Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-26
RACING RULES CHANGES

RACING RULES CHANGES
The coming season will witness greater
changes in the racing rules than have ever
before been attempted in one year by the
League of American Wheelnien. The
changes are made, of course, with the idea in
view of purifying the sport and bringing it
up as near as possible to standard of per-
lection, though 1t may perhaps be an eX-
tremely difficult matter to reach the ideal.
The Importance Of the changes is evil
IDENTIFY realized by the chairman of the rae
ing board, who, it is announced, has
placed an order for 100000 copies of the
rules for gratuitous distribution during the
year. The first batch of the pamphlets
have been printed, and as soon as suffi-
cient number have been received the dis
tribution will be more general. The changes
in some instances are SO radical as to re-
quire special study by the racing men.
Some of the changes made, the most i'm
portant are briefly outlined in the follow
ing article.
Regarding the manner of determining the
national champion, growing out of the con-
troversy over the matter in the past, the
following section Is inserted in the new
rules, upon the recommendation OF the
chairman of the racing board:
The professional national championship
shall be determined by points won in the
national championship races run on the ma
tional circuit. AT least one national cham
pionship race Subject to the approval Of
the chairman) shall be run on each day Of
a national circuit meet (and as many others
as desired by the promoter) at any of the
distances named in paragraph 1.
The first prize must not be less than $50.
Not more than 81 entry fee shall be charg-
ed (or nothing at the discretion of the pro-
moter), and no one shall be allowed to
start whose regular entry, made out on the
proper blank, has not been filed with the
promoter, in compliance with the rules.
When there are more than five entries trial
heats shall be run until the contestants
are reduced to not more than five for the
final.
The first to finish in the final shall count
six in the championship table, the next
four, the next three. the next two and the
next one: except at the national meet,
when the first to finish shall count sixty,
the next forty, the next thirty, the next
twenty and the next ten. Should any Of
the championship races for any of the dis
tances be omitted at the national meet,
the omitted races will be assigned to the
national circuit and the count will be
scored as if they were run at the national
meet.
The points to the credit of each contest
ant shall be published in the bulletin Of the
chairman, and the contestant having the
greatest number at all distances at the end
OF the national circuit shall be declared the
champion. No excessive time limits shall
be placed on these races and thew shall he
open to the world.
In the trial heats of these races pace
makers shall not qualify for the final, and
no one shall be allowed to compete in the
final for any other reason than winning one
OF the qualifying positions. If there is a
dead heat between any two or more, those
making the dead heat may run 1t over or
decide by lot, at the discretion of the ref
cree.
The amateur national cboynpionSbt,, r,oo,
shall be run at the national meet. The
winners of first and second positions in the
finals OF the quarter, third, half, two-mile
and five-mile Tor any Of them) shall quail
ify for the one-nale, and the winner of the
one-mile shall be declared the champion
The trophies for amateur national cham
pionships shall be medals, to cost in no
case more than $50 per set of three gold
silver and bronze, respectively, to be struck
from dies owned by the, league.
The registration rule is also another de-
parture, whereby professional riders are re-
quired to pay 81 per annum each. The
rules provide that every member of the rae
ing board has charge of the district he rep
resents, and, under the direction of the
chairman, has power to accept the registra-
ton fees While the racing board does not
act as a collector for entry fees, yet proyi-
siOnS are made where fines may be collect
ed in lieu of suspensions upon professional
riders, track owners and race meet pro-
motors. A legal entry is one which Can
rot be rejected by the promoter. One
which complies with the racing rules and
Is accompanied by the fee required for all
entries for that meet" The following is
an entire new section, and a radical de-
parture:
When a professional makes an entry on
the regular blank seven days prior to date
of contests, and thus enables the promoter
to advertise his attractions. the profess
siOnal may insert in the entry the name OF
the wheel or tires he rides and the promo
ter must then insert the same, opposite his
name, on the score card or program, Pro-
moters are prohibited from inserting name
of wheel or tires of amateurs, or of late
entries.
Regarding sanctions new clauses are i'll
serted as follows:
Sanctions and special permits will be is
sued in duplicate. and one copy shall be
posted near the tape, in convenient view of
the starters when lined up. Any racing
man starting when such sanction is not IN
view will not be allowed the plea of ig-
rorance for starting In unsanctioned races.
or starting or exhibiting in an event for
which special permit is required.
Sanctions will be refused those promoters
who do not provide proper accommodations
Tor racing men, trainers and managers
both in training quarters and q convenient
place TO witness the races.
Promoters must send the member grant
Ing the sanction one copy of the entry
blank Immediately upon its being printed.
Applications for national circuit meets
must contain statement that at least one
professional national championship race
will be rum in which the first prize will be
not less than $3.50. National circuit sane
tons shall carry with them authority to
exceed the prize limit in professional
events. and authority to run match races.
exhibitions and those other special events
for which permit is necessary at an open
meet, except multicycle pacing. It is not A
rule, but 1t Is recommended that at least
one class race be run at national circaut
meets. and promoters viii find it to their
advantage to do SO.
To prevent league clubs from trading
sanctions which are granted to them tree
all applications of such clubs must he
signed by the president and secretary. cer-
tifying that the club itself is to conduct the
meet and receive all profits. Race meat
promoters will have to pay a fee OF Is Ia