The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-07
AMERICAN TRorTINa CONGRESS.
The National Association Finishes Its
Labors.

The National Association Finishes its
Labors.
CHICAGO, H., March 6.-The American
Trotting Association spent the forenoon
today in an informal discussion OF certain
proposed changes in the rules. These
changes are extensive enough TO cover fif-
teen closely typewriter pages. and are de-
signed to remedy defects in the existing
rules, and they cover a large number oil
individual cases which have arisen during
the year.
This afternoon the following officers were
elected for the ensuing two years; Presi'
dent, Charles Green, st. Louis, Mo-; First
Vice-T President, ID. O. Beaman, Ottumwa,
Ia; Board OF Directors, G. L. Benjamin,
Michigan; w. p. James, Indiana; o. L.
Lewis, Illinois; G. b. McFall, Iowa; John
Farley, Ohio.
The congress closed this evening. A
number OF alterations were made in both
the bylaws and track rules. The princi-
pal one in the former was the admission o.
all OF the 3lS local associations on the as
sociation rolls to active membership
Two-th;rds OF these have heretofore beer
known as ''transients," and have had M
vote in the association meetings Some o
the many changes in the track rules arr
important. Heretofore, owners and driy
ers OF horses have been in the habit OF en-
tering horses in races Professionally, anC
upon conditions imposed by themselves
These were often weather, condition o
track, etc. In future all entries must b,
absolutely, or upon conditions named BY
the local association. In the case OF thosI
who make false entries and who hav'
been subject 10 fine at the option Of thu
association, il was decided that in thu
future the fine must be imposed. To tn,
rule providing for the proper identification
of horses was added a clause that an,
driver or owner who shall refuse TO testif,
when called upon In cases before the asso
citation shall be fined, but not more thai
500, which may be RENTED II the testi
mony is forthcoming before the case
decided.
Before the rule which establishes In
pay OF a substitute driver ut 10 per cent o
the amount awarded the horse, condition
ally upon the driver lettering the position
OF the horse, a change was made whicl
provides that the judges, II they think th
driver is driving to win, shall award him
sum not exceeding 500. This is TO b
paid by the local association, and II tn
driver betters the position Of the horse In
amount awarded may be deducted fror
the winnings Of the horse. II not, the as
ISOLATION must pay II.
Suspended horses" will hereafter b
included in the clause which says that sus
pended drivers and owners who shall ente
a race shall be fined. The privilege allow
ing persons six weeks in which TO file pre-
tests was altered, and they must now
so at once or forfeit the right. The las
important change was the barring OF tvs
year olds from three year old races, unles
especially provided for by the local society
A resolution directing the president an
| directors as a committee TO investigate tn
legal distractions 10 the removal OF iii
principal business Office OF the association
from Detroit TO Chicago, was presented
and, after much discussion, laid on In
table for action at the next meeting. Man
| favored Chicago as the best location "a
the office, but the association Is organizes
under the laws OF Michigan. and II wa
decided better TO postpone action until
fuller representation was present. TIL
congress adjourned TO meet in this cit
two years hence.