The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-07
TURF COURT IN SESSION.
BTS DOCKET o THE " T. a.
ROJRD OF REPIEU.

Geneva md wheeling Track onlciNis
Charged with suppresslnG True Time OF
the T'rOtters-A Knotty Problem from
Gicns Fnils-No Decisions Announced.
The Board Of Review OF tho National Trot-
| ting Association began its yearly session ut
| the Murray Hill Hotel yesterday. There we're
present President T. p. Johnston OF Lexington.
Vice President David Bonner Of New York.
William Russell Allen, Charles Dana Palmer
OF Lowell and William Christie OF Toronto.
The latter IL better known among the patrons
| of the running turf than he Ia to the
followers Of trottlnR. but he has owned
some we'll bred harness horses, and he
evinced the ~liveliest interest In the con-
troversies Of the horsemen who appeared be-
fore the hoard yesterday. occupying the old
scat Of Col. William Edwards at the head Of the
table. Secretary W. II. Gocher was In his usual
| place with O docket OF 220 cases. which are to
be disposed OF before the board adjourns.
Many OF these are Of minor Importance, but
some OF them involve novel points in turf law
| or concern men and horses OF prominence In
| harness racing.
The leading case that came up for review at
yesterdays session had to do with the alleged
suppression of time ut the July meeting OF the
| Geneva Driving Park Association. Ever since
! harness horses were first classified and handi-
capped by their records, there has been q die
| position on the part Of some commercial turf
men who are not good sportsmen to avoid
by hook or crook getting fast records for
their campaigners. Sometimes they try to
avoid winning a heat in order to dodge a fast
mark, and again they arrange with the track
managers or the official timers for "protec-
| ton " In case the horse trots fast enough In
| winning to put him out Of the class in which he
was entered. 80 common has the practice be-
| come that on certain tracks horsemen are not
put to the trouble Of asking for pro
lection" OF this sort. the official timers
voluntarily taking care Of all heat winners In
the matter OF shading the records. TIL N. Il.
A. has a number of supervisors or special
agents. whose business 1t is to visit the various
tracks and report cases Of irregular timing.
but the Oldest follower Of the sport can hardly
recall another instance in which the offenders
! were prosecuted by the central association.
+ James L. Hotchkiss was the special agent
who appeared as prosecuting witness in the
Geneva case. He told the board that he had
held a watch on the winners there last sum
mer and that in several instances the official
time announced from the judges stand was any
where from q quarter Of a second to, two seq
KISS testimony was weakened in the, estima-
ton Of many horsemen. present, however.
Caught htS the aam time slower than the Of.
hciais did. One OF the horses concerned, in the
ALLEGED sai SdnpPrssfis sssr Of its tine o Wqs me b1 S1 AZ x sf9f-
known BROOKLYN politician. James Shevlin.
sbar S t9IS Sis By story T; Ii 81 A tSa AFFAIR Mh he sa R5i ESst A he
time made By Niger jazz wps correctly given
MED m phatically that, he or, any one having
authority to speak for him had requested that
II had no intimqtion that any such thing was
charged he said. until | came TO start my
| mpatinu Than giT of n6 were informed that
we had been fined 500 apiece for having the
t Mns , s sePpp s. srt &C. sss t Ssaf I eS tSTn asked u t seye
body at Geneva to shade the record Of Niger
lack &C g quarter ox;g of a second C T Tsy Il ! don't bmt M know now
little 500 in advance and prove my innocence
afterward."
f. p 8. Gla S53si d fhs qw n 1%i L, SRs SaG snd ps ehFee
others were co-defendants with the. Geneva
AAs ssociation w WAS sn' eit eaSe to ans answer mrea''D Similar altar
charge Of snppressinR time, the pr9secnting
xX.,1Sssfi in t, thi aa Snhf be Ike practice a; III Hha aa been
virginia track. This was denied BY the officers
part Of Hamilton and SthsFs. 'a
Gpeared for his association r. q case aSm inS9'y W
Argetta in a race at the Grand Circuit meet.
owner asserted his right to first and third
money under the rules. Secretary Cameron
maintained that Hare was entitled to first
money only. as the special conditions govern
ing the race stated that in no case Will
the number of prizes or moneys exceed the
number Of horses finishing the race The
point in DISPUTE Is as to whether w, the
In the meaning of the special conditions.
If Secretary Cameron had advertised that the
prizes would not exceed the number OF horses
left in the race at the finish there could have
been no dispute: but Hare and other horse
men say. with some show Of reason, that the
| distanced horse finished the race. although she
finished behind the distance flag.
Thomas Greenwood. former Secretary OF the
Driving Club OF New York. was made defendant
due on the horse Great Darlington. that passed
through the Garden sale last week. Greenwood
was suspended some years ago for unpaid en-
trance fees, and while under suspension he en-
tered his horse Great harrington in a race in
the name of his driver. which Is. a violation OF
tho rules. Greenwood admitted the facts In the
case. bur stated to the board that he had acted
thoughtlessly in the matter. and expressed his
Willingness 10 pay the amount ofthe obligation.
The board rendered no decisions ye sterday;
At the CLOSE o! the evening session Il special
resolutions OF regret concerning the sudden
| death OF Col. William Edwards of Cleveland:
The latter was one of the oldest members OF
the board. and he had attended nearly every
meeting of the turf court in an official capacity
for twenty years.
Golf.
| LAKEWOOD, Dee. 6,-The snow has disnp-
Nh - A.