Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-04

money. This plan is becoming very
popular. It has been tried at Month
cello with the very best of results. |
having proven satisfactory to every |
body. 1t is quite likely that Creston
will adopt this plan
John Berkes.
Il am in favor of the proposed
change and change is needed and
needed badly There is entirely too
much crooked work in the sport and
believe that the plan suggested will
have tendency to do away with a
whole lot of the unfair methods that
are reported at the present time
Michael Mclnerny.
81 am in favor of the system as out
lined by Billings, but there is one great
drawback to it. Take large number
of horses on narrow track and there
is no denying that all could not have a
fair show at the money. For exam
pie, say that in the drawing man was
so unlucky as to be placed in the third
tier With the single heat plan he
would not be able to get into position
for the money before the race was ov-
er. The man who drew the good po-
sition would have too much of an adj
vantage over the other horses entered
in the race, but who had been unlucky
in getting placed OF course this is
true in any race, but the advantage
would be greater under the proposed
change of plan. If this can be fixed
in some way l would be very much in
favor of the plan"
Joseph Dain.
The proposed change as advocated
by G. K. G. Billings is not new idea.
1t has been tried at times prior to this
and has proven unsatisfactory. This
cannot be taken as absolute proof of
it's inefficiency for had it been manag-
ed differently it might have been sue
cesful. | do not believe the plan is a
good one for country races. 1t would
be impossible for the fair management
to secure race horses enough to fur
| nish amusement for half day were
the proposed plan to be adopted. OF
course a horse could not enter more
| than one class and there are usually
but three races in single day at the
| fairs and they would have but three
heats to offer the people if the sim
! gle heat plan were to be adopted.
1t is certainly useless to say that this
would be very unsatisfactory to the
patrons of the sport AS to the charge
| of laying up well, | do not believe
that this can be substantiated to any
marked extent in the country race
meets. but it is no doubt practiced in
the larger meetings. The change that
is suggested may be all right in the big
circuits. but will never be success at
the county fairs"
Calvin Manning.
Il am not in favor of any such a
change, for if it We're adopted, the real
merit of the horse would not be shown
A horse has many peculiarities and as
result some need two heats before
/ they come to their real speed while
others are the best at the beginning
of the race. Another thing is the un
| fairness of such a plan should some
little accident happen and they are
! always likely to occur. BY some
| breakage or mishap a horse nigh
make poor finish and as the hea
would end the race it would have M
opportunity to show its worth or wiz
the purse. While occasionally there
are drivers who lay up,' it is not thu
rule. Exceptions can not be taken as
the standard from which to judge tn,
merits of our present system of con
Quoting races There are very few
drivers who will not win race il
they can. Three best out OF fvs
furnishes the best entertainment TO
/ the people and that is a fact tina
must not be forgotten. Race meet.
of all kinds must have the support o
the public and horsemen in forming
the rules that are to govern the races
must not lose sight of the people.
do not believe the old system will bt
discarded"
w. II. Boston.
Il am very much in favor of the
plan OF making each heat a race.
would favor dividing the purse int
three equal parts and pay the WHINE
at the end of each heat. Instead o
the plan to have one race. would b
in favor of having three The pre-
posed change is nothing new. Some
thing of the idea has been under dis
cussion for several years. and year
ago we thought of adopting it at thi
place. 1t has been tried other place
and found to be a success. The hes
thing about the plan is the doing ava
. of all 'loafing' or laying up an,
making every race contested in Il mar
ner that would call out the best tina
was in horse. | am in favor of
change"