Evening journal., 1920-12-06
HARRY J.S.RACES
up FOR REVIEW
Secretary Gocher Says He
Was Raced Out of His
Class
COMPLICATED RULE
CAUSES TROUBLE

A question has been raised by Sec
r1tary ". II. Gocher, OF the, Nat onal
( Tr0tting Association as 10 the eligi-
hlty OF Harry j. Ssoeckle's great
trotter Harry J. s. in races won by
the speedy stallion last season Mr.
Cocher claims the horse was rae d
out of his class.
Thtre IS no charge Of any kind
against either Mr.. Stoeckle. or his
driver. Herman r. Tyson.-jn connec-
ton with the matter, whioh involves
the interpretation OF a certain rule.
The Board OF Review OF the Troiiing
Association is TO consider the case
and If Mr. G0cher Is upheld. Mr..
Stocckle VIII have to return the money
won by his trotter in those races.
The Phhadtl tlrhia Record yesterday
commented on the case at length. The
Record article IN part follOws:
In some events entries are received
months before the race Is held, and
this gives secretar es phnty Of time
10 straighien out pedlgrces and re-
cave word from headquarters regard
ing the horses. II the list ceives
an official o. X. owners and trainers
are notified and naturally expect 10
start tltlr horses In the classes IN
which thy are named.
III is easy 90 imagine how an own
cr would feel VINO had apparently
comp led with all the laws and then
after starting IN AID winning a To-.
Of races be notified that hS must re-
turn all moneys won or b expelled.
This is the position Of Harry j..
Sloeckle. a Wilm ngt0n business man;
his trainer Herman n. Tyson and his
faVorite black stallion, Harry j. s.,
207h over a miI track, 20A over
half-mlle track. and this season-,,in-
ner OF all his starts IN the NJ tOpOli-
tan Circuit, inyludng a 5000 stalk. ae
Goshen, where he trotted three heats
IN 20eh. 2.OSA, 20Sh. and all be-
cauSe Secretary Gocher rules tnat
Harry J. 5. is ineligible 70 the 2i2
class. In seven OF d winning races
each heat was won in hme faster
than 2i2 3-4. aid his eleven winning
heats at EndsoOit, MonrOA Goshen
and MiddletOwn averaged 2i0h. a re-
markable performance over half-mile
tracks.
III the board OF reviews upholds
Secretary Goch.r and orders Mr.
Stoeckls 10 refund an money won tho
redistr button viii benefit a large mum.
htT Of hOSemen whose horse S wll
automatically be advanced In posi-
ilon in each race. but il is doubtful
IN any one OF the5. men would be IN
favor of taking advantage OF a mis-
fako to which the Delaware SPORTS
man appears 10 be an innocent VIC
Tim.
The rule which started all The fuss
Is as follows
when a horse with wln-raco
made on a mile track has started on
haif-m le track and won within four
seconds OF same, II re was entitled 10
any time allowance under Rule Z, Ser
ton 6, he fOrgets his allowance under
The same rule on "a half-mile track
when he reduces his Win-race on a
nile track, He Is, how-ver, stlll en-
nliedlao the allowance betweel his
tnils and half-mile track Wln-race.
when entering on half-mlle track.
This seem slo cover Harry J. s.
Who had not beaten his record OF
.2Olh. made IN 1916. or his 207A haif-
mile track record, made In 1917. and
was supposed % be entitled 20 four
seconds time allowance for f9iS-i9f9
HOWEVER, Tyson had won the third
heaf OF a free-for-all race for a small
purse at Tasley. Va, August 1918 In
which he had trottod the third heat
at 2.t0iz. which beat his four-second
fine allowance between mil. and
half-mile tracks; and there Is another
rule which states that a driver must
know the class 10 which his horse is
ehgiDle. and on hess points Gocher
VII probably hanr his case. on the
other hand. a ruling should have been
made before the horse was permitted
30 start In his ilrst race this wear. and
whichever way the verdict goes the
Formerly popular secretary or the n.
II. A Will have an unpleasant time.
How the Trouble started.
Everyone connected with lcht har-
less racing knows and admires Wal
Ger Cox for his ability TO train and
drive trotters and PAGERS. and thosl
who are In a little closer touch w n
the popular Yankee are often amuse,
Al his quick Wit and keen perception
he makes close study Of the rule.
each spring. is ready al an times q
<ake advantag OF any techn calit
taat VIII benefit his patrons. and Il
ttryinF 20 make Lu PrfncclOn. POI. an
Mabel Irasks 20iA. eliehF 10 the hi
purses down the line FOR another veal
convinced Secretary Gocher and
number OF 0thl.r hOrsemen who wer
Tanning In a hotel lobby on a "a N
day during the 1919 Hartford Fair. M
the only way 20 keep racing intereei
sng would be 70 let nfs horses com
Dack IN the show classes for a year
10 fact. start The game an over.
Everyone knows what happened an
how Gocher IN an honest end av0r
nelp his business got ilto more tr0t
bic than he ever dreamed Of. and no,
his compromise has started an0fhc
war. whose effects Will be far-reach
ing.
Rainy weaiher has been NE caus
Of many gray hairs 10 racing pro
moters and officials in various sec
lions. but IL Is doubtful II a rainy da
TNer did quite so much harm as tina
cold. dreary one over East last year.