The sun., 1892-02-08
TRor1ISG TURF LKgrsLA1IoN


The most important gathering relating to
light-harness sport that has been held in this
city for years will take place this week when
the biennial Congress OF the National Trotting
Association meets at the Murray Hill Hotel on
Wednesday. This is the oldest organization
that controls trottinR, as 1t was founded In
February. 1870. at Providence. r. l.. under the
name OF the National Association for the Pro-
motion OF the Interests OF the merican Trot-
ting TurL" while Its younger rival the
American Association. was an ofYshoot
which started at Detroit In 1887 as
an outgrowth Of the tangle and fight
over the secretaryship OF T. ]. Vail. Up to the
formation Of tho N. 4. A. there had been quite
an amount OF harness racing. but tho various
driving parks were under no central organiza-
tion. and hence were unable to do more than
punish wrongdocrs on their own grounds
The inauguration at Providence was forced by
the increase OF lawlessness. and when the
prominent tracks united for defence. many
smaller ones followed. and this promising
American pastime was saved from being
ruined by the pirates and frsebooters that
threatened It's life
Annual meetings Of the Congress were in
vogue until 1874. since when biennial ses-
sions have prevailed. In 1890 the N. T. A.
convened at Buffalo. during which the no.
torious Nelson Alcryon case came up. the chief
stations from National tracks the injunction
!nken out by z. II. Nelson to restrain any ac-
a6n % was wS Rs sesn oat rosr sa os
Sobs owner ss n'o Aciypn pressed ssdk his
only saspsnde9 Matters sns havps sons
ond endly irU with the Michigan turfman since them
soa in the po% %h9e Box nHa 1a
was reduced to tho extremity Of being unable
to square VI his betting accounts last year His
tho Board OF Review. which will consider that
alone.
;, There is also a preliminary meeting OF the
posed new LEGISLATION viii be got in shape for
the leading change relates to licensing drivers
who have heretofore been allowed to ply their
sSGest hS bssn rsrs Tss
recently. and the committee have already got
a pretty, good idea of the general opinion
ton. '''' 'N'e''''so iesa'o'"s '"e lnno'A'
oIG9r,n For some seasons past there has been q
M demnh for change IN trottnG
with the three e-in-ilve heats plan. and making
contests either best two in three heats or single
the betting fraternity chiefly. though there
SE 81 e ost a hf vs2 inns iss fsss Sss
the breeders Association at Lexington
Ia st fall. which sent all horses to the stable
that had not won a heat in three. the gamblers
raise protest. as it Is harder to make deals
and play the old games, The Lexington meet
ing was more successful than ever. and pro-
EGressive Fl ;adherents 2f harness racing endorsed
the the new ides heartily # s very doubtful
amenduent to tho tedious methods that have
prevailed for so many years. though every
body knows that trotttng has not been holding
It's own as drawing spectacle. especially in
the the Fast where the running tracks have
Betting, on heats is another thing that has
been productive OF great dissatisfaction. and
will probably come In for consideration this
week; There is a distinct prohibition Of drop
through the laxty Of Judges and the apathy q
cases, been allowed to prevail. even In the
grand and other important circuits
There has been some talk of n conference
between tho National and American associa-
as the reinstating Of Nelson to American
tracks has caused wider breach between the
two bodies than ever before.
There are over 300 associations on the roll
Of the National. but many Of those are repre-
sented by proxy. SO that the Congress will not
represent the numerical strength Of the N. T. A.