Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-17
STATES RACING
CIRCUITS JOINED
Harness Horse Moguls Decide
on Racing Program for
Season.
FAST CLASS IS SHUT OUT


in arranging the classes and purses
for the seasons meetings, following
the consolidation OF the Nebraska
Speed association and Midwest Rae
ing circuit in Omaha Thursday eve
ming, framed up, despite violent pro-
testations on the part of local turf
magnates. one division.-the 2:l0 pace
to which only one horse in the state
is eligible and shut out a stable here
that harbors eight of the fastest step
pers in this part of the country.
Outside of the dissatisfaction ex-
pressed by prominent Omaha horse
men as to the way the classes were
charted, harmony prevailed at the aft
ernoon and evening sessions, when a
highly important action in state har-
ness racing circles was taken-tlre
merging of the two principal Ne
braska loops into one big circuit. The
Midway Racing circuit went out of
existence with the consolidation of
the two loops,
Ronin Is President.
N. ]. Ronin of Fremont, one OF the
best-known horsemen in this part of
the country and who is credited with
having done much to keep the Ne
braska Speed association alive dur
ing its twenty years of existence, was
elected president of the reorganized
circuit. H. B. Swalley of Nebraska
City was chosen secretary by a unani-
nous vote. Ed Gould of Kearney,
owner of the Midway stock farm, was
originally nominated for president,
but Withdrew in favor of Mr.. Ronin.
Dates for the seasons meetings
were scheduled as follows:
Kearney, May 30, 81 and June / Aurora,
June 6, 6 and I; Omaha, June II. 10 and IA:
Nebraska City, June 10, 20 and 81; Beatrice.
June 26, II and IS; Lincoln, July 3, and 5:
Fremont, July 10, II and IL; West Point.
July II, IS and 10.
Auburn, formerly member of the
circuit, was not represented at the
consolidation meeting.
Classes Arranged.
Classes were arranged at the far
from harmonious executive session as
follows:
Trotting. 2:10, AIS. 2:20. 2:25. and S-year-
olds eligible to 2:25 class
Pacing, 2:1O, 2:13, 2:17. 2:22 and 3-year-
olds eligible to the 2:25 class
American Trotting association rules
were adopted. The old placing sys-
tenn will be in vogue at all meetings.
In the Nebraska Speed association
%t,se ,,,.l he f1 hact tr.ro nt,to ~ ~,
heats up tin July |, and after that
date the best three out of FIVE heats.
1t was decided that it will be op-
tional with the various cities whether
free-for all events or anything faster
than the 2:l0 class are to be staged.
Running races are also optional.
Banquet for Horsemen.
The afternoon and evening sessions
were broken by a banquet and jolli-
hcation at the Castle hotel, at which
the visiting horsemen were the guests
Of the Omaha Driving club, which
holds memberships in the Great West
ern circuit. Nebraska Speed associa-
ton and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Dako-
ia circuit
olio oSSlCtoll VI Liz
Driving club, was POSTMASTER. The
following prominent horsemen were
guests; =
Charles scuily Of Lincoln, Edward Peter
son Of Omaha. president of the driving club;
Tom Dennison of Omaha John Strand of
Aurora, Earl Beeziey Of Syracuse. Ed Gould
Of Kesrney. Judge W. B. McCreary of Has
tings, c. 3. Mumford of Beatrice, Tuck
Connolly of Sioux City. Ia; e. c. Warren
of Shelton, W. F. Wright Of Benson, Roy
Owens of West Point James Ronin Of
Omaha. Joe Hildreth of Omaha, Marvin
Childs Of Omaha, Johnny Hansen of West
Point H. C. Whitman of Lincoln, DR.. c. C.
Hall Of Omaha, H. P. smalley of Nebraska
City, Tom Kastner of Nebraska City, James
Graham Of Nebraska City, F. d. Van Peit
of Omaha, P. J. Parr of Stanton, Earl Hart
of Omaha. A. B. Farber Of Stanton, C. W.
Murray of Beatrice, Ed Hilgreth of Ere
mont, Scott Wall of Fremont, Bud Latta of
Tekamah, N. ]. Ronin Of Fremont and Ed
Williams Of Aurora
Talks were made by Judge E. P.
McCreary, Tom Dennison, Ed Gould,
Doc" Hall and N. J. Ronin.