Arizona republican., 1914-05-12
HORSE RACERS
 ADOPT PHOENIX PLAN AS BEST
Method of Dividing Purses, Advocated by Arizona State Fair Association, Causes Change in Nation al and American Rules.

Papers In different parts of the Unl- ted States have taken occasion to make editorial comment upon the Arizona State fair in approval of it's methods in general and its racing program for 1914 in particular The following is from the Horseman and Spirit of the Times, Chicago:
 Advantages of Phoenix Plan
 Under the rules adopted by A. T. A., and it is reported the coming board of review of the N. T. A. will change it's rules to conform. only the horse that stands best in the sum- mary at the conclusion of three- heat race takes a record. In this respect there is no difference be- tween three in five and three-heat racing under the new rules. But in case of tie in a three-heat race the two or three horses tied will each take records. Inasmuch as it is impossible for more than one horse to take 2 record in a three-in-five event and as it is possible (although remotely for two or three horses to take records in a three-heat event, the new rules initiate against three heat races, although not So much as 1 the rules first proposed which were | changed by the A. T. A., following a vigorous campaign by The Horse man and others.
 "C. B. Wood, secretary of the Arizona state fair, has a plan of three e-heat racing which results in only one horse taking a record l The events are worth $2,00O. Each heat is for $500. If at the conclusion of the third heat one horse has won l two or more heats he gets the extra $200. If not a fourth heat is raced 1 by the heat winners, the winner of i the heat getting the $20O second horse $50, the third horse s1OO the money for second and third horses being added by the association to the purse.''
 The conditions calling forth the discussion and comment of approval, are as follows:
 Three heats; combination plan heat purses, $500: money divided at the end of each heat. 50, 25, 15 and 10Io; total purse, $2,000. The extra S200 goes to the horse standing best 1 in the summary at the end of the race. A horse winning the first two heats and being distanced or drawn in the third heat shall retain it's place in the summary
 Should two or more horses be winners of an equal number of heats. at the completion of the three heats, such horses and such horses only
 shall contest in a fourth heat and
 money divided according to rank in
 the summary at the termination of
 this heat. In case a fourth heat is
 raced the second horse in that heat
 will be given $50 and the third horse $100 This will be added mon
 ey, making total purse of s2,250,
 or $2,150, as may be required" Pop Geers has written from Memphis, that these conditions suit him exactly and that this plan meets the approval Of more horsemen than any other.
 The advantages of this plan are
 that they require a horse to race
 every heat.' Every heat" a driver
 lays up or loafs, it costs him money
 horse gets exactly what he earns
 The secretary of the state fair has
 had the unique honor of having botl
 the national trotting associations U change their rules to cover this pro-
 gram.
 When a joint committee of the American Trotting association and the National Trotting association . met in February to formulate join
 rules for 1914 they placed the thre,
 heat plan under handicap by re.
 quiring each heat winner to take (
 record, while at the same time per.
 mltting the race winner to take A record under the other plans of rae. a ing.
 When the above plan was pre- .- pared and submitted at the annua
 meeting of the American TrOttin. II association, it amended it's rules t, I, give Woods plan the same advan m tage in regard to records as the oth F. CT methods. And at a special meet
 ing oc t-e board of review of tn
 National Trotting association he
 in New York on May 5th a simila
 endorsement of the plan was giver al Race Notes
 1f The secretary to the state fai 5- commission has received a handsom n photograph of Leata ], the famou le pacing mare that made such a sen De sation on the Grand Circuit las j. year and wound up her campaign b ,e winning the freefor-all pace at tn
 Arizona state fair.
 Patrons of the fair will remembe
 that Don Pronto won the first hes six Of that pace in the sensational tim le of 2:02 4. This is the fastest hea S. ever made at the Arizona state ia ,e. in a regular race. It is true ths ev Minor Heir Copa de Gro, Lad
 Maud c and Citation have mao ne faster heats in so-called races, bl he they made their heats upon a spe
 cially prepared track with only or
 competitor against them and u he said competitor so driven as to al rh ford the winner every possible at
 vantage and assistance in making {
 fast mile as possible. = Don Pronto went in regular ra,
 against the regular entries ar where the other horses and drive were doing everything in their pow, ! ! to handicap and beat him. Don Pronto won the heat in u >l time mentioned 2:022 but I,eata