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..iiii.M i i nil I ii 1 1 1..MH1 mi , . inn i 4 Cassidy Career Devoted to Racing Marshall Cassidy studying photo-finish equipment in 1936. Jockey Club Secretarys Life Striking Parallel With Rous Both Had Rich Backgrounds Briton Also Enjoyed Greatest Success After 60 Years Old By OSCAR OTIS There is a striking parallel between the careers of Admiral H. J. Rous, the great figure of the English turf a century ago, and Marshall Cassidy, executive secretary of The Jockey Club. Like Rous, Cassidy is a man of driving force whose dedicated purpose is to improve and preserve thoroughbred racing. Perhaps a key to Cassidys way of thinking may be gleaned from his statement4n a conversation we had with him some years ago. We were discussing a certain rule change in the west which differed considerably from the one in New York. Cassidy was strongly opposed to the western version of the rule and declared: "What has been proposed is a temporary expedient. Whatever we do in The Jockey Club and in New York is first considered in the light of its impact over the years. After all, we would be untrue to, our very souls if we did not act so that our children, and grandchildren a hundred years from now, did not enjoy this priceless heritage of thoroughbred sport handed down to us by our fathers." Admiral Rous, an outstanding handicap-per whoMevised the first scale of weights, did not enjoy his greatest years until after he reached the age of 60. And so it may be with Cassidy, who is now also beyond that mark. With 48 years of experienqe on the turf, Cassidy has a rich background to draw from, thus even greater accomplishments are in prospect. Began Turf Career at Twelve Cassidy began his turf career at the age of 12 during his summer vacation, helping his father, the late Mars Cassidy, on the "barrier wagon" used to carry the starting tape equipment from point to point before the introduction of the electric starting gate. The family tradition still exists in the Cassidy clan, Marshalls brother George is the starter at the New York tracks and brother Wendell is director of racing at Hollywood Park. . Some more practical experience with horses came Marshalls way- at the old Gravesend and Sheepshead Bay tracks in Brooklyn, when he was given the opportunity to gallop some race horses. He rode in his first race in 1906 -and was active both on the flat and over the jumps. Following in the footsteps of his father, he turned to starting, and got his chance as an assistant in 1913. After learning his profession several years, he became a full fledged starter in 1920 and soon was employed by some of the leading tracks in the country. Cassidy later gave up starting as a career, and even now recalls that it was the influence of the late Francis Nelson, then a steward at the Canadian Racing Association tracks in Canada and at Tiajuana, that aided him in his decision to strike out for greater heights in racing. "I thought I saw lots of ways to better the sport in those days," recalls Cassidy, "and Nelson gave me moral support to carry through in the face of opposition and even ridicule, most of it based on the theory that what we proposed had never been done before. Leaving his post as a starter, Cassidy became a racing secretary and later became patrol judge. He also held some managerial posts, so that when he finally became a steward he was thoroughly schooled in every phase of racing. With The Jockey Club 13 Years After some years, he was appointed a steward by the New York State Racing Commission, and 13 years ago he was ; drafted as an aide by The Jockey Club. -r- It is as executive secretary of The Jockey Club that Cassidy is best known today, although he is also the steward represent-? ; ing that body at all New York tracks. Getting back to the comparison between the careers of Admiral Rous and Cassidy, the Briton, it appears, had much the easier task, in his association with the English Jockey Club. Rous was able to accomplish his objectives by the comparatively simple method of getting a majority of the Jockey Club to go along with his ideas. In Rous time, a ruling of the Jockey Club was law in horseracing, and there was no appeal. Today, however, Cassidy must take into account the powerful factor of public opinion, the final arbiter in the last analysis, for, in recent years, The American Jockey Club has been the moral leader, but not the legal authority, for racing. In this difficult position, Cassidy has been a great source of enlightenment for the public, which often is in doubt as to the "raison detre" of The Jockey Club. As a liaison man between that group and the racing public. Cassidy has bridged the gap between the .two, achieving better understanding of the club and its functions and thus gaining confidence and support for it. Although decisions by The Jockey Club often come under attack, Cassidy does not shirk his task .when it means sacrificing or compromising on principle. As an example, Cassidy led the fight some years ago when the Army Remount Service attempted to gain entry to the American Stud Book for . certain horses whose thoroughbred status was "dubious" as prizes of war. The Army Remount launched a strong attack, and for a time, there was a hint that the Army might take its case to the Federal courts, or even make their horses eligible by military order. The Jockey Club eventually won the case, and proved it was guided by principles, not personalities, when some time later, with new evidence presented, it did recognize some of the horses involved in the dispute. But not until all the proof was gathered did the club alter its position. Plan Started to Change jn 1918 Cassidy credits a growing tendency on the part of various factions in racing to work together with bringing about a growing confidence in the sport. He points out, "About 1918, after World War I., our plan of life started to change. Underworld char- . acters returning from war saw in racing an opportunity to make big money without physical effort. Millionaires and Mr. Average Owner were buddies and maybe some of the lush money could be grabbed. "For some years then, without the aid of film patrol, photo-finish cameras, in some instances, competent officials, stall starting gates, and adequate policing service. I think racing reached the bottom level We found ourselves not accepted in the best circles. We were reluctant to open our mouths to defend or protect ourselves and we lived in joint fear of abolition." But then came the advent of several or- -ganizations, such as the TRA, the HBPA, Jockeys Guild, among others, dedicated to the good of the sport. But The Jockey Club has remained the sole disinterested party, aiding in the cooperation and "pulling together" that has gained momentum of late, boding well for continued prosperity and growth. Here are a few Cassidy observations: "Touts are invariably the cause of much criticism of racing because they of necessity must make up a plausible argument to persuade someone to bet for them. "In 1903, The Jockey Club promulgated its first rule in an attempt to eliminate stimulation. About 20 years ago, the late Joseph E. Widener, at his own expense, sent Dr. Catlett and Morgan to France Continued on Page Six IN YOUNGER DAYSMarshall Cassidy left, shown with his father. Mars Cassidy right, and Judge Francis Nelson center.. r Cqssidys Career One Deyoted to Racing Jockey Club Secretarys Life Striking Parallel With Rous Continued from Page five from this trip grew the present methods of lab testing of saliva and urine. "It is startling to compare the actual supervision and control of the sport today with the controls not more than 15 years ago. Qualifying orders were considered an owners right until such time as a horse could establish his proper form and class. Equipment could be changed almost at will, and that excuse would usually be accepted when a. horse showed . exceptional jmproye- ment. Today a cheater has to work harder at his business than it is worth. "Among the lesser known sides of The Jockey Club is its organization of The Jockey Club Foundation Home. Inc., the purpose of which is to take care of the aged and destitute people of racing who may become objects of charity and be dependent upon the cities and states for their very subsistence. "As custodians of the Stud Book, the stewards of The Jockey Club have been most meticulous in their survey of all horses submitted for registration and have considered their guardianship of the bloodlines of the American thoroughbred as a sacred trust. No power on earth could persuade them to accept dubious applicants. "The Jockey Club is Americas representative in the international sphere of racing. It has enjoyed a reputation over thejpast 50 yearsf or nonpqlitical and un- biased thought and action in the regulation and supervision of the sport. "Many years ago we mounted a camera under a pair of binoculars, and by pressing a button recorded on film what we were seeing at the time. Our primary purpose was to have a record whereby we could prove the accuracy of our rulings. This experimenting led to the modern film patrol as we know it today. "The Jockey Club was founded in 1894 after horsemen, owners, trainers and breeders had felt the insistent need to raise racing from its then chaotic state. They hold a meeting in New York City and called upon the leading raping men of the day to form an organization which would lift the sport to its proper position. Upon its formation, The Jockey Club became a trust for the benefit of racing and for the welfare of those who participate in it, jhich, Jri pra.cMcefclhas.j:.QmetQ4npludetle J thoroughbred horse. The Jockey Club is a non-profit organization, concerned only with the good of the sport. "Our rules and regulations may be divided into two categories, those which really are an embodiment of the laws of common sense as historically developed from experience in the long conduct of the sport, and again those more specific rules which are currently used in day to day racing and which, of course, are subject to much change from time to time, particularly in these days when conditions continually are being altered." Cassidy has devoted his turf career to bettering racing conditions. He is a clear thinker, gets to the point of a problem at once, and. bases his decisions on principle, not on personalities. His job is to combine the traditions of the past and the pattern of the present, with an eye toward its in-.fluence upon the future.
