New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-02
HOPPLED HARNESS HORSES.
A MOVEMENT on FOOT TO ABOLISH THE
STRAPS IN TROTTTNG RACES.
A WESTERN INNOVATION WHICH ENDANGERs THE
LIVES or DRIVERS AND ANIMALS AID
IS UNsrGIITIY

LIVES OF DRIVERS AND ANlMNlS N'N'
IS uNsIGHTLY
The ugly looking but singularly lucky wreck
which was the chief incident Of the FIRST day rot
ting at Fleetwood Park last week. has gel on i"o'
q movement looking the abolition OF hoppleH III
harness racing and II ~ probable that the next
congress Of the National Trottlng Association VIII
be asked to adopt rule forhiddng the use OF 'hr
dangerous and unsightly straps IN puprc co"'"7'S
About the first words uttered by the drivers VINO
were thrown violently 10 the ground IN tdhs'e Oh
horses. sukies and harnesses when FL RAM feh
In the third heat OF the 230 trotting race were IN
protest against the deadly appliances when caused
the accident Edward Geers. who was driving
Roetta Soap in the rear OF FL RAM! bui VINO sue
ceeded in veerng off just in time to avoid the gen
eral collision said TO Tribune reporter t"d' 'ie
accident happened I'm the twinkling OF an eye WIN
moment's warning to any OF the drivers III
the Geers outspoken In nus o.
ton OF the hopples. saying
II think the drivers ought TO band together ana
refuse TO start in a race where hoppes are used II
National Association doesn't put stop 10 'h's
business Let every trainer that wants 10, use the
straps in training his horses, but when II comes 10
racing they ought to be barred. The man VINO
drives d hopplei horse not only risks his own me
but he jeopardzes the life OF every other driver ana
every horse In the race and don't think he should
be allowed to do that"
John Dckerson Isaac Fleming. ". H. Mccarthy
c. O Weeks. John =. Gibbs and John kinney De-
sides many other drivers who were not In the race
expressed the same views and IT is safe 70 say
that II the drivers have influence with the trot-
ting tribunals. another season will see the horses
that have 20 wear two sets OF harness driven of
the turf But the National and American Trotting
associations. which are nowadays not much more
than simply collection agencies. conducted almost
wholly for the purpose OF recovering UNPAID I'll
trance fees for the track managers. VINO make up
the leagues proverbIally slow to act In any
hat lessen
revenues OF their members. and as the hOppied
brigade is now OF formidable proportions few horse
men expect 10 see any action taken in the matter.
important though b. Is
HOPPLES THREATEN TO RUIN THE BREED
OF TROTTERs
UonnIes are contrivances that have recently come
into use the straps having been novelty on West
ern tracks where they had their origin. not more
than three years ago. Now f. is said that
iortv OF all the harness horses throughout Indiana
ohio and the West rugged with the appliances
while az some Of the meetings as many az 80 per
cent OF the PAGERS carry the bands and straps In
the Fast the percentage Is not nearly so large
but the innovation is growing and Il threatens in
time to oyerrun all sections unless there il a
sudden halt.
bane the horse interests. ana me sooner my
are nut aside the better for drivers breeders ana
everybody connected with the ighi-harness horse
The horse ina cauh3. uo Mit'1 ~ harrl -
reality trotter. and ~ should DE- DarreH ron
are natural instead OF artificial II IL Is the pur-
nose OF the turf authorities 10 encourage me pro-
ducfior of a breed of pur"-gaiied harness. horses
instead OF a race OF noniescripi-.
HOW SPECTATORS VIEW ARTIFICIAL APPLl-
ANCEs
From the spectators point OF View. any race -
failure In which the animals are covered over with
An armful % boots and a double set u harness
The typical ir0ting horse is none TOO good looking
when free OF all artificial appliances. and when
rugged out with hopples. pOkes spreaders ana me
almost limtess paraphernalia with which faults OF
conformation action and temperament are nova
days corrected, the spectacle becomes a carcatufe
to make 1.-THE rbald jeer and the iudcious griev".
For road driving-and road driving Is the nigh
est sphere OF the trOttng hOrse-the animal that
requires hcpples make ms speed available Is
absolutely worthless such hOrsemcn as Robert
bonner the Nestor Of the trotne-horse fraternity.
and Colonel Lawrence Kip. whose road furnouis
are famous the country over would not pay one
dollar apiece for these h0pped nondescrpts, nor
would any other road rider IN New-York.
CRI-M HERE READY TO MEET THE RUNNERS
John Van Fleet Crum. the amateur champion
sprinter OF Iowa University. arrived from Chicago
last evening He met az the Grand central
station 10y F. r Carter and T. ; Mitchell, repre-
sentng the New-York Athletic Club o. ;. Jones