Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-09
RULES TO GOVERN CYCLING
Summary of the New Regulations Adopted
by the L. A. W. Racing Board.
A NEW SYSTEM OF FILING ENTRIES
Provisions for Races by Professional
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Placed
on observation-disclosures Men
who Ride for Money.

The abandonment Of the classification sys-
tenn Of racing by the League of American
Wheelmen and the adoption of purely amateur
and professional classes for this year, says
the New York Sun, have necessitated a gem
eral modification Of the racing rules Of the
organization. The racing board had been at
work overhauling the rules for several
months, until finally the regulations to gov
ern racing this season have met with the
general approval Of the board. Many radical
and needful changes have taken place. Where
weak or elastic rules existed, strong, iron
clad regulations will meet the racing men this
season. The complaints from racing men and
race meet promoters have been needed, and
with additional hints from members of the
racing board and official handicappers, rules
have been framed this year which it is antici-
pated will remedy many Of the defects in
racing.
The open recognition of professional riders
this year has required the board to make spe-
cial rules and provisions to govern this class.
One Of the most acceptable and satisfactory
changes that will take effect this year will be
the recognition of amateur and professional
riders competing in the national champion
ship to settle the question Of the rightful
champion Of the country.
Alterations have been made in all the gen.
eral rules, which will result in compelling a
more stringent recognition of the racing laws.
The racing board has modified the rules, talk
ing into full consideration the custom of some
racing men to violate them on technical
points. The following announcement regard
ing the jurisdiction of racing throughout this
country has been promulgated by the board:
Through its racing board the League of
American Wheelmen e~Xerc.e2s jurisdiction
over all cycle competition and record trials
on tracks within the U 1 ed S a.es OF America,
and each and every person who shall in any
way be concerned or employed therein, as
well as all race promoters CLUBS, a~ssocia-
tlons. or individually, shall be governed by
the following rules Of said board
The lightest punishment inflicted by the
board upon racing men for a disregard for its
rules Is suspension from the track. Objec-
ton is frequently made that riders are
suspended upon charges too trivial to deserve
recognition. This season the suspension rule
has been made full and explicit, as follows:
81. Any rider wilfully competing at races
not held under the rules of the board, OF
rules approved by the board, or who shall
enter, or attempt to enter, an event which
by reason of his status or time record. he is
not privileged to enter, or who shall COM
pete at or in any way participate in a race
meeting or event not officially sanctioned by
the board, or who shall otherwise offend
against any of the rules of the board, shall
be liable to suspension for such a length OF
time as the racing board may determine.
"2. Riders are notified that to compete
against any rider who has been suspended
will render them liable to the same penalty
80. Any rider under suspension who shall
enter or compete in any race in public or fol
a prize shall be liable to further suspension
for such contempt Of rules, at the discretion
of the national racing board"
Official hsniicappers find every year tina
racing men try to evade restricted limits by
cunningly classifying their entry blanks. This
practice 1t Is the intention of the racing
board to stop. With this purpose in view
they have altered the entry rule to read as
follows:
u. All entries must be made on blanks OF
a form as hereinafter prescribed (Which viii
be supplied by the racing board If desired)
and must be signed by the rider entering OF
by some one authorized in his behalf. Within
the time appointed for closing, entries must
be forwarded to the person authorized to re-
ceive them. All entries not actually re
ceived at the hour fixed for closing shall be
Ineligible, except entries by letter bearing
postmark not later than the day of closing
or entries notified by telegraph, the tele-
gram to be actually received at the sending
office at or before the hour of closing. En-
tries by telephone or telegram must be sup
planted by an entry on the prescribed form
duly signed by the entrant or his agent and
placed in the hands of the race promoter
before the day of the meeting. Notice to
promoters to enter a competitor shall con-
stitute an acceptance of contract on entry
blank.
"3. Entries TO handicap and class races
must close seven days prior to contest, to
allow time for proper Investigation. All en-
tries to such events must be accompanied
by a statement of the best two performances
of the rider and all other information called
for relative to the ability of said rider; all
entries not so accompanied shall be thrown
out by the Handicapped.
"a. Entrance fees must in all cases be paid
I'm advance, and failure to so pay shall be
sufficient reason for disqualification by the
executive board of the race meet and
suspension by the racing board.
'If a contestant shall have wen a prize and
for any reason his fees shall not have been
paid or collected, he shall be given thirty
days in which to pay same, and one week
before the expiration Of that time the manage
ment Of the races shall notify him by
registered letter, and II no reply is received
may sell said prize Tor, If cash, retain same
70" its own account), and the contestant shall
forfeit all claims to same.
SO. Entry forms shall contain a list of the
events of the meeting, and state the prizes
apportioned to each event and the value of
each prize. Every entry form, when signed
by the rider or his agent, shall constitute
an agreement between him and the race
promoter to the effect that the rider will
compete, subject to the exceptions herein
after mentioned, In the event or events for
which he has entered. and that the race
promoter will award him any prize he may
win, such prize to be of the character and
value stated in the entry form. Where the
value of a prize Is brought into dispute, the
retail price Of such prize shall govern the
settlement Where cash nriZpS are nfprph