The Washington times., 1907-08-25
HORSEMEN DISLIKE
THREE HEAT PLAN
USED THIS SEASON
Claim Method Employed in Grand Circuit Meet
Does Not Ensure Fair Pay-Old Style Also
Has Glaring Defects,

the heat. knowing that he has first
money won
Then again. what fadueement for
horses 10 try for the third heat. after
another horse has taken the first two?
We will take the $50 trot for instance
The purse is $.509. Under the three
heat plan 1856 goes to the winner Of
every heat. $50 70 second horse. SIS 10
third horse, and SO 70 the winner OF
the race This was the way the money
was divided at Detroit a horse goes
on and wins the first two heats, step
ping miles right at 2:l0 and taking REQ
ord that fast
The winner does not make any par
tlcular effort for the third heat, or per
hans he IS all in and has gone his race
why should the driver Of any of the
horses make a strenuous drive for the
third heat? IF they win the third heat
they would get $3.50 only 800 more than
would be paid them for finishing SCI
ond. If they have a record around z;2o,
co,,ld they be blamed for not putting up
a strong drive TO win the heat and lower
ing their horses record seven TO ten
seconds, making him Ineligible to other
meetings. when a mere 500 is the sole
inducement offered? It certainly would
look like poor judgment on the part OF
any trainer to do this. and were ne 10
do so. It Is likely that the owner Of the
horse would cease his patronage.
IF we must have shorter racing, let
II be on the straight two in three .plan'
where there is a definite finish to the
race But i looks much as If the pup
lie likes to witness a display OF gsliiS
ness as much as one OF mere SpSou.
One of the old-time split neat idC 49,
created more enthusiasm ana thIl ne
than an entire week OF racing on the
three-heat plan.
Objections to Old Style.
OF course. the straight three In i've
plan. which stiH marks racing over the
half mile tracks and at many minor
circuits. Is objected TO by Grand CIR
cuit patrons. because they say that
owing to the progress made IN extreme
speed development, horses could no'
stsnd the strain of racing from three
to seven heats. as formerly.
Vbv not have the racing limited 10
FIVE heats; all horses not standing foI
any money after the third neat toeing
first second. third. or fourth In the sum
mary at that timel 10 go TO the staDle
actors and horses which are really non
contenders.~ would be out Of the way
after the third heat, reducing the scor-
ing and chances of interference TO Q
minimum. The real contenders could
fight It out to a finish. and not one IN q
dozen races but would be finished be
fore the end OF the fifth heat.
II we keep on cutting down the mum
Der of heats to be raced in q few years
we VIII find that we viii be breeding
nothing more or less than sprinters. The
stamina, gameness stout comforma
ton, and all the other points Of vantage
| that We have Dragged about the ligh
| harness race morse having over the run
ners, will be things OF the past, and IN
/ stead Of horses for which there Is nov
/ an active and constantly increasing de
mand for carriage, matinee, pleasure
/ and general purpose orders. we viii
/ have lot Of waspy- wasted faint
| hearted animals good only for q Esasoi
or two Of sprint racing.