The Saint Paul globe., 1900-01-30
can work into shape to bring home
trophies and honor.
HARNESS RACES.
Stewards of Grand Circuit to Meet
in Detroit Today.

in Detroit To-Day.
DETROIT, Mich, Jan. 29.-The stew
ards Of the Grand circuit of harness ra-
cling tracks will meet for their annual
convention at Detroit Mich, tomorrow.
Jan. 80, to map out the "big ring" for 1900.
Much interest is being taken in the pres
ent conclave, as 1t Is probable that the
makeup of the circuit may be consider
ably changed, while several momentous
questions concerning its conduct await
action.
Last year the Grand circuit began at
Detroit the week of July Is and progress
ed, week by week, to Cleveland, Colum-
bus. o.; Fort Erie (Buffalo), Glens Falls,
N. Y; Readville, Mass; Hartford, Conn;
New York city and Providence, r. l.,
where it closed q brilliantly successful
season late In September. This year 1t
looks as If the old members would all be
In line again, the two most doubtful ones
-Glens Falls and Pfovidence- having al
ready declared in. while there Is prospect
of several new ones. Fort Wayne, md.
a member in former seasons, Is said to
be seeking readmission. indianapolis Is
also quoted as desirous of q place. and
Terre Haute would like to follow Provi-
dence and close the circuit. There has
also been talk of Lexington, KY, as
last possible link, but this is probably
Pa, which decade ago used to open the
circuit, has splendid new mile track,
and it was believed that 1t wanted to
join again, but the report has been de-
MED
After arranging the circuit itself, the
stewards have the knotty problem Of its
regulations confronting them, the chief
bugaboo being the famous early closing
events mix-up, which has been the topic
of much heated discussion and has left
the outlines for the coming season
pretty hazy in the minds Of many horse
men and racing associations.
The mischief began last fall, just at
the close of the campaign, when an at
tempted boycott of racing associations
venturing to reopen early closing events
in 1900 was launched by q certain party
of horSemen. These events form an i'm
portant part Of every great harness meet
ing programme, and the richest prizes
and stakes, such as the $4,000 races at
Detroit, Readville, Hartford and Lexlng-
ton, and other similar affairs, belong in
their category. They are generally closed
from January to April, are on the install
ment plan and have always received
+ liberal patronage. The reformers conten-
ton, however, was that their support In
volved an immense advance outlay by the
campaigners in entry fees, forfeits, ETC..
the taking of long chances on untried
horses and good ones going wrong, and
large number of similar contingencies.
The petition, which was widely circulated
and numerously signed, stamped the
whole system as iniquitous and called
upon all horsemen to boycott those asso-
Citations adhering to it.
Strangely enough the prime movers In
this action, the most prominent signers
Of the petition, were the very owners
and trainers that have been the system $
greatest beneficiaries. The Hamlins,
whose trotters and PAGERS win more mon
ey on the harness turf from year to year
than any other stable, drafted the paper.
The prosperous Keating and McHenry
signed it; so did DR.. Wentz, rich with the
spoil that Hal B had won; so did Mr.. Tod,
the owner of Lord Vincent, winner Of the
$4,000 events at both Hartford and Lex
nigton, and SO on. "Giye us races which
close not less than thirty. days before
their decisiou," was their demand, $50
that we may make no mistakes about our
candidates and lay out the use OF no
money in engaging them
Truly, 1t was q modest request. espe-
cially considering the source. But at the
same time 1t was also very vociferous
for its size. 1t caused track managers
much disquietude at the outset and has
hung like cloud over their horizon ever
since. As time has passed, however. it
has been somewhat dissipated. Many
substantial horsemen, too, vigorously So
ieited, refused to sign the petition. Still
others that had done so retracted their
signatures. AS the winter has worn away
and the time for activity has begun to be
near at hand, the health of the boycott
has begun to seem precarious. AS mat
ter of fact, sanity has prompted the rec
objection that while some associations
make money on their early closing purses.
they lose in proportion on their Others;
that very few conduct meetings at suffi-
cient profit to repay their pains. were not
real sporting instinct their chief support.
and that instead Of being in league to-dm-
poverish horsemen they generally have
not hesitated to push liberality to Its
furthest In their favor