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Munchausen, Munchausen, Dark Dark Grier Grier Register; Register; NASRC NASRC Resolution Resolution Hits Hits High High Taxes Taxes Will Be Sent State, Federal Legislators Points Out Excessive Take In Many Localities; Uniform Claiming Rule Goal of Body * By BOB HORWOOD Staff Correspondent ASBURY PARK, N. J., June 24.— This mornings fourth and final session of the twentieth annual convention of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners, held in the Berkeley-Carteret Hotel here, proved to be by a considerable margin the most provocative and constructive of the conclaves. Most of the morning was given over to open discussion from the floor. The uniformity of rules and the problem of overtaxation of pari-mutuel wagering were the principal topics, while Maryland was selected as the site for next years convention, to be held during the * Laurel meeting in April. Earl J. Moyer, chairman of the committee on uniform rules, brought the final session to a concrete climax by introducing a resolution written by Edward Hughes of Rhode Island, in which the "Congress of the United States and the legislatures of the several states ... are respectfully urged and petitioned to most carefully consider the result of imposing additional taxes ... , and likewise the continuance of recent increases in such taxes made by the legislatures in the several states." Resolution Passed Unanimously This resolution, which is to be transmitted by the executive committee of the NASRC to the presiding officers of the Congress of the United States, the chairmen of the Finance Committee of the Senate and -the Ways and Means Committee of the House, and to the governors and presiding officers of the Houses t f Legislature of the states in which pari-mutuel wagering has been legalized, was passed unanimously by the convention. Moyer, a past president of the NASRC -from Nebraska, read this resolution into the record from Hughes notes and said that some minor revision in language would be made. Before introducing this motion, by which the racing commissioners for the first time went on record as opposing what the resolution described as "a growing tendency on the part of legislative bodies in many states -to increase such taxes to a point which would discourage the continuance of wagering by those who pay Continued on Page Five ► U..vJJL.lJUjm» | „....., ALLYN ALLYN S. S. DREW DREW— — Louisiana Louisiana commis- * ■ : 4 NASRC Approves Resolution Hitting Over-Taxation of Sport Will Be Sent to Federal, State Lawmakers; Uniform Claiming Rule Goal of Body Continued from Page One taxes," Moyer declared that racing was on the defensive without any justification for this position, which he said was the fault of racing management and the commissions. He pointed out that when pari-mutuel racing was first introduced it was widely agreed that a flat 10 per cent take for all purposes -was equitable, but that prosperity had encouraged legislators to demand more from racing. Though racing is the finest and cleanest of sports, Moyer said, neither the commissions or the track managements said to the legislators: "Dont take more money out of the pockets of the public." Granting that management had a huge investment and that the horsemen "put on the show," Moyer pointed out that the commissions represent the public, without which there can be no racing, and their first duty as commissioners is to this public. , In this connection, Moyer said, the commissioners were too often prone to yield to the demands of some segments of racing, while overlooking the solid contributions to racing made py such groups as the Jockeys Guild, the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau and Daily Racing Form and The Morning Telegraph. Citing what has been called an unfair attitude on the part of the non-racing press, Moyer said that he believed that much of this attitude can be traced to the defensive attitude taken by both management and the commissions, which gives the impression that there is something to conceal. Careful Consideration to Claiming Rule A second resolution passed unanimously on a motion by Moyer which declared that the convention went on record as giving careful consideration by all members of adoption of the claiming rule which requires all claimed horses to advance in value 25 per cent, for a period of at least 30 days, with a view to making this rule uniform throughout the nation. James Inglis, of Michigan, also introduced a motion that would empower the president to appoint additional committees as needed. This motion, which was passed unanimously, was motivated by the observations of William Miller, of Illinois, and Dr. Frank Menne, of Oregon, NASRC president, that some means be found to "clear" addresses by visitors to the convention. Miller pointed out that statements in the address given by Robert O. Read, president of the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association, to the effect that horsemen were 100 per cent opposed to the present claiming rule came as a complete surprise to the convention and were given wide circulation without there being any opportunity for discussion or reply by the commissions. Miller and Paul Serdar, chairman of the Illinois Racing Board, declared that as recently as last Friday the horsemen in the Chicago area had expressed themselves as 99 per cent in favor of the rule requiring all claimed horses to advance in value. Inglis said that there was not the same unanimity in Michigan, a poll revealing that 53 per cent favored the rule adopted by eight states last October 15 and 16 at Lexington, Ky. Wathen R. Knebelkamp, of Kentucky, declared that horsemen in Illinois, Michigan, Louisiana and Ohio, with whom he had talked, all favored the rule, while New Jersey horsemen also appear to favor it. In supporting Knebelkamps statement, Allyn S. Drew, of Louisiana, recalled that the Kentucky meeting at which this rule was drafted was an informal session, at which, "We got around a table, let our hair down and did some good. We didnt all agree at all times, but we didnt oppose anyones right to speak or tell anyone what to do, while we accomplished a great deal of ironing out." Drew declared that he felt a similar procedure might work well at future NASRC meetings, saying that many members felt that the proceedings of the conventions had become those of a closed corporation. He urged that new members be given more chance, both to talk on the floor and to occupy positions on the committees. Give New Members Places on Committees "We must modernize in some way," he said, "and I suggest that we leave the old members off the committees. Lets see if the new members wont have new ideas and let everybody feel that its his convention." The Louisianians remarks were received with spontaneous applause. Dn Menne agreed that new members mustJx!, ALLYN ALLYN S. S. DREW DREW— — Louisiana Louisiana commis- commissioner asked that future NASRC conventions be modernized/ added to the committees, but declared that he would retain the older leaders. J. Samuel Perlman, editor and publisher of Daily Racing Form and Morning Telegraph, then suggested a variation in the convention procedure that would allow three hours at the start of the proceedings, during which the newer members of the committees could meet with the older members and with the chairman, pointing out that in many cases committee members hardly know each other. Dr. Menne agreed that in many cases, for geographic and other reasons, committee reports tend to become one-man affairs, with the report often becoming, only the opinion of the chairman. The reports, he said, were therefore not always representative and discussion at the beginning of the convention might stimulate the thinking of the newer members. Take Up 48-Hour Medication Rule Called again to the rostrum by the president, Moyer asked if any of the commissioners present had any objection to the 48 -hour rule that barring the use of any medication within that period before a race. While there was no objection at this point in the proceedings to the rule, which had been opposed bjr Read in his address, there was considerable discussion. Serdar pointed out that the rule was not part of the "Corrupt Practices" section in Illinois, but related to entries and s"aid that the 48 -hour rule was designed primarily to protect the public against horses that might have been given medication for some ailment and not be in condition to run to their best form. Not all medication, he pointed out, is always effective, and the fact that there is a need for medication indicates that the horse may not be well enough to run. He also said that braces, paints, etc., were not considered as medication, but merely first-aid. Inglis, of Michigan, saidthat he felt that the 48-hour rule sometimes provided the trainer with a "built-in alibi," and would allow him to declare in. court that the medication had been given 49 hours before the race. Serdar said that that loophole had been plugged in Illinois by a rule requiring that all medication that could in any way be considered as a stimulant must be reported by the administering veterinarian to the commission, regardless of when it is given. In the event a stimulant is detected and no report has been made, it must be assumed that it was given illegally. Ashley T. Cole, of New York, then declared that he had been advised, by Charles Morgan, New York chemist, that the chemists in all states were unanimously opposed to the 48-hour rule. Retiring president Hugh Mehorter said that he believed the chemists were opposed to the rule in its relation to stimulants, which, he said, was not the purpose of the rule, but added that there was too much to discuss in this rule to permit of any motion recommending its universal a? , ,ii Goati*ued Aitf.tfeJwPf.-StiL * . 1 . t f * « *T x--t n*»?i T»*?irjff g ctsandba NASRC Resolution Hits Over-Taxation of Sport Will Be Sent to Federal, State Lawmakers; DiscussClaiming Rule Continued from Page Five adoption at this time. On Mehorters motion, this matter was "laid over." After a brief discussion of the optional claiming Tule, requested by Thomas J. Beedem, of Massachusetts, in which it developed that original abuses had been corrected, Dr. Menne asked for invitations from the various states for the 1955 convention. • E. Taylor Chewning, chairman of the Maryland Racing Commission, promptly invited the commissioners to visit the "Buckingham Palace Turf Club at Laurel." Chewning added that it would be "brave of any one to attempt to come up to the performance of the New Jersey tracks and commission, but said that Maryland was eager to try, and offered as additional inducements a visit to the White House and the probability of an address by George Humphrey, Secretary of the Treasury, who is also a breeder and member of The Jockey Club. Cole said that he didnt wish New York to compete with Maryland, but, for the *• - . »* ,. ..*■ . f i A i~i *.A ! ?i F • s J, tv * ..t»y. record, the Empire State had rendered an invitation some weeks ago, while John F. Dugan, secretary, said that Louisville and the State of Kentucky were receptive, but had no desire to stand in the way of Maryland. Miller said that Illinois would be eager to receive the convention in 1955, at which time Chicagos new convention hall, built with funds from racing revenue, would be ready. On the motion of Mehor-ter, the Maryland invitation was unanimously accepted. Moyer preceded Dr. Mennes formal adjournment by thanking the American To-talistator Company, Daily Racing Form and The Morning Telegraph and the four New Jersey racing associations, Monmouth, Garden State, Atlantic City and Freehold Raceway, for three festive evenings, then paid tribute to the late Dr. James Farqu-harson, whose voluminous but incomplete report of uniformity of rules is to be placed at the disposal of the commissions. Last nights cocktail party and dinner dance at the Berkeley-Carteret maintained the gala place established at the two earlier functions that have made this a gay but somewhat exhausting week, both for the commissioners and the press. The four New Jersey associations did themselves proud and warmed the ladies hearts with gifts of charm bracelets on which badges to the four tracks were the motif.
