Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-07
SOME RIGID RULES,
Important Meeting of the American Trotting
Association-New Regulations for Entries
and Ringers-General Offices to be in
ChicauO.

Important Meeting of the American TrOtting
Association-NewR II ReEuIations for Entries
and Ringers-General Offices to be in
Chicago.
CHICAGO, March 6.-The American Trotting
Association spent the forenoon to-day in an in
formal discussion of certain proposed changes
in the rules. These changes are extensive
enough to cover Is closely typewriter pages,
and are designed to remedy defects in the
existing rules and to cover a large number of
individual cases which have arisen during the
year.
This afternoon the following officers were
elected for the ensuing two years:
President, Charles Greene, st. Louis, Mo-;
First Vice President, d. C. Beaman, Ottumwa,
Iowa; Board of Directors, c. l.. Benjamin,
Michigan; W. P. Ijalns, Indiana; o. C. Lewis,
Illinois; g. B. McFaI, Iowa; John Farley,
Ohio
The congress closed this evening A number
of alterations were made in both the bylaws
and track rules. The principal one in the
former was the admission of all of the 3lS
local associations on the association rolls to
active membership. Two-thirds of these have
heretofore been known as ''Transients." and
have had no vote in the association meetings
Some of the many changes in the track rules
are important Heretofore, owners and drivers
horses in races Professionally and upon condi-
tions imposed by themselves. These were
often weather, condition of track, etc. In
future all entries must be absolute or upon
conditions named by the local association.
In the case of those who make false entries
and who have been subject to fine at the op-
tion of the association, it was decided that In
the future the fine must be imposed. To the
rule providing for the proper Identification of
horses was added clause that any driver or
owner who shall refuse to testify when called
upon in cases before the association, shall be
fined, but not more than 500, which may be re-
mitted if the testimony is Forthcoming before
the case is decided.
In the rule which establishes the pay of a
substitute driver at 10 per cent of the amount
awarded the horse, conditionally upon the
driver bettering the position of the horse,
change was made which provides that the
judges. if they think the driver is driving to
win, shall award him a sum not exceeding SlC0
This is to be paid by the local association, and
if the driver betters the position of the horse
the amount awarded may be deducted from the
winnings of the horse.
Suspended horses will hereafter be in
cluded in the clause which says that suspended
drivers and owners VINO shall enter a race shall
be lined. The privilege allowing persons SIX
weeks in which to file protests was altered, and
they must now do SO at once or forfeit the
right. The latest important change was the
barring of 2-year-olds from 3-year-old races un-
less especially provided in the local society.
A resolution directing the President and
directors as committee to investigate the
legal distractions to the removal of the princi-
pal business office of the association from De-
troit to Chicago was presented, and after much
discussion, laid on the table for action at the
next meeting. Many favored Chicago as the
best location for the office, but the association
is organized under the laws of Michigan, and it
was decided better to postpone action until
fuller representation was present The con-
gress adjourned to meet in this city two years
hence.