The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-13
SPORTING NEWS.
Biennial Session of the National
Trotting Congress.
Wara 900 noIarafos Ruf Moet
Were 322 Delegates But Most
Were Proxies.
CHANGE In THE RULES.
Fine For SURPRISING Correct
Time Increased to $500.
No Records Can Be Made in
Trials of Speed.

New York Feb. 13.-The National
Trotting Congress held it's biennial ses-
sion here Wednesday.
Among those present were: President
p. P. Johnson, of Lexington. KY; Will
lam r. Allen. st. Louis, Mo-; Frank s.
Gorton. Chicago; William G. Pollock
and H. X Devereaux, Cleveland, o.; w
l. Hitchings, c. NJ. Jewett, Frank
Walker. H. NJ. Whitehead and t. l.
Quimby. of Boston, and H. w. Wilson,
of Lexington, KY.
The committee ON credentials report
ed 322 delegates, many represented by
proxy.
c. A. Willis, of Redbanl1, N. J., moved
an amendment forbidding betting on
heats in race and calling for the eX-
pulsion of any member who should al
low it. 1t was not adopted. 296 votes
being against it and only four for it.
The committee on nominations re-
ported for the reelection OF the pres
ent officers, including the members of
the board of review, ]. Malcolm Forbes,
of Boston, John c. Welty, of Canton,
Ohio. and r. H Plant, of Macon, Ga,
A change making the rule against
hopples more stringent, but requiring
action by the American Trotting associ-
alton to become effective, was proposed
by Mr.. Jewett, but was voted down.
new rule, 16, section /, referring
to disqualifications, was adopted. 1t
provides:
Owners who start horses: riders or
drivers who ride or drive and all horses
started at meetings by persons under
penalty by either the National Trotting
association or the American Tlotting
association, shall, by operation of the
rules be henceforth disqualified from
the right to compete on grounds of
members, which disqualification may
be removed only by order of the board
of 800, to go to this association, the
fine to apply to the horse or horses dis
qualified, regardless OF any change OF
ownership"
Another change provides that written
or photographed notice for the drawing
of horse shall be given, instead of the
oral notice sometimes given in the past.
" Another change provides that no
heat shall be called after sunset.
Rule "a, section 2, was amended so
as not to permit any person interested
in any horse in race to act in any
official capacity in that race" This is
broader than the recommendation of
the conference, which mentioned only
Judges and timers"
Rule 81 was amended so as to allow
printed conditions of a race to arrange
for other than the usual mum Der of
heats. The rule covering Sandwiching
of heats was changed so as to allow the
sandwiching of heats of three races on
one day.
Rule 80, section 8, was left unchanged
after a long discussion over a PROPOSE
ton to allow judges to declare any heat
void for pulling or other irregularities.
The rule regarding distances also was
left unchanged, although the conference
committee recommended a reduction of
ten feet A new section allowing the
waving of distance on consent was
adopted
Besides other penalties, the fine for
allowing suppression of the correct time
was increased from 800 to $500. A
board for determining records was es-
tablished. to consist of the presidents
of the National, American and Register
associations.
The following was added to rule A,
by a vote of 272 to u:
Records cannot be made or bars in
CURED in trials of speed where there
is no pool selling, bookmaking or other
public betting. on the event, no money
competed for, no entrance charged or
collected from competing horses, no adj
mission fee to the gate or grandstand
and no privileges of any kind sold.
Such performances shall not be consid-
cred public races"
President Johnson left the meeting
before it was over. in order to catch a
train As he left it was explained that
his son had died in Montana and that
he had been informed of the fact just
as he was starting for the congress. A
resolution of sympathy for him was
adopted by a rising vote.
Mr.. Willis moved that when the con-
gress adjourned it be until March II, at
which time, after notice, the question of
abolishing the practice of voting by
proxy be considered.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson it was voted
to petition the United States congress
to allow, on application, an extension
of six months to the period of six
months during which a. Canadian owner
of a horse may import the same in bond
The next congress will be held in
this city.