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RACING ROUND TABLE Current Questions Discussed EDITORS NOTE Last July 1, a group of men intimately connected with racing in various capacities met at the invitation of The Jockey Club in its New York offices and discussed informally numerous phases of the sport. The panel consisted of George D. Widener, Ogden Phipps and John Hay Whitney, representing The Jockey Club; Marshall Cassidy, steward; John B. Campbell, racing secretary and handicapper; Cyrus S. Jullien and Luke OBrien, track management; Robert F. Kelley and Alex Bower, public relations; A. B. Hancock, Jr., and Clifford Lussky, breeders; E. Barry Ryan and Sol Rutchick, owners; Preston Burch and Hirsch Jacobs, trainers; Frank Ortell and J. Samuel Perlman, the press, and Ted Atkinson, jockey. Bob Horwood, staff writer of this newspaper, has summarized the views expressed in aseries of articles, of which this is the second. Question "Would a Standard Engagement Form, in Either Duplicate or Triplicate, for Jockey Agents be Advantageous: One for the Person Employing the Jockey, one for the Racing Secretarys Office and one to Remain in the Agents Book, This Standard Form in Book Form to be Printed by the Racetrack Operating at That Time?" Mr. Cassidy said that such a system had been tried in New York and proved absolutely valueless, as the horsemen refused to accept the receipts. The discussion resolved into a discussion of jockeys agents, generally unfavorable. Mr. Campbell and Mr. Jacobs said they prevented races from filling. Mr. Atkinson said that in many areas "the jockey agents badge is primarily a touting badge and the point is that I think it goes right back to the licensing authority. They license a man to be an agent for no other reason than he puts in an application. Why, I dont know. If a little more care were used about the background of the men who apply for agents licenses I think you could eliminate a great many of them." Question "Should Owners be Required to Stake Jockeys to 10 Per Cent of all Winning Money of all Races?" Jockey Atkinson was questioned on this point and said that since coming to New York 10 years ago he had received the 10 per cent stake in all but 3 or 4 per cent of the races he won. The veteran rider added that these stakes were all on a voluntary basis and said that he, and the Jockeys Guild, were opposed to making it a mandatory arrangement. Question "Should an Individual be Permitted to Have an Apprentice Contract on More Than Two Boys at the Same Time?" Mr. Burch said that trainers were unable to understand the restriction saying, "Our difficulty has been in getting help and the only way we can get help is to start them as apprentices1." Mr. Atkinson said that the Jockeys Guild is firmly in favor of the rule and said, "In the first place we feel that to some extent its a dodge in an effort to get cheap help on the part of many a horseman who has no intention of making a jockey . . ." Mr. Burch suggested that rather than limit each stable to two boys, the limitation should be based on the number of horses in the stable. Mr. Rutchick, Mr. Cassidy and Mr. Lussky also spoke in favor of the rule, which applies only to New York and Delaware, while Mr. Burch stressed the shortage of exercise riders, which he said is acute in New Jersey and concluded: "I think if theres more incentive to make jockeys, wed have more help around the racetrack." In reply, Mr. Cassidy declared: "Ted Atkinson is a jockey. And he probably makes more money than half of us in this room. Thats a pretty good incentive for a boy to become a jockey, isnt it? If the material is there for exercise boys, or for grooms, which you say are equally hard to get, its a matter of dollars and cents. If you pay them enough you can attract them to work for you. But why offer apprentice jockey contracts just to get them to work as exercise boys?" Question "Should Jockey Agents be Required to Transact All Their Business With Jockeys When Racing Is Not In Progress?" Mr. Atkinson said that he believed this to be an unfair rule, while Mr. Casssidy said that the public "gets funny ideas" when they see agents talking to jockeys in front of the jockey room, as at Belmont Park, then walk away and talk to other people. Mr. Ortell said that he felt that the rule would work a hardship on many riders, , , : particularly in obtaining mounts in out-of-town stakes. Question "Can Late Jockey Information Be Supplied to the Press by 1 Information Obtained From Jockey Agents During the Afternoon by an Association Employee; 2 Rule Ordering the Naming of Jockeys by 4:00 p. m. the Day Before the Race?" Mr. Ortell stated that there has been a great deal of complaint by all afternoon newspapers and one morningvpaper because there are so many "No Boys." He pointed out that newspapers feature races to come and asked that management appoint someone to collect the jockeys by 4:00 oclock of the afternoon before the race, rather than wait until 8:30 the following morning. He agreed that such a rule should hot be mandatory as there were legitimate instances in which a trainer or owner would be waiting to obtain the services of a rider, but said that he felt the present arrangement could be : much improved. Mr. Perlman said: "I dont see what objection there is to doing what they do in California. It is working exceptionally well there. They have to name their jockeys with the entries; the handicappers get a better chance and the public gets a better break." Mr. Phipps, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Jacobs and Mr. Rutchick all opposed any rule making it mandatory to name jockeys before scratch time, on the ground that an owner or trainer should be allowed all possible time to obtain the best available jockey. It was agreed by Mr. Cassidy that an effort should be made to obtain the cooperation of trainers to obtain as much jockey information as possible by 4:00 p. m. and then supply it to the .press. Question "Should Spurs be Prohibited?" Mr. Atkinson strongly opposed the use of spurs and was supported by Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Rutchick and Mr. Burch. There were no other views on the subject. Question "What Can Be Done to Discourage the Excessive Use of Lead Ponies in the Parade to the Post?" Mr. Atkinson asked what objection there was to the use of ponies and was told by Mr. Widener that it marred the appearance of a post parade, as well as . hiding horses from the public. It was generally agreed that an increase in the lead pony fee, which goes to charity, from 0 to 5 might possibly be of some benefit. Mr. Phipps changed the subject, saying: "I think theres quite a shortage of competent jockeys now with r.acing having expanded as much as it has. Are we doing anything to develop new riders and retain the older ones?" Mr. Atkinson suggested that considerable "talent scouting" might be done, while Mr. Burch said that he thought a jockey school would be successful in New York. Mr. Bower asked Mr. Atkinsons opinion on the question of raising the weight scale with a view to prolonging the careers of older riders. The jockey said that while more riders might stay in the sport, there would also be more riders reducing. He disagreed with Mr. Cassidy and Mr. Burch, who said they believed the New York scale of weight, which is generally higher, had helped the older and heavier riders. Mr. Whitney suggested that a television or radio program might-be helpful, adding: "Mothers of small boys think they are sending their boys into a life of crime. I think we could well undertake a public relations program and in a couple of years time see how much material you would get." Mr. Cassidy said, "With that thought in mind we have intended making a movie, in color, of a jockeys career from the beginning." Question "Should an Owner Who Has Only a Leased Horse be Permitted to Claim?" The consensus was that a minimum time limit of 60 to 90 days on leases might help to stop abuses by horsemen coming into an area and leasing one horse for the purpose of claiming horses to race elsewhere. To be continued
