The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-02-23
osolI "H0&iQta0"
SOME IMPORTANT
CHANGES MADE
IN RAGING RULES
HoRsEMEN WILL NOTICE THAT
SOME POINTS ARE DIFFERENT
IN THE AMERICAN AND NATION
AL TRoTTlNe ASSOCIATIONS.

The biennial congress of the Ma
tional Trotting Association was held
at the Murray hotel, New York OF
"wednesday Of last weeks The really
important business of gthe congress
was the opposition to the rule'op hop
pies. The rule adopted at the session
of 1910 forbid the use OF honples on
two-year.olds in 1910, on three-year
old in 1911, on .four.year-olds in 1912
on five.yearoIds.in- 1918, onEsix'gear'
-olds, or under IN fTatter Nskioh date
hopples were to be barred. The rule
as amended and adopted at the Ma
tional congress last week is as fol
lows: "Hoppes shall not be used on
two, three and four-yearolds when en-
tered and raced in classes exclusively
for their age, Two, three and four
year.oIds can be raced in hopples II
entered and racedtin open classes"
The next most important legislation
was an amendment 10 Rule ., Section
1, regarding the eligibility Of horses.
1t was amended by the addition of the
following clause "And horse with
n record on mile track shall be al
lowed three seconds when entering
on half.mllc track. provided the class
to which 1t would be eligible is slower
than his record on a mile track" This
clause was really unnecessary to grant
the concession desired. as the rule in
question already provided method
by the clause, unless otherwise stat
ed in the published conditions" but
the amendment makes the matter a
little more clear, s
Another Important change, was that
of theF sunset rule. this rule was
changed to read as. follows: mo heat
shall be called after sunset by the cal
endar that Is, local solar time, but
any heat called before that must be
finished" The old rule positively for
bid the start of any heat after sunset,
while with the new rule, If the heat
has been called before sunset it must
be finished, even after sunset.
Additional duties and responsible
ties have been given to the starting
Judge by the adoption Of the following
rule:
an addition to the duties required
of the starter he shall give informa-
ton as to the practical application of
the rules when called on by track
officers and employees. He shall also
at the close of the meeting send to
the secretary Of the National Trotting
Association n special report OF the
races decided and the official time
made In each heat, together with a
notice Of, all penalties imposed and
announced from the judges stand.
For failure to do this his license
shall be revoked by the president Of
this association. The starter shall
also report to the secretary Of the Ma
tional TrottIng Association II there is
any suppression or Misrepresentation
of time at a meeting at which he Off
ciates. together With the facts in con
nection with same. In the event OF
there being any suppression or mis-.
of time and the starter
fails TO report 1t, he shall be expelled. {"
The adoption of this rule was no
doubt caused by some associations
suppresslng tIpe. AS the rule now
stands the report sent In to the Ma
tlonal Association by the starting
judge must conform with the official
record sent In by the local associa'
tons, giving no opportunity for an in
correct report OF the racing,
The American Trotting Association
at their session in Chicago, this week
by a vote Of 226 to CO sustained the
anti,hopple rule, just the reverse Of
that did by the National Association.
The fight ON hopples appears to9be the