Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-08
TRoTTING RECORD WON'T HOLD.
Arbitration Board Squashes Figures
Hung Up by Lou Dillon.

Compromise decisions not entirely satisfy
ing to any of the horsemen concerned in the
controversy about the so-called windshield
performances of Lou Dillon. Major Delmar,
Dan Patch and Prince Alert in the last
harness racing season were rendered after
a public hearing at New York yesterday by
a board of arbitration made up of Maj. p.
P Johnson president Of the National Trot-
ting Association: w. P. Ijams. president Of
the American Trotting Association. and
William Russell Allen. president of the
American Trotting Register Association.
In the matter of Robert E. Bonner's pro-
when she started at Cleveland last Septem
Der to beat Maud SIS time to high-wheel
ed sulky the board ruled as follows:
I'VE find that the performance of Lou
Dillon at Cleveland, Ohio. September II.
1903. in 2.O5. to a high-wheeled. ball-bearing
sulky, with pacemaker. with dirt shield
in front. was not record because the
mare had previously performed In faster
time, which performance was her record
and precluded a slower performance being
a record. We also find that the perform
ance of Maud 8. at Cleveland. Ohio. In 1888,
was to high-wheeled. plain-axle sulky.
according to rule: that the time, 208%. was
not only her best time, but the best time
ever made up to that date. and was rec
ord"
In regard to the new practice of driving
d
against time the ruling OF the board was as
follows:
mo record can be made with a wind
shield other than the ordinary dirt shield
and pacemaker in front. performance
with pacemaker In front with dirt shield
. shall be recorded with distinguishing
mark. referring to note stating the
facts" - rt-
The decision in the Maud 8. case was a
big surprise to most Of the horsemen pres
emit. the board having ruled. in effect, that
when a horse has made fair record to
pneumatic sulky he cannot make another TO
high-wheel suIky unless his time Is faster
to high wheels than to the pneumatic
vehicle. ,e,yE. .
According to the ruling of the board Lou
Dillon not only did not make faster rec
ord than Maud 8. to high wheels. but in all
proba bility never can do so In the future.
as she must now bsat 1;5Sh In order to &C
co ATT the he hearing the fact was clearly
brought out that Sythe conditions under
which Lou DILLON frotted when she was
heralded q shaving eclipsed Maud 8. were
altogether different from those under which
the old-time chantpiugs:performed
When questioned by Mr.. Bonner. Charles
Tanner, the manager of e. X. G. Billings
horses. admitted cthatlt the sulky drawn by
Lou Dillon was fitted with bailbearing
axles. and IT was Rot denied that she trot-
ted all the way In the wake OF running
horse. while Maud 81 had breasted the
natural resistance of the atmosphere with
out THIS AID. Jsh N 80
Tanner asserted that Maud 8. has drawn
sulky with roiler-bearing axles. as stated
by Charles g., Cafrseys the builder OF the
vehicle, but the board accepted Mr. Bon
ner's statement that he had examined the
sulky and found 1t fitted with plain axle
arrangements.
The effect of the boards ruling will be to
throw out the performance by Prince Alert
when he paced mile in 1:57 at Empire
Park last september, an out-and-out cam
vas wind shield having been used on that
occasion. It will also create q new class Of
records for such performers as Lou Dillon.
Major Delmar, Dan Patch and other trot-
tiers and PAGERS that were aided by runners
In front without other shield.