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JOHN A. MORRIS1 ADDRESS 1 BEFORE TC A AT LEXINGTON John A. Morris is president of the Thor-f oughbred Racing Associations of the United States, Inc. Mr. Swinebroad, members and guests of the Thoroughbred Club of America, I am happy to be here tonight with all of you. As president of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, I shall outline to you the highlights of our organization — our objectives and our problems. Just prior to the wartime crisis which brought about the foundation of Thoroughbred Racing Associations, in March, 1942, Mr. Joe Estes observed editorially in The Blood-Horse that the American turf was: "a sprawling, unorganized, competitive melee almost incapable of setting up goals or making progress in a predetermined direction." With the founding of TRA, certain goals were set up and now, after 12 years, the record shows that considerable progress in a predetermined direction has been made. The aims and purposes of the TRA are simple and, with modifications, exactly the same as the aims and purposes of any responsible organization in racing. Among those aims, as stated in the TRA certificate of incorporation, are: The maintenance and promotion of public interest in thoroughbred racing and the improvement of the operations affecting thoroughbred racing. Public Relations of Prime Importance Public relations has always been a prime consideration of the TRA. Racings public relations begins at the racetrack where the public come? in contact with the sport. facilities, and collectively with the establishment of the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau and the adoption of the Code of Standards, the racetracks and the TRA have been carrying out a- public relations program. The only practical gauge of the effectiveness of this program is at the gate. The steady growth of attendance from 13,500,-000 in 1941 to 29,000,000 in 1952 indicates a certain measure of accomplishment. There were 22 tracks represented at the founding of the TRA and before the first annual meeting all of the countrys important tracks were members. Today there are 37 member tracks and, as a group, they comprise racings "Big League." Nor is this merely a figure of speech. During recent years of record attendance and handle, the TRA tracks have accounted for no less than 75 per cent of the nations total attendance and close to 80 per cent of the handle. Much of the work of TRA — as a clearing house for the exchange of operational and policy ideas, and as a national source of public information — is intangible. However, we can point, and with pardonable pride, to certain specific steps taken for the overall betterment of racing. Most important of these, perhaps, was the creation, in 1946, of the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, under the direction of Spencer Drayton. Rumors Swiftly Investigated With the establishment of the TRPB, racing had, for the first time, a real bulwark against the cheater and a means of stopping the unfounded rumor of fixes. Today racing is no longer the hapless and helpless victim of the vicious rumor. Today these rumors are swiftly and fully investigated and either proved or disproved. The majority of cases prove merely rumor, born of the disgruntlement of a poor loser. The TRPBs operations cover the entire country on a round-the-clock basis and stem from five centrally-located field offices. Last year a total of 879 investigations were conducted; in all, there have been 7,385 investigations since the TRPB was formed. Of course, not all of these investigations represented an actual case of crookedness; the majority, in fact, proved allegations to be baseless. In many cases not only was racing itself protected from undeserved notoriety, but horsemen and jockeys were cleared of scandal based on malicious gossip. It is an interesting statistical fact that while racing has been expanding steadily during the past dozen years, cheating of all lands has dwindled. When Frank James, brother of the notorious Jesse, decided to face the authorities, and pay his debt to society, it developed he had been "hiding out" on the racetrack. He was employed as betting commissioner for the late Sam Hildreth. National Fingerprinting Program Today a national fingerprinting program, instituted by the TRPB, makes it impossible for any such .undesirable, if colorful, characters to turn up in racing. With the establishment of the fingerprinting program, a great many undesirables were promptly eliminated from the JOHN A. MORRIS sport and the door was closed and barred to any others who might have sought to prey on racing. The development of a tattoo system of identification for horses has resulted in the elimination of the "ringer" on TRA tracks. Today more than 40,000 horses have a codified adaptation of their Jockey Club registration number permanently tatooed on their upper lip. The TRPB also attacked the problem of stimulation of race horses and the record shows that its efforts to eliminate this evil are showing results. In 1946, there were 35 stimulation cases at TRA tracks. In 1952, there were 15 — a decrease of 57.1 per cent. With almost half of this year gone, there have been only two stimulation cases at TRA tracks. It is obvious that the TRPB plays a very effective and important part in maintaining and promoting public interest and confidence in racing. It also works for the horsemen, the jockeys and the public, as well as for its sponsoring group, the member racetracks of the TRA, which "foot the bill. And it costs a half million dollars annually to do the job. Adoption of Code of Standards Another important step toward establishing and maintaining public acceptance and confidence in racing was the voluntary adoption in 1947 of a Code of Standards for member tracks. The Code of Standards not only recognized that there are, fundamentally, two groups to be served, the spectators and the contestants, but foresaw conditions which, as it developed, might have put racing in a bad light. Long before the searchings of various crime probes turned up the evils of book-making, the wire service and comeback money, the TRA tracksTiad gone on record in the Code of Standards with sections designed to eliminate these conditions which were brought to racing by the once national network of bookmakers. When, a few years ago, the Kefauver Committee turned its attention to book-making, horseracing would have been in for some unpleasant notoriety had it not been for th existence of the TRA and TRPB. As it was, the TRPB furnished the Kefauver Committee with a report that clearly established that racing had long before recognized its problems and had taken the necessary steps to correct them. Membership in the TRA has always been on a voluntary basis and membership carries with it many serious responsibilities. Any racetrack seeking membership is carefully considered by the board of directors. The board must be convinced that the applicant will abide by the Code of Standards and cooperate fully in the TRA policy for the betterment and protection of the whole of racing. • The board of directors numbers 15 and meets monthly. The president and members of the board are not compensated and attend meetings at considerable expenditure of their own time and money. Their contribution to collective thought on racing matters is not dictated by meeting dates nor by geographical boundaries. The makeup of the board is such that all parts of the country, and both large and small tracks, are represented. The board does not dictate to the membership, but makes recommendations on policy after a careful consideration of a subject. Earlier this year, there were several proposals made to the effect that purse distribution should be broadened to take in the horse finishing fifth. Mr. J. Samuel Perlman, publisher of The Morning Telegraph and Daily Racing Form, addressing the Thoroughbred Club of America dinner in April, suggested that a study of this proposal be made. The TRA board of directors has made a thorough study of the matter and is unanimous in its opposition to such a policy and the member tracks have all been so advised. The general feeling is that any such Droaaenmg oi tne purse distribution would eventually lead to a point where the sixth, the seventh, and finally all horses starting would receive a portion of the purse. The abuses which would inevitably arise under such a plan are obvious. You gentlemen who are personally and economically interested in the breeding of good thoroughbreds can readily see the danger in such a plan. As Nelson Dunstan points out in the New York Morning Telegraph-DAiLY Racing Form: "If such a plan were ever adopted, it would make a mockery of the sporting side of horseracing and would simply en- Contmued on Page Forty-One JOHN A. MORRIS7 ADDRESS BEFORE TCA AT LEXINGTON Continued from Page Fire courage men to race horses that are broken down and should be retired." Mr. Swinebroad, in a recent address before the NASRC, stated that breeders with whom he had talked were generally opposed to the payment of fifth money. Some horsemen have expressed themselves as in favor of the proposal, but they probably fail to realize that to give a portion of the purse to the fifth horse would mean that the winners share would be reduced. On the other hand, many horsemen who have given the proposal serious consideration have been strongly opposed to payment beyond fourth place. The directors feel -that recognition should be given to the fact that, under the present system, only the winning horse is penalized. There is no penalty for having finished second, third, or fourth. They feel that it would be unfair to further penalize the winner by taking a portion of his share of the purse to compensate an "also-ran." The TRA represents management. Management is keenly aware of its responsibilities, and realizes that successful management has due regard for their employees, the horsemen, and the public. Welcome Constructive Criticism We resent interference with our prerogatives as anyone else would in a like position. However, we welcome constructive criticism and are always ready to discuss intelligent suggestions with any group. We believe that stake and purse distribution should be settled locally by the horsemen directly interested, and the tracks. If an agreement is reached by these two interested groups it should not be overruled by any so-called national group. Also, the TRA refuses to become prisoners of percentage. Any good businessman who has studied the situation must recognize the fact that purse distribution based on any flat percentage formula is unsound. It gives management no leeway. Racetrack management, when deciding upon a purse and stakes distribution must consider income from all sources. Managemnet must also consider its total expense, incidental to its operation, together with its need for expansion of plant, and then arrive at a purse and stakes distribution schedule which is fair to the horseman, to the public, its charitable obligations, and its stockholders. While touching on purse distribution, it is interesting to note that TRA tracks have always done more than keep apace with increased business at the pari-mutuel windows. The record shows that the handle at TRA tracks last year was approximately the same as in the previous peak year of 1946. At the same time, purse distribution at TRA tracks last year came to more than 2,000,000, an increase of ,300,000, or 20 per cent more than was distributed in stakes and purses in 1946. The TRA member tracks feel that they are doing their part in the thoroughbred 1 racing industry to promote the sport as a great spectacle and to inspire an increased public confidence in its integrity. We realize that there is still much to be accomplished and are looking forward with confidence to the future. I hope your organization will give us your suggestions, understand our problems and share in our prosperity.
