Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-11-27
THE TURF.
A Meeting for the Purpose of Making
Rules TO Prevent Fraud.

Mr. S. Il. Montgomery returned Satur-
day evening from Louisville, where he attended
the Turf Convention, called to form national
racing club and to eradicate fraud from the turf.
Ten clubs. including the Memphis club, re
spOnded. The meeting was presided over by Gen;
T. J. McGibbon, of the Latonia Jockey Club, of
Covington, Ky. b, G. Bruce, editor of the Lex
ingtOn LtUe Stock Journal, and secretary of the
Louisville Jockey Club, was chosen temporary
and atterward elected permanent secretary. At
the first days session two committees were ap-
pointed. enc on weights and one on rules;
G%rk, E%s, Of st. Louis, GEM IcGibbOn, of J0vinE;
'VG Committee on Rules Robinson, of Lex
Bruce, Of Louisville; Gen: Harpey, Of St. Louis :
Chicago; 5. /: Montgomery, of Memphis.
The Committee. on Weight? recommended the
those in use by the American Jockey Club, with
the exception that the scale commences
from the LIST Of January bud goes ., on
while the American Jockey Club rules govern only
from May LIST TO October lst.
The committee further recommended that in
two year old races twO-year-olds be made to carry
lO5 from January LIST to May lst, and ITO thereaf-
carry 10 from January LIST to May lst, and lis
The Committee on Rules, after two days ses-
sion, recommended a set Of rules revised from
the American Jockey Club rules. One rule for
the purpose of guarding against fraud was that
any one once ruled off can never be reinstated.
The question of abolshing book -mading as a
source of fraud, came up, resulting in a rule that
every book-maker under an agreement with the
association TO make books for the meeting, should
give bond for $1,000 TO $1,000, as guarantee
against bribery of jockeys TO give information
concerning the secrets of the stables, or in any wal
tampering with the horses running. The parties
giving eonvicting evidence should receive the
amount of the bond forfeited by the bookmaker,
and he should be ruled off.
Another rule provided that horses name
shall never be changed-once named, named for
ever, that no deception or fraud may be perpe-
trated in that way.
Other strict rules were adopted in regard to
weighing in and of of jockeys. No attendant
connected " ith stable shall aid in starting the
horse. The jockey must start his own hose.
Another rule is no jockey or stable groom shall
be allowed on the betting ground. This rule has
the especial object of excluding 'touts or stable
followers.
Every Jockey must be weighed in thirty min
utes before the time for each race.
In purse races every owner must declare him
self by 10 O'Clock m. of the day of the race.
An important rule adopted lessening the
distance IOle from the judges stand in heat races.
In mile heats it was reduced from forty u thirty
yards, and in three-Quarter mile heats from thirty
to twenty-five yards. The object of this rule is to
make a better run for the first heat
The resolutions of the committees have ten
dency to abolish frauds purify the turf, and make
il worthy of the patronage of the best class of
higher plan of fairness than ever run before, and
will tend to encourage the breeding of blooded
horses,