Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-30
'TROTTING TOPICS.
SOME OF ITS DRAWBACKS.
Good Reasons why the Ancient
"Best-Three-in.Fiv Heat Rule
should DC sheIvcd for the Hest
Two in Three.

(New York Special in Philadelphia Press)
Several enterprising track Managers
most OF them In the West, have been
advocating a longer season for the suiks.
Their chief argument Is that IL the earn
Ing capacity OF the trotter has been IN
creased by raising the value OF the
purses, there will be a still greater
financial reward II the season OF activity
is made longer. 1t Is urged that II th>
jockey clubs are able TO secure the hisn
class gallopers for such early events as
the Brooklyn and Suburban handicaps.
the owners Of crack harness-races can
also be induced TO start for big purses
during May and June. While there IL
no doubt that the prospect OF beginning
the campaign with a substantial proht
would bring out the sensational performs
ers some weeks in advance OF the time
they usually appear. the experiment would
be almost certain to do more harm than
good. 1t would necessitate the building
OF more covered tracks in the North ana
multiply the disappointments that have
followed the forcing process In that sec
ton.
The southern stables and those in Cali
fornia might be able 10 take part In
these spring contests, but even for them
the plan would have its disadvantages.
III horse Is asked TO go 10 his limit Or
close to 1t before midsummer 1t Is "agln
natur" 10 expect that the animal can do
himself justice during the balance OF the
season. II is possible that Monroe Sails.
bury. who has already made some radical
departures from the old methods OF
training, may establish other new pre-
cedents this year.
HARD AT WORK.
The fact that he has kept Alix. Direct
~. Flying Jib. Azote. and other members
of his brilliant company of record break,
ers hard at work all winter has excited
much comment and caused many ex-
perlenced turfmen to shake their heals.
Should no follow this bold stroke by
taking up the thread of success where ne
dropped II last November, at Philadel-
phia, and carrying it to the, end Of
another long season. the lesser lights or
the trottinS world will hasten TO emu,
late the example Of the indefatigable GA
Californian. Unless Salisbury has DIS
covered new elixir OF life for ms
equine bread-winners IL will be found
that II there are no bounds to his am
bition, there is still a limit 10 the en-
durance of the horses he has in charge
II the trotting associations. along with
the owners and managers OF the pig
stables, are really DESTROYS OF giving
they might do so with more prud ence
by reducing the number OF heats now In
vogue. From the inception OF light har-
ness sport, 1t has been customary 70 re-
times in front of the field, where the
distance for each heat was not greater
than a mile This was the rule when
Lady Suffolk, Moscow. Gray Eagle. Pei
ham. and the cracks Of nifty years ago
battied for purses that were seldom
worth more than 500. and a mile below
2.30 was feat almost unheard or
Though the sneed Unit ss mas pe snd tbe
premiums are now worth more In thou-
sands than they were in hundreds,
the task set for the trotters has re-
NAMED substantially the SANE ,h any
in-hve" condition has met with 10y
OF opposition from the horsemen, though
the spectators have. as a rule, approssI
OF any change that would shorten the
contest.
LESSEN THE NUMBER.
The track managers have invariably
bowed 10 the mandate Of the actors anu
made the pleasure or comfort CT tne
spectators a secondary consideration
About four years ago there was laud.
heats. and the example. set by Detroit,
Lexington. and Nashville might nave
been followed by other trotting centres
II the high-wheel sulky had cohtihueu
The advent of the bike" in 1882 en-.
abled the horses to sustain their night
through "A greater number or meats thd,
before. and by common consent sne or,
than ever. The opportunity Is now ripe
for some progressive association or CIR
cult meeting to try series or rae
for the fast classes either on the da sh
nIan or two-in-three heats. 1t would cer>
tainly be easier TO get the star perform
ers ready for this lighter task and the
risk Of exhausting their powers MIDWAY
in the season would not be so great,
BY one OF those curious contradictions
which is occasionally found in the con-
duction of a public pastime, the trotter
or PAGER that strives for championship
is only required TO go single mile
while TO secure first money In race, IN,
same animal must win three heats. IL
was once the prevailing notion that thc
system OF training would be completely
reyolutioniZed by the Introduction or
dssh races in harness. THE consistency
with which Alx and Robert j. defeated
all corners and between times pullei
down the record FOR their respective
gaits last year proves the fallacy of the
THREE HEATS.
An additional reason for doing away
with rule which renders race liable
70 last for more than three heats Is the
presence on the turf OF so many young
horses The demand for early speed,
which amounted TO n craze at the be-
ginning OF this decade. brought even thu
baby trotter on the turf. and has given
2.23 by the yesrlng colt Adbell and the
more marvellous one OF 2l0A4 by Arion AT
2 years. Every season since 1880 has
seen change in the records for, the
juvenile division of both gaits, and the
Youngsters have raced after the same
precocious fashion that they have ac-
complished sensations against the watch.
While a grain OF prudence has remained
To spare the yearlings from more than
dashes Of a mile or less. the 2-year-olds
are asked to go at least two heats. and
beyond that age the contests are the
same as for til, matured horses.
The result has been the wholesale
slaughter Of many promising colts and
fillies, and the conserve I've policy which
insists on the regulation three heats
Is largely responsible for the numerous
break-dOwns that have occurred There
is little doubt that ii Directum had been
allowed To develop slowly till last season,
instead of being disappointment in his
5-year-old form. the black stallion would
have got nearer to the two-mlnute mark
than either Alix or Nancy Hanks His
first race at I years was at Fleetwood
Park. and he had to go five heats against
strong field Of well-seasOned campaign
ers.
A few weeks later at Lexington the
colt was again pitted against the flower
of the aged trotters. and ii was not till
he had stepped fourth heat in 2.0S that
his older antagonists were defeated.
Without citing the extreme cases where
divided heats have forced the youngsters
to go five or more miles at top speed
In one day. 1t cannot be denied that the
average race under the existing regula-
lions has stopped the career Of many a
brilliant colt and filly.
ENFORCED CHANGES.
A natural sequence to the keen compe,
titon for entries which have been goins
on since the first year is the enforced
changes that several associations have
been obliged TO make In their pro,
grammes. Those who were in the field
betimes and made. their first payments
hA Of vol ~
ceeding months, and will be able to carr,
out their original arrangements Tn.
two meetings that are TO be held at Terre
Haute have not Jared so we'll and tbs
managers have found IL advisable TO
cancel all the events first offered ana
try the forfeit plan. c. w. Williams.
whose ambition seems 10 have run away
with his Judgment at Galesburg. just as
II did at Independence. has been kept
busy remodellinS his card till IL has az.
sumed much more modest proportions
Than when II was first announced last
4,