The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-01
SHORT SYSTEM FOR
HARNESS RACING
lighty-four Drivers and owners Com.
mend TO Stewards the Adoption of
S-Heat Plan for Grand Circuit.
ALL PRESENT METHOD iNHuMAN
1evelanN System Endorsed as Most
suitable TO Modern Demands and
Racehorscs.

The most pleasing and interesting
aftermath OF the SEASONS grand circuit
the petition presented by many lead
ng drivers, horsemen and owners
widely known as real lovers of harness
port. to the stewards OF the grand
sireuit, commencing theoadoptien of
he three-heat system OF racing har
less horses as was in practice at the
rack this year.
The petition or rather recommends
ion is brief and to the point, and Is
igned by no less than eighty-four
'eeple, practically a roll-call of al
most every trainer and driver that has
TOT only gained distinction. but makes
he separate individual OF the group
which make what the grand circuit
3, as we'll as all the leading hair
nile track meetings. Among the
igners are also men who are widely
md favorably known as owners, lovers
II hfgh-eiass sport and well wishers
or the future Improvement OF rae
ng.
while unlike similar suggestions made
n the past II contains no threats nor
my demands as was one some years
20 Known ns the Syracuse compact,
which demanded the entire abandon
nent of the elongated system OF rae
ng at certain and specified time
inder "A threat OF rebellion. but which
lied out completely when the time ar
wed fer its execution.
The petitioners state that the three
heat system as practiced at North
Randall has fully commended II self
BECAUSE II brings about definite re-
ults, is humane. both for horses and
men. and. Furthermore. help distribute
,nfses and stakes widely" The ste-
wards are therefore respectfully re-
iuasted Ia adopt the system for the
sntire grand circuit when they meet
t their annual meeting In Columbus
iext January.
Any argument over the merit of the
Egvr heat system and it's superiority
q she elongated plan as Was fully de-
a.ensrqted during the past season.
merely waste OF space When any
sasl43e person in told that during
Il, taree meetings at North Randall
tH8 Syracuse, where the three heat
.Aslema was ia vogue exclusively, 1853
Ae.tf5 ere required 10 hnish sixty
4tt9 races. while during the five
Aechs at CoiumhH and lexington,
shsfe on the contrary the elongated
sgstern was exclusive eighty mine races
-4A4..4 sn-22l -haats.- or IS
Mira Iieats for twenty-five extra races,
I YES 4u wonder that all cell the short
eSten humane, and might properly
tlse call real racing sport and eivilis-
"a
40 better argument or evidence than
he above ngures is needed 90 prove
he value Of the petition and the tiraiy
Importance OF rs adoption by the ste
sar9s for the grand circuit which viii
sventualiy mean The universal system
'or all tracks and the greatest blessing
'or the turf.
The petition naturally means that
he rele governing the three heas
rsten must also be changed by the
parent racing associations for the rea-
som that the plan adopted by the North
Rand DALI raaMagerneat is in direct OPP
-44.44t4..44- -E44le- which ~ supposed
% be mandatory, as the condition un-
Yer which thfeeaheat winners, III any
ean start FOR fourth heat, IL not
exactly In harmony with the rale. al
thouRh the winner OF the fourth heat
rot oniv decides winner or the race,
aut receives the extra premium OF
10 per cent of the purse.
The fact that under North Randall
systen the winner also wins two heats.
Is what appeals most to these whe
make the reuest That part OF the
.uls, however, which allows "A fourth
neat only In case OF n tie, has already
proven OF no Importance for the fact
hat of the ffffy-nine races finished TIN
Ser the three heat plan this season on
he grand circuit only one was real
ie the Knlckerhocker stake OF $5.ooe
1T Poughkeepsie, and in which the
Judges allowed only tied horses TO start
although ..there were three.heat win
aers although the same condition as
hat of North Randall was In force.