The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-24
LOU DILLON'S RECORD.

The action of the joint conference COM
bination made up Of representatives from
the American and National Trotting or
ganizations and the American Trotting
Register Association in disallowing the rec
ord of 2:O5 made by Lou Dillon at Cleveland
has caused much comment by prominent
horsemen throughout the country. d. Scott
Quintin, for many years noted and widely
respected owner, trainer and driver on the
trotting turf. gives few interesting facts
anent the ruling on light harness records.
He says
II was present the day Maud S. made her
wonderful mile at Cleveland in 1856 and
recollect quite we'll that she pulled the light
est and most up-to-date sulky that L had
ever seen up to that time 1t weighed thirty
eight pounds. There was probably as much
difference between this sulky used by Maud
S. and the one Flora Temple used in her
memorable mile in 2:19A or the one Dexter
drew at Buffalo in 2:1714 as there is between
the one Maud s. drew in 2:OS24 and the one
used by Lou Dillon when she trotted in
1:5S13 do not say the one Lou Dillon drew
when she trotted in 2O5 for, if I am cor
rectly informed, the latter is as near a du-
plicate Of the Maud S. sulky as 1t Is posi-
Lou Dillon sulky is equipped with roller
bearings a bearing which has long ago
been discarded by bicyclists and for other
light vehicles for rapid draught as useless.
1t has been fully demonstrated that it is
due to the pneumatic tire much more than
the bearings to which the great increase in
speed Is partially due. However be this
it may. it would seem that by the ruling of
a.
also fall, because she did not use a sulky
the same style as the one drawn by Lady
Suffolk or Flora Temple.
1.-The contention that the time made by
Lou Dillon is not a record. because she al
ready had a faster record. would seem to
me untenable, for the reason that any win
ming performance constitutes technical
record. AS Lou Dillon started against time
namely. 2:OS%-and accomplished the feat
by trottlng the mile In 2:O5 over the same
course on which Maud S. made her record
of 2:OS%4, fail to see any grounds for dis
allowing the time. and believe 1t should be
recorded against her the same as any other
winning performance. If by any chance
Lou Dillon should start in a race against
| other horses and win a heat In slow time
| 2:30, for instance-would this performance
be disallowed because Lou Dillon had a
faster previous record? If not, why not?
| One seems as sound in doctrine as the
/ other
Ball bearings and roller bearings were
both in use about the time Maud S. made
| her record. Frank Van Ness had one for
the sulky of Harry Wilkes, 2:131k, and
had two for Gossip. jr.. 2:13A, but we had
TO discard them owing to the fact that they
would work loose and the wheel would
wabble and rattle, and in fact we found
| them of SO little benefit as a means Of in
| creasing speed that We discarded them al
I together.
Il have never heard that the record of
| either Harry Wilkes or Gossip, jr., was
/ questioned because their sulkies were
| equipped with the patent axle. When did
the trotting associations formulate a rule
as to just what constitutes a sulHy?
what are the specifications to which the
same shall conform?
There is scarcely a doubt but what Lou
Dillon can trot I'm POS or better to the same
sulky which Maud S. used for her mile In
2:0S2."