Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-10-17

pal object, as given in the ID article Of
the Bylaws is, "to the prevention, de-
lection and punishment of frauds on the
trotting turf of America, and to elevate
the standard of trotting." Another arti-
Gle of Importance is, the "Board of Ap.
peals " tribunal, to which any misdeed
is referred, to consist Of nine members;
and "they are to have the general man
agement, and examine all evidence Of
fraud or other matters relating to the turf
that is brought before them, and shall
take measures to ascertain the truth, falsi-
ty or of all charges as in their judgment
is deemed necessary and proper.
In the annual and official report given
by this board in January, 1870, they say,
''the ablest and most experienced of the
professional trainers and drivers, have
cheerfully conformed to the new regula-
tions and expressed much satisfaction with
their practical operation. In fact, they
have voluntarily announced that, as far
as their knowledge extends, the experience
of all parties under the administration of
the new rules, has shown more clearly
than ever before that the true interest Ot
owners, trainers, drivers, and associations,
are mutually promoted by the strict and
fair administration and application of
stringent laws
1t is evident from this report and from
the general reputation that the National
Association has established through
out the whole country, that it claims the
sympathy and support of all upright men,
and every trotting park in this State should
join the National Association, and aid IN
subduing the frauds and swindles SO eX-
tensively perpetrated, and take the tror-
ting horse out Of the hands of these dls.
honest men, that disgrace him, by making
him the object Of their vile schemes
They have good rules and most all are
anxious to trot under them, feeling that it
gives them degree of responsibility AMI
credit, yet do not become members Of it.
Within the influence and control Of this
body there is system, law and order;
without, there is confusion and disorder.
Law is perverted instead Of enforced. No
tribunal or Board Of Appeals, where diff
ferences of opinion and disputes can be
referred for investigation and settlement.
for right, for common honesty, for the
character of everything connected with
public trotting, | appeal to all Of the
trotting societies in this State to become
members Of the National Association.
There are some very disagreeable and
annoying features that exist at the pres
ent time in some of our best managed
trotting Parks that wished to allude to,
and they have been allowed at about all
Of the trotting contests | have witnessed
on this Park, and at the Agricultural
Meetings in this State. have reference
to kind of iockeying maneuvre, among
drivers Of unnecessary scoring. Not hard"
ly race of interest and Importance, ever
occurred upon these grounds, especially
where more than two horses are to start.
but that it was score, score, until the pa
tience Of the spectators became exhaust
ed In majority of instances, it Is 4
cohtemptible farce, and should not be al
lowed. The drivers know it, as well a
the people, and frequently make their
boasts of it, how they "come it over the
Judges" Our trotting Associations are
able to offer purses largely for the money
that is received of the public as admis-
sion fees, and drivers get their support by
preparing the horses to trot for these pur-
ses. Therefore, those four or five thousand
spectators that have paid their money,
have rights, that they can justly claim,
and they should be respected. Good
prompt judges know how to correct this
evil, and we hope it will be corrected at
this exhibition.
There is one other feature, that is al
lowcd-though not always detected, that
is becoming very common in our associa-
tions, (which is anything but creditable.
1t is a race that is fixed up before they
start" term, using the vernacular among
horsemen, of "hippodroming.' In this,
there is no contest, no real trial for yicto-
ry, no honest competition. The horses
merely trot around the course at fair
speed, and one of them, in accordance to
previous agreement, comes out ahead, and
the money that is won is divided between
the parties making the race. Such trot-
ting is degrading, and an imposition on
the publie-damaging the character Of
the turf in the estimation of respectable
people; driving gentlemen from the
course and in no way encouraging the
improvement Of the horse.
In closing, will say, it is hoped that
during this session Of our first meeting,
that all of the officers connected with this
association, those in charge of their spe-
cial and separate departments, will faith
fully discharge their duties in manner
that will be creditable to themselves and
this association; that the judges for the
the first time in this State, officiating un-
der the rules and regulations of the Ma
tional Association, will enforce them in a
manner that justice and right will be al
forded to all; that the various commit
tees in awarding premiums will be discreet
and impartial in all of their decisions, and
exercising no favOritism, but looking well
to the blood, quality and value Of the
stock. So essential to the success of our
association and to the qualification of
those that are to favor us with their pres
ence and witness the exhibition, it is de-
sirable that the order of exercises as an
nounced in the programme will prompt
ly performed, as far as practicable at the
precise time assigned by those superin-