Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-11-17

THE great interest manifested at the
4 rr.s.pf fIwe In eyerythiUr that

HN1a great INTEREST Nlbllii'nN'N 90 N'''
present time In everything that
pertains TO harness horse racing
specially among amateurs has recent
o. eliminated In a generally expressed
desire all over the country for the gem
uem,n drivers 20 band together boz
national association.
There are many arguments IN favor
~ the formation of such anoTgluzluun
Just now, one of the principal being
that there Ia no recognized definition OF
am amateur relusman Each ToJtug
association In the different cities has
one, and in several cases these are 500
different that man who under one
ruling would be considered au anna
teur would be barred according to the
reading Of the definition In another as-
sGciation. In fact, so confusing has
the word amateur become that when
the rules governing the inters.ty cup
races dt Boston were drawn up the
word was omitted, and the term gem
tleman driver was substituted The
latter was defined as one who has new
or accepted compensation for services
as trainer or driver"
There are. however. many other CON
sideratlons which have induced The ann
ateur drivers to wish for a central gov
ernlng organization. An amateur trot-
ting circuit might be- established. and
each club might send a few OF Gas best
horses to compete In the different races
around the country, and many other
such things might be done 10 increase
interest IN the sport.
After the talk OF organizing such an
association had gone on for some time
without any definite steps being taken,
the Road Drivers Association of New
York. realizing that what was every
body's business was nobodys affair.
took the matter up Dr. II. II Kane,
the well known president Of that club,
sent a circular letter to all the promi-
nent amateur driving associations In the
country, asking their views on the mat
ter. II they were In favor OF the idea Il /
was suggested that each club appoint !
one or two delegates 10 meeting to or !
ganize the proposed association. All |
have expressed themselves as In accord |
with the plan. and the meeting win be- !
held in New York during the week Of or /
just after the coming national horse /
show, when many horsemen will be In /
that city.
Dr. Kane has had some correspond
ence with the officers Of the National |
Trotting association and those Of the
American Trotting association. These
two bodies govern professional harness |
horse matters in the eastern and west
ern sections Of this country respective /
~, They say that they will welcome /
the formation Of such an organization /
and will give It any aid IN their power |
and agree TO recognize its rulings in /
any matter which may concern them
or over which they may have jurisdic-
ton
1t Is also proposed that the organlza-
ton shall publish monthly a list OF all |
amateur races that have taken place /
In the preceding month and other in
formation interesting TO the members.
together with a year book. giving the /
names OF all horses owned by the meme
bers, their breeding races they have
won etc. A committee will also proba-
bly, be appointed to pass upon all dis
puted points that may arise There are
about 40 clubs In this country located |
In a great many OF the states which /
would be likely 70 join the new body.
Several suggestions have been made
as TO how the definition Of an amateur
shall read. one enthusiast who has ]
quite a following suggests that there |
be two classes-class a, composed Of I
the simon pure amateurs who have /
never driven any but their own horses. |
have never driven In a public race |
against a professional and have never /
received any money consideration de |
'ect or indirect. IN connection with driy- !
ng his horses and class b. composed /
IF men who have never driven any but |
their own horses. but who have COM /
oeted with professionals iu public /
races" IL is also proposed that lf the |
amateurs be- thus divided the class p |
drivers shall be handicapped when en- /
competition with class A men In cup /
aces or matinees.