The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-07-08
FEW RINGERS" BEING STARTED
IN HARNESS WORLD.
Strict Rules Of the Trotting Associa-
ton Has Had a Tendency to
Stop Crookedness.

II cannot be denied that the general
pubic regards horse racing with more
or less suspicion when IL comes 10
passing lis opinion as TO the methods
pursued In conducting the same.
II Is taken for granted by most PEG.
pie that the racing game Is one where
any ana all methods are considered
fair by the men who own or n
racing stables. as far as annexing the
coin is concerned. In fact. a large ma
lority OF the public who attend local
a meetings az long intervals are
quite positive in their expressions OF
opinion 10 the creCt that n is difficult
TO tel just when a race is being de-
cided on its merits. and the less
familiar thev are with the actual de
tails connected with racing. the more
iorciblc and unfavorable Is their opin-
ion.
The real facts IN the case are that
as far "a light harness horse racing il
concerned the two parent organiza-
tons governing this sport, the Amcri-
can TrottinE Association and the Ma
tional TrottinE Association. have Sc
cured such perfect control OF every
thing pertaining TO the racing spor
and are enforcing rules so strictly Of
late years. that 90 is very rarely that
interruptions owners or drivers sue
coed 30 pulling q horse or securing
the publics money in a dishonest and
unfair way. With every track in tho
United States and Canada now anil.
ated in mcmhership In the above or
ganization. both working in harmony
together. the American controlling
most ~ the middle west and western
tracks. while the National Association
yields the same power In the east.
they have perfected a system witch
assures the public Of clean. honest
racing in fully go per cent Of the rae
ing events decided annually.
Few Ringers" Now.
Tn years gone by. what was probably
the most nefarious and pir1tical form
Of thieving ON the race track was the
ringing of horses. 4 trottcr or PAGER
which had 20 record around 2.10 or
2.l5 would hc purchased and shipped
10 some distant point. where he would
be- started boo the . % or 2 30 class.
his hackers O0cufimcs having him dc.
feated In % or two meetings in slow
time. then backing him 10 the limit
and often making n clean getaway
with the spOils Dyciug the white
markings ON a horise. trimming on ita
foretop. rigging him out with
eary boots. etc. we're some OF the
methods rcs0rtcd 90 hy these men In
order to disguise tho "ringor" The
last few years have seen laws enacted
10 many states making the ringing 81
a horse o penal onousc. and this.
coupled with the fact that the parent
racing organization spares Mother
time nor expense IN running down
these offenders. has resulted in prac
tlcally eliminating this pernicious
practice
The most fragrant caso In recent
years was the ringing of the bay pac.
ing gelding Prince &. six years ago.
After winning a number Of races at
Rockport. under various namoa. this
horse suddenly disappeared. but soon
after tho American Trottng associa.
lion Wna on his trail and succeeded IN
u%nearthing him o. Dos Moiuos. H..
after q chase Of several m ontha. GOV.
cring many states Tho writer. hav.
INK seen The horse perform at Bowl
Ing Groon and ROckport Ina tho fail