The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-07

To THE EDITOR OF The SuN--Sir: AS was
responsible for the wind shield that Prince Alert
and Major Delmar used at the Empire City track
at our fall meeting. 1t may not be amtss to give my
reasons for advocating Its use. together with some
idea as 70 Its advantages. The wind shield Is OF
decided advantage to horse, probably three 10
four seconds when he Ls properly rated. but | DO
not see why records made should not be officially
recognized. To be sure we make the task little
easier for the animal In which all Interested
but why his time should be dlscredited simply
because he has every possible advantage Is nors
than can und erstand. Prince Alert has gone
with the shield. Major Delmar has gone with the
shield Dan Patch and Lou Dillon have gone with
Shields and there Is no reason why eSery other
horse In the country should not be permitted 10 DO
likewise. II 1t Is OF advantage TO Prince Alert IL
Is certainly OF advantage to Dan Patch or any other
horse which Is struggling against Father Tine
Nevertheless. do believe that the governing body
OF the sport should make rule stating just how
many square inches OF wind shield should be car
ried by the pacemaEcr IN front so that wind shields
shall come within reasonable limit Records
SO made should. In my opinion be placed In class
by themselves. but by no means should they DO
discredted.
1t seems TO me that IN an EFFORT 10 beat Time"
we should give every possible advantage ",thin
reason 10 the horse and do not think II Is unrea-
sonable 10 give him any shelter that does not look
ridiculous on the track. The size OF the shields
can be carried TO excess. and for that reason be-
lievc In a rule limiting the size
twas six or seven years ago that saw the WIND
shield used for the nrst time by bicycle riders IN
Paris It's advantage was so apparent that II was
adopted universally by bicycle riders. When tho
idea reached this country the riders began 10 wear
heavy sweaters and built their machines so as 70
give the greatest amount OF wind resisting surface
/, was then that the governing body ruled as W
the size OF pacing machines and this rule Is now ID
effect.
As to Its advantages in the bicycle game; might
say that the fastest mile ever made BY q bicycle
rider alone on a track Is 1853 IS. whereas behind
A pacing machine ttted with wind shield he he's
covered a mile In 100, travelling more than MY
miles an hour Another incident that proves the
marked advantage Of shield was the ride ~ Charles
Murphy behind a train Of the Long Island Railroad
a few years ago. He travelled Il mile behind cur
nttcd with u special hood in ga. seconds. and nj
the nnish was unable to get out of the suction and
we had 70 Mt the man and his bicycle aboard the
train.
Although may be wrong think that the wind
shield will result IN general breaking Of rccorGs'
and II ID record breaking that Interests the public
People VINO attend race meets arc litils concerned
AS to lust how records broken so long AS
horse travels faster than he ever travelled before
In his history, lam strong advocate Of cncourag
ing the breeders III this country. and cannot see
how t.r s.neraI use OF wind shields will harm ihtt
interests In any way.
To interest the public means bigger Attendance
at race meets, greater Interest IN the performance
OF horses and Il greater demand for Light harness
horses In general In NIL OF which the track owners
are az vitality Interested as any one else who loves
the trotter.
nrst suggested the idea Of Wind shield TO our
president Mr.. James Butler. nnd subsequently,
turned over the plans for II to our superintendent.
Mr. Trranor | am now planning "A wind shed
OF little different construction from the one us'
NJ our TALL meeting feel sure IL win prove OF ut
least nve seconds advantage to any horse that
can be properly rated To go behind II.
Allied REEVES,
Secretary Empire City Trotting Cub.
NEW YoEx, Oct s.