Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-01
The Sattona. Trotttng association.

II aotioing tho meeting OF 5ho board OF
review Of the National T1otting assocla-
ton. recently held in New York city, the
Shirt OF the Times publishes table show
ing the growth of the association by years
since 1870, when it commenced with fifty
one members, until the presentitime, when
it has POI members, and says:
sThis table will cause very general sur
nrise from the fact that it shows the
membership at present to be so much
larger than ever before, and while, owing
to Temporary influences, progress IN the
matter of membership has not been unip-
terruuted. it has, nevertheless, been steady.
For the first time in the history of the as
sociatiop the roll of members includes
over two hundred, and the highest NUMBER
at the close of any year prior to the cur
rent one was thirty less than now. IhlS
gratifying increase is not due to the es-
adjustment of new tracks, to any extent,
but almost entirely to the fact that the
ewes of managers OF tracks that have been
In operation for q greater or less length OF
time. have been opened to the advantages
OF membership. The policy of the Board
of Review in dealing with cases In which no
time has been reported for races has con-
tributed greatly to the increase. This
nolicv has been one Of inquiry, through
the secretary, into the facts of each case
1t has been found that these official lnqul-
ries have opened the way to better IN
derstanding of the situation, managers OF
tracks who have been deluded with thezdea
that it was necessary for them to cater TO
people whose ruling motive is to AVOID
records, have learned better, and the con-
sequence has been this considerable IN
crease of membership. In matter Of fact,
we learn from Mr.. Vail that, in number
of cases in which he has written to tracks
whose races have been reported with no
time attached, the records have been
promptly supplied him, and 1t has been
ascertained that everything was regular ID
this respect, and the apparent fault was
due to the lack of efficiency or accuracy OF
the local press, rather than to any other
cause.
OF not less interest was the exhibit II
regard to the "business" of members of the
Nationol Trott1ng association during 1882
The last biennial report of the secretary
covering the years 1880-81, showed for 1851
the sum OIL GOOO.OtO dWdINCA Al
by members, and for 1881, $685., so
For 1882, the returns of 1874 of the 2Ol
tracks in membership exhibited premiums
awarded by them to the amount of $638,
O68. and fair estimate of the as'yet unre
ported members will increase the amount
doubtless, to about $670,OO0. In the bien
NAL report referred to, it was shown tina
the actual returns from the obligations fol
entrance fees was about two-thirds OF the
amount of premiums awarded, and, as thu
same proportion had prevailed for the two
years previous, it is fair conclusion tina
it will also hold good for 1882. This be
ing the case, the amount of obligations FOL
entrance money for awarded purses during
1882 will be nearly $450,000, and it will
without doubt, be of great interest to the
managers of tracks belonging to tht
National Trotting association to learn tina
statistics for series of years show tha'
they may reasonably expect, on the aver
age. that entrance-fee obligations viii
amount to two thirds of their paid premi
ums. 1t is good basis for calculation.
With regard to suspensions imposed FOL
non-payment, without going into full de-
tails in this place, although the report wal
very minute for each year since 1870, il
was shown that these amounted to lees thar
one-tenth of the obligations for entrances
fees for a period Of five years past AS to
the amount realized by collections, through
the agency of the National association, il
amounts to S165,347.97 on an indebtedness
of S417 S37.23. In other words about forty
per cent. of bad debts have been collected
and paid to members through this agency
proportion that most business men would
be delighted to realize. This, however, i
a small benefit compared to the amount OF
money paid to members that it is reasonable
to believe would not be paid but for the fant
of their membership. The fear of suspen
sion, with its attendant disadvantages
operates most wholesomely upon nomin
ators, and the cooperation brought abou
by the methods Of the National association
works for the good of all.
We believe that the National Trottins
association has by no means reached it,
high-water mark of usefulness. The in
crease of membership during the past sea
son, stimulated By the causes mentioned
is proof that the advantages of member
ship need only be made clearly known tt
be appreciated. Ignorant prejudices have
prevented the affiliaticn of many tracks
The institution is truly national IL iii
structure and theories; its object, as So
forth in the second article of its bylaws. il
adhered to in all its workings, and i
should and will, in the course of time, en-
brace every respectable track in the coun
try.''