The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-17

| Not only have the various circuits beer
made up, but the details of the multitud,
| of programmes are in most cases com
| pleted. The trainers are thus enabled tc
| lay out the plan of campaign from Spring
| TO FALL and under the forfeit system
! which so many progressive track man
ayers have adopted there Is little OF
none of the money outlay that Is re-
| quired by the installment plan of pay
| ing entrance fees.
Another important consideration which
| is receiving early attention Is the judges
| stand. which includes the selection OF a
starter The day of the amateur whose
| chief defeat Is his lack of experience and
regular practice in handing large nelds
is about over. II has been found that
the comparatively small amount required
to secure the services of a professional
Is SAFE and satisfactory investment
which brings profit at the gate ana IN
creases the patronage or those VINO OWL
and control the horses. There are ABOUT
a dozen men who have made he WORK
of starting a special business, ana uey
have no difficulty in securing engage
ment throughout the season.
The credit for bringing about TINS nuch
needed change belongs 10 me youuit st,
element I'm the west and nearly all the
hrst-class professional starters come
from that section. The Eastern asso-
Citations, particularly those . IN 'I ne
adopting the new method OF conducting
the judges stand, and up to this time
the tracts at Cleveland and Rochester
have held aloof from following the new
fashion.
The next move, which has already been
agitated, Is the employment of paid ON
Gals to administer the rules governing
the race itself. This has been lried WIN
some degfe e of success at Chicago, Ierte
Haute and other points OF the Western
Southern Circuit, while the New HilS
land Breeders Association mas Tor the
past two years employed professional
Judges as well as a starter Tor lts an
nual September meeting at Boston
After several months of suspense the
legal status of harness racing IN TINS
State will doubtless be settled within the
next few weeks. The committee on
Codes which now has charge o. ti'
bill that deals with the matter OF CON
Quoting turf sport under the new con-
stftutiOn will conclude its CONSIDERATION
of the proposed racing law by next Ihurs-
day. In the meantime, the silght lrIctioH
that has arisen between those who are
looking after the running interest ana
the larger number of driving PARK man
ayers can easily be removed. ,
a prominent member of the DrlVlnS
Club of New York in discussing the
situation as IL now stands said: "Inefe
is no question but what the Jockey CluD
meant well when It was proposed To- IoIf
a state Board to have the same control
of tpetting that il would have over run
ming under the provisions Of the Gray Dill.
The conditions are very different, how
ever, since the running tracks are rev
i'm number and practically confined 10
New York city. while the trotting associa--
tons are I'm all parts OF the State and
managed TO suit the requirements OF each
locality.
"A licensing board for the driving parks
should be composed Of men VINO are
thoroughly independent OF any and all
individual associations, just as the men,
bers Of the Jockey Cluo disclaim any
ownership i'm the race courses over which
Trey have jurisdiction. The first mistake,
then. was to invite those who are now
officials OF driving clubs and trottinS as
sociations to form the State Board that
should approve Of applications for GER
tincate to mold meetings Under the new
law.
THE smaller tracks were up In arms
at once and with good cause. since 1t -
Cistasteful TO contemplate being governed
by the the members of a few more DOW
erful organizations in the large cites.
If the Jockey Club will now request this
self-constituted Trotting Board to dis
band the driving parks of the state VIII
wheel into line and support the Gray
bill This must be done at once and
before the outside opposition from pro-
fessional reformers and disgruntled pool
room proprietors can take further adj
vantage OF the internal dissensOn among
the turfmen. Press