The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-20
HORSEMEN TO
MEET AND
ELECT
Annual Session Tomorrow.
Number Suggest Changes
in Conducting Races.

~ 80
of New Jersey will be held tomorrow
night at the Speedway Clubhouse. The
regular ticket. prepared by the NOM
mating committee, will &c through, as
no opposition slate has been offered,
the rules stating that If all opposition
ticket Is TO be entered in the contest
it shall be made public at least five
days prior to the date of the election.
A spirited meeting is looked for, how
ever, as a number of important subjects
will be brought up for discussion. o
1t is believed that a resolution will
be offered tomorrow dealing with the
character of future matinee races at
the Weeauahic Park tract and the
awarding of prizes. A prominent menu
Der OF the association, who signs him
self "Su~burbanite," has sent the fol-
lowing communication to the EVEN
ING STAR, dealing with the aforesaid
subject.
10 the Sporting Editor OF the Evening Star: $
without discussing past methods. I
think it is worthy of prompt considera-
uon whether or not in the future per-
Iormanees by members horses, driven
only by amateurs, should be accepted as
records by the club, and all others be
classed as exhibitions. The question nat
urally occurs to me, can an amateur
driving club properly give records unless
the horse is driven by an amateur? Other
wise, how could 1t be classed as an anna
teur performance? That question 1 hope
to see brought up and decided by repre-
sentative member of the Driving Asso-
Citations; also provision made for amateur
time records, and to have entries made
for all contests against time to close at
the same time with entries for other
events, SO that they may appear on the
club program and be accorded proper no.
ttcN in the local papers.
I would suggest as possibly worthy of
consideration, and 1t seems to me it would
If adopted result in adding to the general
interest. and to the welfare of the club,
to have four cups donated by the asso-
citation for different time events to be con-
tested for during the season of 1908 at the
regular matinees given by the club, open
to all horses owned by the members of
the association, the conditions to be as
herewith: One cup to be contested for by
owners (who must be amateurs) and drive
their W trotting horses; one cup to be
contested for by members t~rotting horses,
to be driven by any qualified amateur;
one cup to be contested for by owners
(who must be amateurs) and drive their
own pacing horses; one cup to be con-
tested for by members pacing horses, to
be driven by any qualified amateur.
THE cups should egiven to the owners
of the horses who have trotted or paced
the fastest mile during the season of 1908
in their respective time events at the
regular meetings of the association. 1t
might be well to give only two trials to
each contestant at each meeting, as the
usual three trials allowed, as I am in
formed, for time contests might inter-
fere with other events on the program.
It seems to me as better for the club to
adopt a broad policy for amateur racing
and to include both PAGERS and %trotters,
although separate and distinct, on an
equality in the suggested contests for
the amateur cups by giving trophies prac-
tically similar and equal in value.
IT will refer to one or two other things
which I believe would add to the general
interest among members Of the associa-
ton: To have a champion trotting horse,
also a champion pacing horse, chosen each
season. to be determined by the fastest
time made for a mile in competitive races
against other horses, in contests for cups
or against time. If equal time be made
the preference should be given to the
horse who made 1t in a competitive race.
1t might be well to have some trophies
given. Small banners, appropriately in
scribed with Champion etc, would IN
doubleday give pleasure to the recipients.
with the Intention Of making a more
equitable rule and for the better protec-
ton Of owners who may start their horses
only at the matinee races given by the
association or at races given by some
other amateur association, Furthermore,
it should be taken into consideration that
the horses generally started in amateur
races do not ave the same or as good
care as those kept for campaigning in the
Grand Circuit. Therefore, as it is possible
for members of the club to have their
horses away from home, racing for money
practically all the season, afterwards to
enter and start them at only one, and
possibly the last matinee race Of the sea-
son at Weequahic Park, and to take
many, IL not the greatest priced amateur
honors away from owners and fellow mem
bers who may have consistently trotted
and paced their horses, assisting in every
way possible to make the matinee races
a success during the entire season, I would
suggest rs feasible and a fair proposition
that 1t be provided, to be eligible for a
track record, any of the four cups as here
in suggested for the club to donate, or for
ton as either a champion trottcr
or PAGER for the season of 1903, that a
horse which is c~ampaigned or starts for a
purse during the coming season must par
ticipate in at least two events, and after
August J..
ut would be satisfying and would add
materially to the pleasure Of both owners
of ~trOtters and pacers if recognition by
special notice or by the gift of some
emblem, or both, should be given the
owners of the horses making the fastest
two, three, four and five heats trotted and
p ced In competitive races. with and
against other horses during the season of
1908.
II trust that some OF the suggestions.
which have been made only with the best
Of intentions and kindest feeling for all
members of the Driving Association, also
with no selfish motive, direct or indirect,
rnaz. hn annra1.nd hu snraa Of tLn .aara in |