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Show THINKS RAGING HEBEIS DEAD "Dick" Croker Blames Legislation Legisla-tion for Death of Sport ' of Kings SAYS RACES WITHOUT BETTING ARE FAILURE Points Out Europe Takes a Broader and More Encouraging Encour-aging View Than America. By Leasod Wire to The Tribune. NEW YORK, April .1. Racing in this country is dead. That is the opinion opin-ion of Bichard Croker, onco boss of Tammany Hall, race horse owner in Iroland and winner of tho famous '"English '"Eng-lish Derb3", Mr. Croker, who has spent tho winter in this country, sails for Ireland next week. "X think horse racing in this country coun-try is killed altogether aB a result of legislation," said Mr. Croker, in an interview toda3. "I do not think it will ever recover. B3' the time anything could be done to clianco this legislation, all those interested inter-ested in horse racing in a financial way will sell out their interests. I thank all the property now owned by raco track associations will bo disposed of. This -will probably be done by cutting it into building lots. "X don't think betting on races will ever be resumed an tho United States and I don't think racing ever will be successful hero unless tho people aro allowed to bet. That is my candid opinion. Europe Encourages Sport. "In Europe horso racing is encouraged. encour-aged. This promotes the breeding of thoroughbred stock. This is the case in England, Franco, Germanj" and Australia. Aus-tralia. Thc3' are all in favor of racing and raising thoroughbred stock. Even in such a far away country as Argentine Argen-tine the' aro mad about horses and horse racing and pay large prices for tho best thoroughbreds. Horse racing cannot, I believot bo carried on suc-cdfsfnlly suc-cdfsfnlly in the "Lnited States without betting, because the tracks then cannot can-not draw tho attention. If a lot of rich men come together to establish a race track they aTe not going to race horses ou empty stands, and yon won't have successful racing without betting." bet-ting." "What is the reason for less liberality liber-ality being shown towards horse racing rac-ing in this country than in England or any other county?" was asked. Broader View. "Thero is a broader and moro respectful re-spectful viow of sports across the water wa-ter than here. I think there are more demagogues in this country than thero are in Europe. Because I know very well, in my own experienco on the other oth-er side, T have soon Americans who, while protesting against horso racing in this country, havo actually gone to tho tracks in Europe and put down bets. I saw them. As you can plainty see, this is nothing more or less than actual hypocrisy, becauso if they are opposed to raeing while in this vcoun-tiy, vcoun-tiy, why should they not be consistent whon thoy go abroad? You can go to the Aco't race track, and Beo there thousands of Americans who are on record in the United States as opposed op-posed to horse racing. They uphold betting in England, and disapprove of it in their own county. "I. neer expect again to enter horses in races in this country, One Teason is because the laws are different differ-ent hero and there seems no likelihood, so far as T can see, of the present conditions con-ditions being changod, at least not in my lifetime, whatever may be doao in generations to come." |