The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-13
THE L. 4. W. PRIZE RULES
AWARDS IN TRIAL HEATS ARE pos
ITIVELY PROHIBITED.
Prizes in Scratch Races Limited to
Four in Number-MichaeI's
Tcn-MiIe Record.

The weekly bulletin issued by the racing
board Of the l.. A. W. announces the adop-
ton Of the following rules by the board:
'Prizes-The prize value of $50 in amateur
and SlOO in professional class can only be
given to winners of first prize. No prize can
be given in a trial heat nor more than four
prizes in a scratch race or six in q handi-
cap. The limit may be given to each of
TWO winning riders in a tandem race
This rule summarizes the boards decision
on several propositions which nave been
offered for consideration. The prohibition
of the giving of prizes for trial heats marks
the settlement of the dispute which arose
between two New England promoters on
account of the award of prizes for trial
heats by one as an inducement to draw off
the riders from the other meet. The matter
was referred to Mr.. Dorntree, member of
the racing board for the division, and he
was inclined to agree with the promoter
who had given the extra prizes. While
recognizing the possibility of increasing the
speed Of riders by some such a method,
Chairman Mott, of the racing board, also
saw that great harm might result from
such a proceeding, inasmuch as it would
offer opportunities for unfair dealing. Ii
was argued by Mr.. Dorntree that the in
crease Of speed of riders i'll every heat was
so desirable that this advantage which one
~ tNtI eAlAOAllCI NONlu NC
more h OVerbalanced. But another
means of increasing the time will be
adopted.
The rule limiting the number of prizes to
four in scratch races and six in handicap
events was adopted on account of the rec
ommendation OF Herbert w. Foltz, of this
city, who is the member of the racing board
representing the district embracing the ter
ritory occupied by the Southern circuit. He
made a trip to Nashville recently during a
race meet and without announcing himself
made a careful investigation of the work
lngS OF the system, which, while satisfac-
tory to racing men, was an expensive
method to promoters. He found that the
system of giving prizes had a great deal
to do with the failure of the Southern
circuit. He found that the prizes offered
were so many in number that their cost
was so great that there was dange of it
Prince had tried to cut down the number Of
prizes, but the racing men had protested,
ana so long as one meet gave the large
number of prizes other promoters felt
obliged to do the same.
The adoption of this rule will probably
cause racing men to protest against the
consolation and inVitational races. The
former IS generally given on the last day or
night of a meet and IS open only to those
riders who have not won a race during the
meet. 1t is in effect q bar to the best riders
and is on this account less interesting to
the public. AS nearly all the circuit chasers
consider themselves as good as the best,
there Will probably be little opposition to a
proposition to drop the consolation race.
The inVitational, having about the same re-
lation to a single days racing as the conso-
lation has TO an entire meet programme,
will be less Objectionable to the cracker
lacks.