New-York tribune., 1896-12-07
GOSSIP OF THE TROTTEKS.
OWNERS AND DRIVERS AGAIN TALK OF PRO-
TrcTrvE AssOcATIoN-THE RINGING
PROBLEM.

The annual meeting Of the Board of Review OF
IN. National Trotting Association nj the Murray
nm Hotel last week developed the usual mutte--
ings among discontentcd owners ana drivers whose
cases were adversely decided by the turf court
For several years tho men who campaign troterS
| have been talking about forming an association
to protcct their interests similar to the league of
track managers known as the National Trott1g
Associatlon but nothing has ever resulted in the
way Of an active organization Under the existing
order Of things all disputed claims between horse
owners and track-owners are submitted for final
decision 10 the Board OF Review. which IL made up
almost wholly of men who are themselves inter
astel directly or Indirectly in trotting tracks
local driving clubs that in some respects IL Is
the ease OF OF the parties TO suit passing
upon the claims Of another party whose interests
are the opposite OF his own. The horse-owners
make the most Of this fact. and they are clamor
ing for representation on the Board Of Review or
for an organiza ton OF their own which will serve
70 hold tho track managers league I'm check New
York horscmen say they would not he surprised To
see an owners and drivers association formed
I'm this city before the beginning of the next cam
paign but the National Trotting Association will
have little cause for alarm. unless the taked-of
movement IL managed with far more ability than
any of the horsemen's previous efforts I'm the same
direction
Ringing cases were. If anything. more plentiful
than the docket OF the turf tribunal at the
to the ways OF the trotting turf knows that the
turf pirates are increasing in numbers from year
to year on Eastern tracks and that the existing
system OF turf government Is wholly inefficient 20
prevent the practice. The testimony which Secre
tary Gocher produced in prosecuting some OF the
ringing cases showed plainly the great amount OF
time and money needed TO secure evidence sut1-
cient 10 convict the few offenders Who were rounded
ND at the recent meeting. The amount Of money
which Is spent In trying TO detect and trace
the identity OF the masqueraders would go far
toward esta hshing a system OF registration ef-
hccnt enough virtually to prevent the practice 1t
is common talk among up-to-date horsemen that
the antiquaed turf code in force fails TO stop
more than about In ten OF the turf pirates.
Ono OF the prominent parties 10 the Charley p.
ringing case. which before the Board last
week said to The Tribune reporter that at one OF
the New England meetings In which the gray horse
started last season at least four other horses were
performing out of their proper classes and under
fictitious names. All OF the others escaped. and
J.. came be identified George G. Even then !
hS ooS % ho 10 ar
have been the chief offenders.
parties '' Who Sampnsncd the horse Under ' his
Ii' who are caught with ringers on their hands al
ways protest that they purchased the masqueraders
comes necessary to establish the fact of guilty !
knowledge on the part OF the owner and driver. IN |
This is frequently impossible inasmuch as many |
outclassed iroiters are brought on to NewYork |
names or names at ALL to more less inno-
cent purchasers. who H afterward & campaign them n
asks questions about names records and
he seller volunteers no Information.
All sportsmen who have an interest In the well
fare OF the trotting turf believe 1t is high time for
Ing the Identity Of rottiDs horses Similar to the
safeguard provided by the Jockey Club against
well Rsep II the
the name, description. pedigree and history Of !