The New York herald., 1920-01-11
BREEDERS PROPOSE
. TO GOVERN RACING.
American Association Of Trottins
Horse Breeders Offers to Enter
the Field as Rival of MIA.

On the eve OF the Grand Circuit
stewards meeting at Syracuse tomorrow
the American Association of Trotting
Horse Breeders has come out with an open
proposal to enter the field as rival of
the National Trotting Association and the
American Trotting Association. In cir
cular letter sent out from Cleveland on
January it announces that it will lay
before the stewards and other horsenen
at Syracuse "a definite plan for the for
nation Of a new governing body for the
sport OF harness racing framed along lines
so liberal and just that they will appeal
to all fair minded men, The letter goes
on to say. the object in launching a new
governing body is. that owners, breeders
and trainers of harness horses may have
a word to say in the management of their
own affairs A new set Of racing rules
is ready for adoption. and apparently the
pins are set for quick action of decisive
character when the stewards get together
The stewards are not likely to be all of
one mind0concerning the proposal to set
UP new and independent governing body
however. The delegate from Hartford. for
example, is pretty sure to reflect the views
of w. III. Gocher, secretary and boss Of the
'N. y. A., and unofficial manager of the
Grand Circuit meetings at Charter Oak
Park. Then there is f.. w. Swisher, of Co
lumbus, a steward who is of the inner
circle in the n. T. A.; likewise De Forest
Settle, OF Syracuse, who can be trusted
to help sidetrack any opposition to the
MIA. if the opportunity is presented.
Atlanta, also, is counted as an asset of
the Hartford machine, and there is strong
suspicion that Kalamazoo might vote with
the old regime If 1t came to the pinch. All
the other six stewards are believed to
stand so1idly for the new deal.
Closely following the announcement from
Cleveland comes one from the MIA. at
Hartford, dictated, but not signed" by
the resourceful Mr. Gocher. 1t is headed
Rocking the Boat" and to the initia ted
there is something sinister in the last para
graph, which says
AT the start both the National and
American Trotting associations we're con-
trolled by theracing associations. Fairs
came into membership to race under the
rules, enforce discipline and have their
entrance fees collected. In those days
there was open betting everywhere. Some
one began rocking the boat and started
a crusade against II. When it abated
many racing associations had disappeared.
They were followed by fairs. This made
a change in the membership of both asSo-
Citations. until now more than seventy-five
per cent are fairs. Some one in Celeland
who has been sending out propaganda for
the new associations says that wherever
the Grand Circuit leads others will fol-
low. This may be true. but the writer
does not say where. Will it be to the
closed gates at Detroit and Grand Rapids
or q few more fairs? This must be an
swered by the men who are rocking the
boat"
In Ohio which is the head centre of the
ne wmovement in opposition to the
MIA. betting on harness races is heavier
than in any other part Of the country,
and it is permitted In spite of State laws
almost as strong as those of New York.
Some astute horsemen who have read the
closing sentences Of Rocking the Boat"
seem to think they are thinly veiled
threat to pull wires which might stop
betting on the Cleveland and Toledo
tracks IL their owners attempt to set up
a new governing body on the trottting
turf The MIA. is particularly well
equipped with Ohio politicians of both
parties.