TURF REFORM

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 55

TURF REFORM

' * fc Turf reform" is a loud-voiced' cry_ at present ii^ vineries; - arid accustomed. -as we ere "to plain, outspoken criticism from theHew ' York pressi ' the -following- from the • pen -of "Bac" "Mastersfon, 'the well-known writei in the" 3T«w~ Yoirk. Morning Telegraph, • -will 'be of considerable interest to . racing' men :— Now ibat "the* racing season f 0r_1907 on- -Uie' metropolitan -tracks is about at an, end^ ,it~. might be well' for those'in•Eefested in "the 'perpetuity of the sport; to begin 'formulating -■some " comprehensive course 'to pursue' during' the session of the incoming Legislature at Albany.- This with a. view of having enacted laws to bring abouir many needed reforms in. the conduct of horse-racing in this- locality. One of the Hxsl things for the friends of horse-racing" 'to do when -the legislature convenes is to ask that body to pass an amendment to" the present racing, laws, having for its purpose thct doing" away with bhe present- ays'- . tern -of stewardship-, and" thessubstitutioßu'of " a. -_ia-w'empowering"fche "State Racmg Gom^- - mission to -appoint a -Board of v&fcewards " "who -would" be paid>for their sersdcea, and ■who in turn could >be held responsible for _ihe faithful. Tterformance o£ their jdnty^by *he Appointive power.- The way- the. matter iiow , stands ,thar.4;*,-is no v authority -abovethat 'of the' sfce>vawls.. They can do.asHthey please in all matters relating to- horse•racing on, all race- tracks over which they ix&ve jurisdiction. , The present stewards- of ihe jockey club are too badly affected with senility to ba of much _ service to ~ hoiee - iacing«or the racing public in general.." No, one questions their integrity, although some of "them are known to -bet heavily on xacea, - upon- which they are called to pass Judgment, while , others are known to be t interested- in- both "horses and 1--' jockeysl --' jockeys who x*«e- and. ride, on > tracks over, v whioh» they preside,. -in"* the. stand.-* They perhaps mean 0 ■well. enough, -so far. as, that goes,, but \they ".are wholly, incapacitated rthrongh old age "and'other. physical iinfirmjties satisfactory 'to - perform -their - respective duties.. * The" position of steward on a metiopolrtan<raeecouxse 53 erifcirely\.too hnjportant-td be given 'to men■whose .intellects- have become more at- less" ossified throng 'long years ,of battling with' the cfates incident- to horse-racing. -What the sport of.-kings needs -most in ordter-rthat it may live -and- flourish is new blood in- tbe judges' stand. men, active, and clear-sighted, who are ramiliaT with all the' angles of lorse-iacing, instead of superannuated fossils who can scarcely tell a ■black" horso "from a white one at a distance '. of "a hundred,- feet,- the .usual width of a metropolitan , racecourse. The demand, for reform in this particular branch of - honsexacing has become imperative, and the' ■ sooner the- reform is -brought . about the foetter it wiH "be .for the sport. That^ the • racing stewards should be appointed by the commission and that they should be liber-•ll-v compensated for "their work is generally conceded by* all racegoers. - A movement; with this end' in view on tha part of tbe -friends -of the feport would be sure to meet with^ tbe hearty' approval' of the racing public. - The \ only opposition the change ■would encounter "*ould probably "come- from j ■tne jockey club itself,' the members of irfuch ar© the principal owners of the^ metropolitan race ",tracks. --V ' ;