The New York herald., 1922-10-22
Turf Papers Say Campaign
Just Ended Reeked With
Crooked Work.
Authorities ALL ASLEEP
Divided Government in Har-
ness Racing Makes Heydey
for Outlaws of the Sport.
ny GuRNEY c. CUE,

The fall campaign of 1922 simply
reeks with tainted races. You may
charge it 10 the three -heat and win
race record systems. Since their
adoption these pernicious rules have
caused more crooked heats and races
20 be driven than had previously
been recorded in the entire history of
theA trotting turf. Horse RevieT.
I'VE sincerely hope that the pho
tographer who has been attending
Grand Circuit races this season
failed to snap three episodes that
would better De left in the darll--the
spectacle of one prominent driver as
saulting another before the campaign
was fairly begua; two officers Of
race track reversing the decision of
tie judges Of the day, and a well
known reinsman enlivening the finish
of a heat by endeavoring' to belahor
an opponent over the head with
whip, finally taking it out on the
steed that defeated him" "A mericdn
Horse Breeder. tt5
Ever slow to even hint of fraud in
harness racing or give publicity 70
GENES of disorder on the trotting track.
the. turf papers have been stirred TO
outspoken criticism by incidents and epi-
scdes Of the campaign just ended as they
have not been for generation. Charges
of doping, of pulling horses, of suppress
ing time and even more serious offenses.
involving track officials were repeatedly
published throughout the season. yet the
constituted authorities seemed to take u
all as a matter OF course, If either the
National Trotting Association or the
American Trotting Association has lifted
a hand 10 punish anybody or put an end
70 the lawless state of affairs reflected
by the paragraphs above quoted 1t has
escaped attention. Both organizations
seem tohave degenerated into mere col
lection agencies and political machines,
dominated by a handful of office holders
whose first purpose is to do nothing that
might result in loss of control.
g. The time was when the old National
Trottng Association was n power in the
harness racing world. with strong men
in the saddle and firm hands to enforce
discipline In those days the organiza-
tion was controlled by representatives OF
the leading mile tracks. the breeding
farms and the driving clubs of the coun-
try. and these men. on the whole. had
at heart the best interests of the sport.
But the old regime was long since over
thrown. and proxy hunters representing
country fairs and minor half mile rings
now hold the reins. The win-race'
rule and the time allowance rule are
examples OF their legislation, the first
purpose of which seems to be TO fill the
entry lists az the fall fairs without muci
thought Of anything else. The situation
has been growing steadily worse for sew
eral years, and though efforts were made
TO correct II by amalgamating the three
central governing bodies into one strong
association these have uniformly failed.
Where will it all end is. question
often heard among horsemen. Mean
while the cheaters and roughnecks are
happily unable to affect the splendid
performances OF the well bred young
horses whose records and bloodlines are
after all the most important. enduring
and enjoyable feature Of harness racing
At the annual meeting of the Ameri-
can Association of Trotting Horse
Breeders held in Lexington during the
October races there a new move was
started to bring about a strong govern
i. uent in harness racing. with the three
existing associations united under one
head. along with the American Trotting
Resfster Association. The plan OF con-
solidation proposed by J. ]. Mooney Of
Detroit is purely commercial in prin-
cipic and contemplates the purchase OF
all the present ASSOCIATIONS and their
amalgamation in a new organization to
take over the business and the powers
of all David NJ. Look of New York the
vice-president. was authorized by resolu-
tion to appoint a committee OF repre-
sentative horsemen to carry out the
project IL possible