The Washington times., 1902-08-04
NEW BETTING SYSTEM
FOR HARNESS RACES

Of betting done away with there are
plenty Of chances 20 profit by dropping
heats.
Cne OF the incentives for laying up a
horse in the early part CT q race Is TO
affect his market value in the auction
pools. After he has lost a heat OF two
his price is pretty sure 10 60 down TO
low figure in the selling, so that his
hackers at this stage Of the race can buy
him cheap in large pools. winning hand
somely when he is at last cut loose. \
play OF this kind is. of course. iDdepend-
ent of heat betting. and is ordinarily
possible only in an old fashioned three
in five race
To Srevent such maneuvrIng and 70
solve the heat betting problem. many
trotting associations are nowadays do
ing away with three in FIVE races by
substituting two in three contests, but
the New York Association is the first
one to take the bull by the horns and
prohibit heat betting. Nearly one-hat
of all the races in the Grand Circuit this
year have been decided according to the
two in three system. and with gen.
orally satisfactory results. When two
winning heats give the victory to any
horse in rhe race drivers find the risk
OF laying up too great for comfort. and
the public has little cause for complaint
on this score.
Brighton's Novelty Races.
AS a compromise between two in tbres
and three in ive the New York Trottins
Association last year adopted the plan
Of ruling out after three heats all
horses except the winners, letting these
only finish the race. The system work
ed fairly well in preventing the practice
of laying up heats. and 1t is to be fol-
lowed again In all the big stake races
of the Brighton meeting next week. But
in these races all speculation will be on
the final result.
In another set of purse races novel
plan for insuring short. sharp contests
is to be tried. The race is limited TO
three heats, and the purse Is so divided
as to make 1t an object for every driver
to win If he can and win in the fastest
time his horse is capable of showing.
The winner OF the first heat, under this
system. is to retire from the race, while
the others renew the contest. The win
ner OF the second heat then goes to the
stable, and the remaining starters trot
a third heat, which ends the race. First
money will be awarded to the horse
making the best time. hence all are ex-
pected to go as fast as they can. To lay
UP in one of these novelty races would
be suicidal. for it lessons the chance to
get any part of the purse.
Awaits Approval.
Whether this system of harness rae
ing Will be generally adopted by other
Grand circuit tracks remains to be seen.
but all signs point to the early dis
carding OF the time-worn three in five
Elan, which now has few friends apart
from the professional circuit followers
who profit by its opportunities.
Many horsemen believe that straight
put dash racing will eventually supplant
contests of heats on all the leading
racks. but there are many more who
would deplore the adoption OF such
,ystem as tending to undermine the al
most matchless stamina OF the present
Jay breed of trotting horses. Until the
:verage trotter has forgotten how to
make break there Is small chance that
{ will supersede heat racing. Mils
1eats, two in three, seem to have the
all at present among track managers.
,orse owners. and the race-going public.