New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-13
TROTTING RULES REVISED.
IMPORTANT CHANGES BY TIE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION.

Yesterdays SESSION OF THE BIENNIAL CON-
GREss-ELECrIoN OF oFFICERs-THE CUES
TON OF THE sECRETARYsHIP
or tho 572 tracks in the membership OF the Ma.
tional Trottng Association. 400 were found bs
represented personally or by proxy when the sew.
enteenth biennial congress convened at the Murray
Hill Hotel yesterday afternoon. This attests the
unusual interest taken I'm this congress- the dis
cussion as to the selection of secretary probably
In large measure accounting for the awakened In.
terest The choice in December last Of W. H.
Gocher as secretary strenuously opposed by
small coterie in this city, but the opposition the
new secretary showed no force in the congress- and
the re election OF President p. p. Johnston and most
Of his associates the old Board renders the final
disposition Of the secretaryship matter in Mr.
Gocher's favor assured.
On motion the president appointed as Nom-
mating Committee Charles II. Page, Philadelphia
c. F. Emery, Cleveland II. f. Willis. r. l.. Allen
and J. c. Simpson The committee reported tho
following ticket:
President. p. 2. Johnston, LexIngt9n Ky; first
vice president n T. Smith Menlo Park. Cal East.
ern District Board-John +. Thayer. Boston, NJ. NJ
Mass Aanc bistric, BoardCGeorge ATcher
VI e ssey Psnn o and
" L. Kerkman. Nashville. Tenn: W. r. Allen. St.
Louis. and William Edwards Cleveland Western
Senator John l.. Mitchell. Milwaukee. and F. s
Gorton. Chicago Pacific District oBard-E B.
Head. c. n. Chase and A. B. spreckles. San Fran.
cisco.
The foregoing ticket having been elected. the
port OF the Committee Rules was presented, and
the consideration OF the many changes and amend
ments proposed occupied the greater part OF the
afternoon and night sessions Many OF these altera.
lions In matters OF minor importance but sew
eral may be considered almost radical changes
In an amendment proposed by the veteran writer,
breeder and trainer. Joseph Carn Simpson. OF Cali.
fornia which, after animated debate. was carried
decisive blow is aimed at the scandaously prevalent
practice OF laying up heats. Another very i'm.
portant measure adopted in the interest OF
horse-owners prohibiting the declaring off for any
reasons OF stakes or purses the entrance to which
Is payable the instalment plan. provided they
have once nlied The Rules Committee seems 10
have lndustrously applied the time at its disposal to
the Intelligent revision and Improvement OF the
rules of harness racing. and almost all It's recon-
mendations approved by the congress
The amendment to Rule Is proposed by Mr. smp-
son reads:
Every heat IN a race must be contested by every
horse in the race. and an honest endeaV4r I'ao. %
construed mean that when horse is nope.essly
beaten when from bad start or othe. uH'
avoidabe cause the chances TO win are desIoyeu,
that the driver must force the horse 10 MS utmqs.
capacity but to DO away S WIN TIVE se found guilty
of laying up heat. he shall be hnea' suspeHueu W
expelled.
In stpDO2 or MS amendment MI S''PSN" "'o"~
briefly but effectively. and in the debate George W.
Archer of Rochester; Andrew Miller, member OF
the New-York Driving Club and Of the Jockey
Club; Edward A. Upton. OF Lexington. KY harry
Ham.ln. OF Buffalo. and Others earnestly p"r''e''
pated. The amendment was Incorporates iinoinnii
rules by a viva vote. and II honestly dpP.es
BY Judges at trott.ng meetings VIII go iar 10 sru
honest and sharp racing In every neat OF every
race. . 49,. a.,
An explicit and much-needed measure Is that ~
rected at defaultlng associations Heretofore notse
men have paid and been held for entries 10 stakes
and purses that have not been paid 10 the winhe,s
and the defaul,ng associations have still! USED tne
collecting machinery of the National Association 10
enforce forfeits In such unpaid purses and stakes
Hereafter the National association VIII not en-,
force collections for defaulting associations, ana
not only these associations. but their Officers lnil-
vdually will be subject 10 suspension or expulsion.
The congress adopted rule 10 protect the forelen
market. An Inspector will be appointed 10 exam.
Inc and issue certificates 10 horses for export, he
Zee being slJ for one horse. and s. for each adi,
tional one in a consignment. and persons found
guilty OF Misrepresentation 10 the Identity breed
Ing or record OF horses exported VIII be expelled.
The congress was in session until nearly MD
Vsnht