The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-11
USE OF THE WIND SHIELD
SECRETARY REEVES FAVORS THEM
IN RECORD ATTEMPTS.
He Says Such Shields Are a Decided
Advantage to n Horse, Probably
Three to Four Seconds.

The use of wind shields still occupies the
attention of horsemen of the country, and
while many of them are against the use of
the shields there are still a number who
favor them In attempts to lower records.
Alfred Reeves, secretary of the Empire
City Thotting Club, New York, on whose
track Prince Alert and Major Delmar low
cred their records, has the following to say
Of the use of the wind shield
LAS L was responsible for the wind shield
that Prince Alert and Major Delmar used
at the Empire City track at our fall meet
ing, it may not be amiss to give my reasons
for advocating its use, together with some
idea to its advantages. The wind shield
is of decided advantage to horse, probably
three to four seconds when he is properly
rated, but do not see why records so made
should not be officially recognized. To be
sure, we make the task a little easier for
the animal in which are all interested,
but why his time should be discredited sim
ply because he has every possible advantage
is more than 1 understand. Prince
Alert has gone with the shield, Major Del
mar has gone with the shield, Dan Patch
and Lou Dillon have gone with shields. and
the country should not be permitted to do
likewise. If it is of advantage to Prince
Alert it is certainly Of advantage to Dan
otOH vi dily OtlltI ilOTSc WilCu Is StTuB-
Cling against Father Time. Nevertheless,
l do believe that the governing body of the
sport should make rule stating just how
many square inches of wind shield should
be carried by the pacemaker In front so that
wind shields shall come within reasonable
limit. Records so made should, In my opin.
ion, be placed in class by themselves but
by no means should they be discredited.
1T was six or seven years ago that / saw
the wind shield used for the first time by
bicycle riders in Paris. It's advantage was
so apparent that 1T was adopted universally
by bicycle riders. When the idea reached
this country the riders began to wear
heavy sweaters and built their machines
so as to give the greatest amount of wind
resisting surface. 1t was then that the gov
erning body ruled to the size of pacing
machines, and this rule is now in effect.
las to its advantages In the bicycle game.
L might say that the fastest mile ever made
by bicycle rider alone OH track is 1:53 rs,
whereas behind a pacing machine fitted
with wind shield he has covered mile in
1909, travelling more than fifty miles an
hour Another incident that proves the
marked advantage of shields was the ride
of Charles Murphy behind train of the
Long Island Railroad a few years ago. He
travelled a mile behind a car fitted with a
special hood in :57&. and at the finish was
unable to get out of the suction and we had
to lift the man and his bicycle aboard the
train.
81 first suggested the idea of wind shield
to our president, Mr.. James Butler, and
subsequently turned over the plans for it to
our superintendent, Mr.. Treanor. I am now
planning a wind shield of little different
construction from the one used at our fall