Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-04
CHANGE IN RACING RULES.
Revision to Be Made by Steeplechase
Association

A sweeping revision of the rules of tbe
National Steeplechase and Hunt Associa-
ton will be made at the meeting of the rs
ISOLATION in New York next Tuesday If tbe
recommendations of the committee on rules
consisting of 8. s. Rowland. H. J. Morris
and Harry s. Page, are adopted. The pro-
posed amendments and additions are nub-
lished in full in the current issue of the
Racing Calendar.
Many of the changes were made neces-
sary to conform with the recently amended
rules of the jockey club, but Others have
only to do with steeplechasing 1t is Thought
that all the amendments will be adonfed
as they have been proposed and suggested
only after long and careful study.
The most important change Is in rule 10
where the words may be- are substituted
for the word "is." The rule. if adopted.
will read:
IF horse or his rider jostles another
horse or rider. the aggressor may be dis
qualified. unless it be proved that the iostle
was wholly caused by the fault of some
other rider. or that the jostled horse or his
rider was partially in fault"
This is a move in the right direction. and
might be followed to advantage bv the
jockey club. This rule will give to the
stewards of the meeting discretion in the
matter of any fouls which may be COM
mitted in the running of a race, as to what
bearing they may have on the outcome
Heretofore the stewards had no recourse
but to disqualify if a foul occurred, If they
followed the letter of the rule They were
simply to decide whether a foul had been
committed. and could not discriminate be-
tween those which or did not have any eff
feet on the result AS a matter of fact
however, the stewards are not consistent
In their rulings, and every season there IL
more or less trouble over the question of
fouling. Interference or crossing may be
overlooked one day, only to be punished
the next Discretion is used where no dis
erection is granted, and a change in the rule
Ia
stewards in their true position as judges in
the matter could not but be acceptable.
Another proposed change is in rule %, by
which it will be necessary in the future for
trainer to have a license from the Jockey
club and the National Steeplechase and
Hunt Association ffhe proposes to train
horses for both steeplechasing and fiat rae
ing. Heretofore trainers licensed by the
Jockey club required no further license
This means that trainer must pay two
fees, instead Of one but the fees are small
and should not work any hardship.
James K. Maddox. newcomer to the
turf this year, has registered his colors
as follows: Scarlet, white sash, scarlet cap
At the regular monthly meeting of the
jockey club on February 81 rule No. ~ may
be altered to read: II
SO long as the name of a person is in the
forfeit list no engagement can be trans
ferred by him, and no horse can be entered
by him or under, his, subscription for any
race, whether acting as an agent or other
wise, and no horse which has been entered
by him or in his name or under his SUBJ
scription, or of which he is or was at the
time of entry wholly or partly the owner
can run for any race, -andsro horse which
shall be proved to the satisfaction of the
stewards to be directly or Indirectly under
the care, management or Superintendent
of a person who is in default shall be
qualified to be entered run for any race,
and so long as any horse is in the forfeit
list, such horse shall not be qualified to
be entered or run for any race
This rule shall not apply to the entry of
produce stake of mares and stations
which are in the forfeit list