Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-05
TR0TTING TOPICS.
Fleetwood Starts The Ball Rolling In
New York.
Excessive Generosity of the Mana
gers of Western Tracks May Affect
the Quality of the Entries for the
Cnrdcd Eastern Events.

gers of Western Tracks May Affect
the Quality of the Entries for the
Cardcd Eastern Events.
CNew York correspondence PhIla. Press)
Getting the sulkies started in the
Empire state this year, bids fair to be
as formidable an undertaking as
the tabled operation OF belling the
cat. After the passing Of the amend
ments to the Constitution last November
came a general paralysis Of the various
driving parks and trotting associations.
from which few OF them have yet recover
ed. The older members of the Grand
Circuit at Rochester and Buffalo fought
shy OF facing the situation, and II is
only within a few days that the mana
gers at either city have given any sign
OF activity. To the Driving Club Of New
York belongs the credit Of stepping into
the breach when the outlook was any
thing but bright II stiil remains TO be
proven. however, whether the horsemen
Will patronize the nine-purse events
that are to form the main part OF the
new grand-circut meeting OF this city.
These are worth 5000 divided into sums
OF 5000 and $500. and the entries close
next Saturday IL the owners and trainers
OF the big stables that make the annual
tour support these classes at Fleetwood
Park. when the veNed question as 10
whether harness racin VIII flourish
without betting IS settled FOR the season,
at least.
THE INIATINE.
Naturally the Driving club Of New York
has received praise on all sides for taking
the initiative while the associations at
Buffalo and Rochester that have been
part and parcel Of the Grand Circuit for
a much longer period gave no sign Of
what they proposed TO do. The men
who make a business Of campaigning
their stock, along with the trainers who
do a sort OF cooperative business with
the owners Of prospective money win
ners. are not moved by sentiment in
selecting their route They 20 where the
dollars are most plentiful and the con-
ditiOns attached 10 the purses and stakes
most liberal. This year the western
tracks have been specially active I'm bid
ding for the best horses and have been
holding out many inducements for entries
10 their big purses.
The fee Of per cent obtains I'm most
cases with an additional . per cent from
winners. and the old charge Of 10 per
cent from all starters seems to have
gone for all time. Payments on these en-
tries are arranged on tho instament
plan. and one or two enterprsing assoc
Citations have adopted a forfeit system.
50 that no money is asked till n horse
IS declared out and those who remain I'm
are not liable for any payment tn the
night before the contest As the eastern
tracks. including the one at Fleetwood
Park. prefer 10 receive the entrance fee
I'm advance. their meetings are liable 10
be somewhat Handicapped as against
these ambitious westcrners.
CLASH IN DATES.
Another thing that confronts the Driv-
ing Club Of New York is a prospective
clash in dates The members OF tho
Grand Circuit that have priority over II
I'm fixing the time for their respective
meetings have already completed their
calendar Saginaw starts of As il did
last year. occupying the third week In
July and the balance Of the month IS
taken by Detroit and Cleveland. The
programme at the Forest City eXt,plS
over the first three days In August, and
Buffalo has claimed the next two weeks.
As George W. Archer. president Of the
Rochester Association. has within the
week announced that the resolution not
10 hold the regular August meeting in
that city has been reconsidered. there Is
little doubt that his tracke will claim
attention Immediately after the stables
have filed their engagement at Buffalo.
II New York Is 10 follow Rochester. the
metropolis will come into conflict with
Galesburg. H.. whore a number Of good
sized purses have already closed To be
competed for during the last week in
August
This is a serious consIl ration. for I'm
lependence" Williams who manages ar
fairs at Galcshurg. he's been shrcwd
enough 10 take time hy the forelock. and
entries 70 events At III SUNNI meeting
there were secured on the first day ~
tho present year As such prominent
,urfmen as Salisbury. Uamlin. and Nc
Henry hav. decided 10 patr0nze the
Galesburg meeting. the metropolis can
scarcely afford 70 compete with IT, and
At this distance there seems 20 be no
way out Of tho difficulty. An earlier 50
Of what eTect the repoal Of the Ives
pooI-law will have on lght-harness
sport I'm this city is likely 70 be made
The plan - organize the spring circuit
along the Atlantic coast has mt with
approval I'm Philadelphia, Baltimore Al
barv. and other points. Representatives
Of the various tracks that are willing 10
form such series are 70 meet IN this
city on Tuesday. and the outcome VIII
have NOR than a local interest. lIither-
10. these early meetings have not
brought out the best horses. or II a
promising youngster without record
was start Il i'm slow class his speed
was generally husbanlel for bigger
events during the summer and fall cam
uaign. This has kent down the quality
of the snort in May ami June 30 that
il possessed little or no attraction for the
public. especially I'm the large cities.
During the past ten years there have
ben occasional snriug meetings a.
Fleetwood Park. but the desire TO save
records has made tn contests at such
a time more In the nature Of what, in
stable parlance. is known as work
out" If the money inducem- nj IS suf-
Gent. there IS no reason why horse
should be kept under cover, and the
promoters Of this promised new circuit
have an opportunity 70 change the old
or,leA Of things materially. With the
pool-box under the ban, it Will be the