The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-16

two unfinished at sundown under the
three In five system. The public has not
relished this state Of AFFAIRS and the
thoroughbred game has secured a much
greater patronage. though II is an open
question whether the running horse or
the harness horse furnishes the better
sport
With the dash system OF racing and
prompt starting on schedule time the
harness game will appeal much more
strongly 10 the masses and will eventu-
ally result in a much longer racing sea-
son than at present enjoyed
The programs of the big circuit meet
ings this year show a big step towards
the complete adoption OF the two In three
system.
The Detroit association. which officially
opens the Grand Circuit. has frankly
Joined the new movement for shorter
races During its flve-day meeting there
are "a races. and with two exceptions
they are all on the two-in-three plan.
The exceptions are the $4,000 Merchants
and Manufacturers Stake and the 5000
Chamber of Commerce Stake. The De-
troit card foots up 10 $4,000.
The Cleveland week" Is famous with
horsemen throughout the continent All
the best horses from all sections meet
there, and Cleveland's 400 fll the box
es and support the sport The Cleve-
land association was for many years a
stalwart conservative, but IL has joined
the new movement, and all it's races are
on the two-in-three plan. This Is most
significant when Il is borne in mind that
Cleveland and the rich and populous
country surrounding II Is so loyal 10 the
sport that IL would support II under al
most any reasonable conditions The
Cleveland program includes $4,000 in
purses
Buffalo has divided its program be-
tween the old and the new. but our own
Empire City Trotting club, which holds
It's Grand Circuit meeting on August 10
TO Is. has come out fiat-foted for shorter
races All It's closed events are on the
two-in-three plan. There are four OF
5000 each--the New York for the 2:o9
trotters. the Mount Vernon for the 212,
the Empire for the 2:2o trotters, and the
Bronx is for 2:2o PAGERS. The full card
will be az least $50 900.
The New York Trotting associa tion
which holds its meeting at the popular
Brighton Beach track, follows the Empire
City meeting with still more ambitious
card Its leader is the $4,000 Bonner
Memorial for 212 trotters, the largest
all aged stake offered this season. The
weeks program will total about 10000.
There are a few races of mile heats. three
in FIVE, but there Is a special condition
that horses not winning one heat In three
are out OF the race and the balance of
the race will be two-in-three. or dashes.
Charter Oak park. Hartford. is pop
ular and historic track, and the manage
ment is progressive. This year the $4,000
Charter Oak Stake will be decided upon
a plan which. unless there Is a dead heat.
will settle II in three heats. II really
consists OF three dash races, In which
the first horse gets $500 and the second
$500 in each heat. the other 1900 being
divided according to the position OF the
horses in the race. This dash racing pure
and simple. the main purse being divided
into sections.
The Providence association has been
more conserva tive than any OF the Grand
Circuit members and sticks to the old
three-in-five plan. It's entries were light
er than those at Boston, which has adop-
ted the short races. though Boston bars
hopples and thus lost some pacing en-
tries and Providence gave the horsemen
a later date at which to complete their
entries.
Cincinnati completes the Grand Circuit
list, and has also Joined the two-in-three
brigade.
The Grand Circuit this year in its va
rious meetings will hang up about $4,000
and will be followed by the great meet
ing at Lexington with a 100000 card,
and Memphis with $4,000 Memphis has
always been radical and favors short
frnp hal n " miles