Wichita eagle., 1889-03-07
TROTTING ASSOCIATION.
The American Organization Meets and
Makes Important Changes in Rules.

CHICAGO March 6-The American
Trotting association spent the Afternoon
today in an inforwal discussion of certain
proposed changes in rules. Thes change:
are extensive enough to cover Is closely
type written pages and designed to rem
edy defects i'll the existing rules and te
cover 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:
| first vice president, d. c. Beaman. OF
tumwa, Ia; board of directors-C. L. Ben
jamin: Michigan; W. P. Ijams. Indiana;
0. c. Lewis, Illinois; G. B. McFall, Iowa;
John Farley, Ohio.
The Congress closed this evening. A
number of alterations were made in by
laws and track rules The principal one
in the former was the admission of all of
the 3lS local associations in the asSocia-
ton rolls to active membership Two
thirds OF these have heretofore been known
as transients and had no vote in aSsOcia-
tion meetings
Some of many of the changes in track
rules are important. Heretofore owners
and drivers Of horses have been in the
habit Of entering horses in races provision
ally and upon conditions imposed by
themselves These were often weather,
entries must be absolutely or upon condi-
lions by the local association. In the case
OF those who make false en-
tries and who have been sub
ject to fine at option
of association it was decided that in future
the fine must be imposed. To the rule
providing for proper Identification of
horses was added a 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 800,
which may be remitted 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 lettering the position of
the horse, a change was made which
provides that the judges, if they
win, shall award him ' sum
not exceeding 500, this to be paid by the
local association and if the driver betters
the position OF the horse the amount may
be deducted from the winnings of the
horse If not the association must pay
it. The suspended horse is to be included
in the clause which says that suspended
drivers and owners who shall enter race
shall be fined. The privilege of allowing
persons six weeks IN which to file protests
was allowed and they must now do so or
forfeit their right.
The last important change was the bar
ring of 2-year-olds from 3-year-old races,
unless especially provided for by the local
society.
A resolution directing the president and
directors as a committee to investigate the !
legal distractions TO removal of the prin-
cpal office of the association from Detroit |
to Chicago was presented and after much |
discussion laid on the table for action at !
tla next meeting MANY favored Chlcac
as the best location for the offices but the /
association is organized under the laws of |
Michigan and it was decided better to
postpone action until fuller representa-
lion was present. The congress adjourned |
20 meet in this city two years hence.