The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-29
QUESTION
Does It Mean the Sacrifice Of Bottom
to Speed e-That's the :.
Problem. -.
Many Horsemen Favor the Abandon
ment Of Old Three-in-Five
System. =

| 4Nc1Ay AAO4SC1l4C4 avn GAAC 3AUd1AuOA-
| ment of Old Three.in.Five
System. =.
The discussion over dash races as op-
| posed to the old three-in- Live system in
harness events still continues. All admit
that dash races would eliminate to large
extent the practice of laying up heats, and
that it is practically the only way to stop
| this laying-up. The great objection to
| this plan, however, aside from the natural
hesitation about adopting SO radical an
innovation hastily and without due con-
| sideration. Is the fact that it would lead
to breeding and training horses for sprints
and that the general run Of harness horses
would deteriorate in bottom; in other
words, that endurance would be too much
sacrificed to speed.
! Trainer George Spear, we'll known in
Minneapolis, thinks the three in five sys-
I tenn will be generally retained by associa-
| lions next season. He is not a believer
In the system Of dash races, and does not
think it will become popular either with
horsemen or with the general public. A
New York horseman, on the other hand,
says that while It might take some time
| before the dash system became popular
In other cities, in New York, if adopted,
1t would draw the crowds. New Workers,
says this horseman, are too much in love
with the dash system as applied to the
| running turf. to give any other system
even trial. and if light harness racing is
ever to become popular in Gotham, it will
be through the Introduction Of this sys-
tenn.
Mr.. klIne's Argument.
H. J. Kline. the western turf writer who
was presiding judge during the recent
memphis meeting, has long been advocat-
, ing the abandonment of three-in-fve
! races, and, after seeing the dash racing
at Memphis he frankly states that he be-
lieves dash racing is just what is wanted
by both the trainers and the race-going
public. Speaking Of the trial of dash
racing at Memphis and the effect it had
on the spectators, including the regulars
Mr.. Kline had the following to say to a
representative of the Chicago Inter-
Ocean:
THE trial Of the system was not made
under the best circumstances. The purses
were offered as 'consolations' for the
horses that had not won money in the
regular events, and for that reason many
of the best trotters and PAGERS at the
| meeting were ineligible to start. And yet
there were no hollow victories In all 1--WE
dashes the fields raced closly punched
from the start to the wire, and at the head
of the stretch it was write your your own
ticket The spectators, made up as they
| were of people who know all about thor
| oughbred racing, had no trouble what
ever in keeping track of every event. AS
soon as the horses reached the wire and
the numbers were announced they knew
| that that race was over, and that they
would not be expected to keep track Of a
split-heat contest on a score card thai
/ was more or less of a puzzle to them
There. great deal of enthusiasm dur
! ing the week, but at no other time was
there one-half as much at the finishes OF
the dash races Down in the betting ring
the bookmakers had play that opened
their eyes to the possibilities Of the dash
! system, from their point Of view. Every
body on the grounds who mad the price OF
a ticket tried to pick the winner, and the
result was day of racing that was more
than satisfactory to I'll concerned. Il tDok
the trouble to interview a number of
prominent drivers at the close Of the days
sport. 1t is not necessary to go into de-.
tails, but I can sum up their views OF it
| into the one Erief expression, I like It,.
Many of them went on to say that it the
plan were gene rally adopted the work uf a
trainer would be more than cut in two.
the average cunning capacity Of horses
would be greatly increased and they
would certainly wear longer all of which
are points thai no wise trainer or owner
| will overlook" ,.,
Mr. Kline goes on ito say that he be
lieves harness racing will be made. ex
| tremely poular in any city where tbs
racing program will be made up of ten
good early closing purses, to be decided
on the memphis plan,'' which is. in
| brief race of three dashes in one race,
all at different distances. making tho
balance Of the events dashes.~ On each
days program he would have one of the
| memphis" races filing in with enough
<51 70 Fell IL IT,
views may seem a little radical to some,
but he has had exceptional opportunities
to study the needs Of the turf, and. his
opinion is certainly entitled to respect
Anaconda. the "snake horse" passed
under the hammer for the third time at the
Fasig-T Upton sale in New York this week.
Anaconda cost his present owner, young
Eddie Rice Of Boston $4,000, in February,
1901. e..
Considering Anaconda brings to mind the
fact that the lot of outclassed horse is
pretty hard one, even if he be outclassed
by the least trife, as Anaconda" is. The.
''snake hoss'' can still pace several heats
in a row around 2o2 and 2:O3.. But, except;
he catches him off, he can't beat Prince
Alert, and he must meet him every time
he starts.
A great many people also do not look for
him to be able to beat Audubon Boy next
year, and perhaps two or three others that
might be named. If he races on the Grand
Circuit he will probably have. to be content
with second or third money asa general
thing, which is not particularly glorious
nor especially profitable. = r..
But there is practically nowhere else for
him to race, for he can beat all the second
class PAGERS so easily that they would not
enter race against him in the free-for-
alls on the minor tracks. just where to
place him becomes, therefore, problem
The. general impression is that he is a
difficult horse to drive, and not an ideal
roadster. But for that he would probably
find has way into some speedway stable.
He has won nearly 100 heats in standard
time and probably twenty-five in 2:O5 or
better; his earnings reach near $50, OO0
j., Lowest coIonist Rates.
49,, VU~