Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-12-18
HORSE NOTES..
News of General and Local Interest to
HOrsemen.

News of General and Local Interest to
Horsemen.
Our readers are requested to send to "Grif-
fin," p. o. Box 634, Middlebury, any news OF
deaths. sales. foaling, performances, etc, OF
horses that are OF enough consequence to be
noted in this department, which will be main
tanned with view to making it OF interest
both local and widespread.
The very fast performances of Lou
Dillon and others the past season have
not yet been received as technical re-
cords, and may not be, which would
create a decided sensation. At the
recent meeting of the Board of Review
of the National Trotting association
the following memorial was presented
by my quondam friend, Thomas B. Arm
itage, of New York city:
"The unusual and apparently unlaw-
full conditions complained of are as fol-
lows:
First-In starting one or more horses
to accompany the performer against
time contrary to Rule 50, Sect. l, which
permits but one horse to accompany the
performer.
Second-In placing one of these ac-
companying horses in front of, or ahead
of, the performer for the double purpose
of ta) breasting the atmosphere, and thus
reducing its resistance to the progress of
said performer, instead of requiring the
performer to overcome this resistance by
the exercise of his own energy, as has
heretofore been the accepted custom;
and (b) for the further purpose of using
this leading horse to cause or create, by
his energy, following current of air
within which the performer has been
carried along faster than he could other
wise go by any possible exercise of his
own power, and thus be helped along by
depending upon, and using, the direct
effect of energy developed by another
horse.
Either or both of these results can be
obtained only in violation of the principle
or spirit of Rule So, Sect, |, which forbids
the accompanying horse being char
messed with or in any way attached to"
the performer; the evident meaning of
this language being that the accompany
ing horse must not push along nor pull
along the performer nor physically help
him along in any manner. The only use
of such other horse, as contemplated or
allowed by the rule, being to stimulate
and only to stimulate-the performer to
put forth his own best eXertions.
| LII ConCluoioh youi pclitiohci doho liido
all performances against time made with
the adventurous aid of another horse in
front of the performer shall not he adj
mitted to the records, and shall be
classed only with those made by guide
less wonders" "trotting dogs" and ''trot-
ting moose" all of which may amuse
and interest the public as curiosities, but
which are not calculated to improve the
breed of horses nor to advance the best
interests of trotting and pacing.
(Signed) THOMAS b. ARMITAGE."
If it were fact that the rule named in
the second paragraph of Mr.. Armitage's
memorial read precisely as he quotes it,
that would end the matter, and the wind
shield records would necessarily be re.
jected. l quote, however, the precise
language of the section: "When horse
performs against time, it shall be proper
to allow any other horse to accompany
him in the performance but not to be
harnessed with or in any way attached
to him." The defenders of the new
records can make very plausible argu-