The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-27
WITH TROTTER IND PAGER.
Horsemen Grumble at the Special Congress
of the n. T. A.

Horsemen Grumble at the Special Congress
of the N. r. A.
Some Of the horsemen who attended the
special congress OF the n. T.. A. last week were
disposed to grumble when they saw half adozen
men amend and virtually repeal the rule pro-
hibiting hopples by casting the proxies OF
county agricultural societies and other minor
organizations in punches Of from three to
eleven. One of these discontinued turfmen
said after the convention adjourned:
This thing of giving to every track that
hangs up a bushel of oats or 500 for its races
an equal voice with the manage OF a Grand
Circuit meeting in the deliberations OF the
National Association seems to .me to be oil
wrong: and the more 30 when most OF these
votes are cast by proxy. Here we had one man
casting eleven votes, another man eleven more,
another eight. another seven and another SIX.
Those five men controlled the congress-. They
made and unmade rules for more than 0 trot-
ting tracks and for ten lines that number OF
horse owners. They lowered the standard OF
q great national sport:sand they struck q seri-
Gus blow at the breed Of trotting horses when
they nullihed the ruls prohibiting hopples.
And who were they? Nice gentlemen. per-
~sonally. every one Of them but they are not
breeders: they campaign no horses nor do they
manage any trotting meetings. Yet one OF
these mon, having no direct interest In the sport.
can. with eleven OF these county fair proxies
In his,po.ket, outvote the whole Grand Circuit
Detroit, Cleveland. Columbus. Buffalo. Glens
Falls. Boston, Hartford and New York all COM
bined. Just so long as this state OF things
continues the standard OF the sport will be no
higher than 1t is now. for the-big tracks.are
held back by the little ones. l predict that
unless there is a change within two years the
members Of the Grand Circuit will adopt rules
of their own and retain their membership In
the, n. 7. A. merely as a means OF coilectlnR
delinquent entrance fees"
In view Of the frequent assertion that no
track manager can AFFORD to put up the bars
against hoppled PAGERS horsemen are watch
Ing with great ~interest. the closing OF entries
Hartford and New York. II is understood that
Boston and New:York will prohibit the use 81
%honules. while II Is wei, known that Har.I9 ira
the latter meeting closed last week. and it Is
reported that the classes filled only fairy well
purses WORTH s3@.00o will close on March 10
for the Boston meeting. and on Aprii : n om
Ing purse. recently orsned BY Secretary To,
man Of the Empire City Trotting Gluo, "A
good many horeemen Fay they e wE%'n Ii eot e Se
cgllcd by 10th Boston and New York. When
the managers of the Hartford track announced
decided to snbmit to a vote Of the horsemen
making entries in each race ne Question a ..s ND u
tste , u r me con contest @iIc sh hsa1, p ees y IN / in Ave.
Now that the returns are all in it is reported
that the horse owners have voted ,almnst
unanimously for shorter races In nearly all II
not all classes on the card.
One Of the inspiring sights on the new
S~perdway next spring will be that OF hobert
bonner and Frank Work, each drying a trot;
and Mr. homer is Is. vet theSeSeteran road
Elders have, l4tely purchased ION pleasure drlEi-
AIR. Bonner has paid for SOM other tr 5eFt
md lie has owned n least two others thht were
faster. by the records, but IL is doubtful wheth-
er the famous New York hoIseInan ever had y
trotter that was az once SO fast ana so perieH'
4 road morse as The big chestnut son OF = KEEL
az, thai he Ia nowadays driving IN central
Park. II is well known that, most oil the star
%Srotters are too high. spirited and nervous tG
he pleasant road horses in a city like New
aork, where electric cars and carrlages, ele-
ya'ed railroads and many other strange oo'
!ects. are encountered on every hand. lTay,
Yen, however, is one OF those rare horses tha,
nave the speed OF the wind combined with the
courage Of a lion and the docility OF q pet dog
Ainnh,g.Ell RG has pulled a wagon lasS.I then :
a.ib gait. his:disposition Is so perfect mat tht
vile and children OF his forme owne used 70