The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-23
DISLIKE" THE PLAN
Local Horsemen Disapprove of ''Nov-
city" System of Racing.
SUCCESS AT BRIGHTON BEACH
But Big Purses and High Glass Fields
May Explain Popularity of
New Plan.

One of the most interesting features of
the trotting season thus far has been
the so-called novelty" plan of racing
tried at Brighton Beach last week The
plan has already been explained, but
second description may not be amiss. In
this system the horse winning the fret
heat is sent to the barn, and SO also the
horse taking the second. The remaining
animals fight it out for the third heat and
the horse winning the fastest heat gets
first money; the one winning the second
fastest heat second money; the other heat
winner third, while fourth money goes to
the horse in the remainder of the field
which stands best in the summary.
This is one of the most radical innova
tions introduced in a good many years,
| and only long and thorough trial can be
taken, as test of its merits. Local
horsemen generally are not inclined to
look with favor upon the new plan. 1t is,
! of course, an attempt to provide a substi-
tute for the old horse-killng three heats
in five system, and as regards it's effect
in saving the animals must be considered
a success. The general opinion among
| local men, however, is that 1t does not
afford so fair a test of a horses merits
as the old heat system.
| This new plan is going to give a lot
of authority to the timekeepers,' said one
local horseman yesterday, "and at first
| glance it seems as If it would result in
good deal of jobbing There will be plenty
| of cases where the timekeepers can throw
the race one way or the other by shading
| the time a fraction of a second. Then
| again does it seem fair to give one ami
NAL the race over another where merely
quarter or a half Of a second difference
| exists between their times? 1t must be
| remembered that horse usually will not
fn hQ iS
Now, suppose the first heat winner leads
the field by a comfortable margin. His
I driver does not like to crowd him to the
limit, and his time is consequently little
slower than it would otherwise be. Then
another horse has a whipping finish in
the second heat, and makes a shade bet
ter time, where the first one could easily
have beaten him out. 1t seems to me
! that this plan would not always result in
giving the race to the best all around
horse"
Change Plan Of Breeding.
':I do not think the plan a success"
said another man, because the plan in
breeding and training harness horses in
this country, has been to develop an ami
NAL which would be fast not only for one
mile, but for series of miles. That plan,
I believe is best calculated to develop the
general breed Of harness and carriage
horses into speedy and at the same time
stanch animals: This new plan will fos-
ter the development of horses which can
show burst of speed for lone mile only,
and do not believe. the general effect
upon horse breeding will be good"
NOTHING succeeds like success said
R. F. Jones, land from this standpoint
suppose the novelty plan may be said to
have succeeded at Brighton Beach. Ger
tainly no complaints of unsatisfactory re-
suits have yet been heard But it must
: be remembered that.the purses offered at
Brighton Beach have been exceptionally
> large, aud of course this has brought to-
gethcr large and high class fields of per-
formers Moreover the betting at Bright
on is unlimited, and that is what New
Workers want. The" speculation there is
enormous, $150,000 often being wagered
in a single day. So, the new plan I think
has been popular at Brighton not because
of it's own merits, but because of the big
purses and consequent good sport. Tried
at an ordinary meeting, it might not be
so successful: !.
Mile Dashes the Ideal.
, 1T has always been my opinion, how
ever, that the ideal plan Of trotting races
was one mile dashes. What the public
!, wants now is quick action. Under the
ordinary plan of heat races twenty-five
minutes is supposed to be the time be-
tween heats. Consequently the programs
are long drawn out. By making all the
: races dashes, you could put on six or
= seven in an afternoon. An owner could
. enter the same horse in two or three
! races in the same day. The result would
, be larger classes, and consequently better
5 sport for the public, which of course
means better attendance and more money
d for the promoters of the meet. In Min
: nesota where pool selling Is barred,
t believe this plan the best that can be
4 devised In the east, where speculation is
j o,o oft ha chief attTactions for the MI hi IL
q at horse meeting, it might not work Sc
we'll. Even in the east however, I be-
Q leve the dash plan would succeed, for it
l, would enable the public to bet on every
: heat, without the chance of losing his
S money by a driver laying up heat"
: "In preventing this laying up, do moi
q believe the new plan would be a great
y success. for there is nothing to prevent
e two drivers to arrange between them
n selves for the disposition of the heats
If they think they have the rest of the
field beaten. An individual driver, too
q would have just as much chance to lay VI
Il a heat and then win the first. money IL
fact, more in one respect, for after tn,
first heat at least one of his most formid
g able opponents would be removed from
the field
b Rythmic's Sensational Work.
le One of the sensations of the year is tn
so far unbeaten blind trotter Rhythmic
which has trotted in 2:09A, and up t
- ! Friday had won every race he had, en-
m tered. Horsemen agree that he has tn
ID abilityto go much faster than that mari
J. and it will be surprise if he does nc
st beat 2:07 before the end Of the seasol
ID For an absolutely green horse, his pei
to formances have been really phenomena
y and before the end of the year he ma
III turn out to be the best trotter in tt
Id country, with the exception of the might
as | Cresceus. a-- s."I gr..- -.-. - F..
Of Indeed some horsemen assert tn
ng rhythmic has a good chance to approat
e the record Of Cresceus, If not to beat
ne There is a far cry, however, betwee
a 2:09% and 2:02A. and it is hard to pr
ed dict how fast, and bow far horse mi
en- develop. rhythmic has good blood in hi1
he however, being sired by Oakland Baro
en- while his dam, the. Duchess, was
Elf Strathmore, and be has already won
= owner many times his cost. "
- u Another green horse that at the time
- writing is still. unheaten is Direct HI
;, the great PAGER campaigned by Geers til
o. season. Although the horse has n
~ shown; sensational time, he has had Z
f trouble in disposing% Of his fields, a.
TIA should be in the front rank Of all t
nd PAGERS next season.
,n ,l Laying Up of Heats.
he The season for laying up of heats is
L