxation, public relations, strikes and sitdowns and addresses by the heads of such organizations as The Jockey Club, Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association, Jockeys Guild and the chemists. While the convention lasted four days, they were in session about a day and a half and the many controversial subjects discussed in so short a time did not permit a thorough study. The uniformity of rules has been a stumbling block since the organization was formed 20 years ago. Walter Donovan, former president, spoke sensibly when he suggested that the basic or fundamental rules should be as uniform as possible, but, beyond that, their must, of necessity, be variations in the different states. He used baseball as an example, saying that a batter should not be allowed three strikes in one state and four in another. AAA There is such a vast difference in the executive control of baseball and racing that comparisons between the two are difficult to make. It is much simpler for the American and National leagues to formulate rules for baseball than it is in the complex setup of racing. Earl Moyer of Nebraska contended that there is more uniformity in the rules of racing than is generally thought. There must be some variations, he insisted, and Donovan agreed by pointing out that ground rules are often different in baseball due to differences in construction of ball parks. Racing rules, in this writers opinion, cannot be completely uniform in every state, any more than the fax return to the states can be the same. Baseball does not have state officials, lawmakers and politicians who have a voice in the sport of racing since pari-mutuel wagering was introduced. As a matter of fact, racing is at the mercy of politicians, whether we like it or not, and that was amply demonstrated in New York before the opening of the season when Senator Wicks and Governor Dewey returned the take to 15 per cent, even though commission chairman, Ashley T. Cole, and his associates had strenuously objected to the "ODwyer Bite" since 1946. AAA* The convention of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners was what we might call "a turf writers dream." It provided numerous columns for those of us who are charged with meeting a daily deadline. We Continued on Page Thirty-Nine . s REFLECTIONS By NELSON DUNSTAN , . J. 3 ] ; • ; j. ; : , • ; • Continued from Page Forty-Eight have material for weeks to come and .all of j it would be of interest to those who follow* Tacing. There will be more in this corner as time .goes on, hut, at the moment we wish to discuss the address of Don Eeed, president of the turf publicists of America. He is a Baltimore hoy from way back and an able newspaperman. Today, he is publicity director of Pimlico and, as in his former days, he does an outstanding job. He talked at length about racings relations with the public. We have our own ideas on how racing should sell itself, and our thoughts embrace keeping the sport absolutely clean; giving the public the finest competition possible in a highly competitive lield, and providing comfortable accommodations for the public. Many of our -tracks have sensed that money spent on improvements is money well spent. While we have eyery respect ior the points that Reed advanced, we believe that if the people in racing met the public half -way, much more .good could be accomplished. We will have more to say about Reed and George Swihe-broad of the Thoroughbred Club ,of America and Ogden Thipps of The Jockey Club in later columns.
