Daily globe., 1882-10-02
A Prostitution of the Judges Stand.
Turf Editor st. Paul Globe.

A Prostitution of the JUDGES Stand.
Turf Editor st. Paul Globe.
No spectacle to true horseman is so hu-
initiating as crowded judges stand.
Upon many we'll regulated tracks to avoid
this appearance of evil a stand is provided
for the timers while the trotting congress
in full recognition of the great Importance
of undisturbed deliberation on the part of
those selected to judge race repealed the
provision of the stand formerly allowed to
members of the board of appeals. In the
preface to the present edition of the rules
attention is called in italics to this point,
in the following words: "Rule "a, excludes
all persons from the judges stand during
heat; except the judges of the race, and
their assistants.' The rule itself reads
none but the judges of the race in prog
ress, and their assistants shall be allowed
in the judges stand during the pendency
of a heat" AS another rule provides
what assistants judges shall have, there is
no loop hole left in the law, by which
crowd can be introduced into the stand and
an association which deliberately and
processes to act deserves expulsion, and
cannot, if due complaint is made under
article XII of the By laws escape without a
fine. I desire to notify President Norrish of
the Hastings association through the GLOBE
that his recent exhibition of crowd of
malodorous Republican politicians doing
homage to their boss in the judges stand,
is an act for which he must answer to the
National association.
It is also due to my friends that they
should understand my motive for refusing
to act either as associate or starter under
such circumstances. Very likely some
modest and we'll meaning gentlemen, ig-
norant of the fact that they were trans
crossing racing law, accepted invitations
to the stand. For Mr.. Norrish, himself, no
such excuse can be made. He was refused
access to the stand at Rochester and had
the law carefully explained to him. Very
much to my regret, however, ono of the
official timers was induced to resign in his
favor and thus evade the spirit of tho law.
One of the results of the crowding of
the Hastings stand was the successful man
iputation of as bare-fased job as ever was
perpetrated on track. A race was pro-
longed to seven heats that could easily
have been settled in three, without appar-
emily exciting the slightest suspicion on the
part of the gentlemen engaged in enter
tanning the distinguished politicians who
filed the stand to repletion. The record
of the box, with ample corroborative evil
dence, proves this fact, but to many ex-
perienced racing men proof is needless;
they easily recognized the job by
features that are as unmistakable
as ancient. The race went see-
saw ike:. the notorious pacing jobs; con-
stant, steady trotters that with loosed
heads could show every heat in from 2:30
to 2:33, hippodroming on an exceptionally
quick track by barely saving their distance
in 2:36 and 2:37. Horses, too, that were
little more than at themselves and could
have clipped their records if driven from
end to end. This was enough without
other proof, but the other proof was abund-
ant and laying around loose. No matter
how compel ent judges may be, they are of
no use when surrounded by crowd gath |
cred together for political or social pur-
poses, and I, for one, will never endanger
what little reputation have as starter |
whore rule twenty-four cannot be enforced |
both in the spirit and in the letter.
In conclusion, permit me as a racing |
man to read few of our Minnesota poll |
ticians lesson. Unless you are all racing |
experts the judges stand at race meet
ing is no place for you. It is not proper |
place or time for button holing, wire pull
ing or log rolling. The interests and |
money of horsemen are at stake, the crowd |
want horse race, not pool box, hippo
drome contest. To do justice to all and
meet the requirements of their positions |
demands from the judges constant and
unceasing vigilance and attention, care
full, undisturbed consideration of all points |
that arise and absolute freedom from po-
htical or social chat. The fascinating
story teller and the sleek politician whens
exercising their vocation in the judges
stand become intolerable nuisances.
ri M. T. GRArTAN.
fs COMMENTS. htte i
In a private note accompanying the
above communication, Mr.. Grattan
says that he has made his formal com
plant In the matter to.Eecretary Vail, of
the National association. While the
GLOBE is decidedly pleased with Mr.. Graf
'an's protest. it regrets that it should
nave to be made against the Hastings as
'ociation, and under the circumstances
the case As Mr. Grattan