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RAISING KENTUCKY PURSES STATE RACINO COMMISSION TAKES IMP0R-TANT ACTION IN THAT DIRECTION. Adopts Regulation Stipulating Minimum Values That May Be Offered Guaranteed Stakes to Be Abolished After Present Season, Lexington, Ky., March 24. The Kentucky Stato Racing Commission, with Chairman E. F. Clay, Col. Milton Young, Maj. Foxhall A. Daingerfield and Secretary W. E. Bidwell present, met today ami adopted several rules that will be especially pleasing to owners, trainers and jockeys, as well as to the racing public generally. The most important measure adopted was that increasing purse values. In future the added money to purses at Louisville and Latonia cannot be less than 00 in the spring and 00 in the fall and at Lexington not less than $.100 in the spring and 50 in the fall. An amendment which will lay over for thirty days was offered, providing that fall purses be increased to correspond with spring purses. The Commission feels that the increase is justified by the profits accruing to the associations last year and by the prospects, because of conditions in New York and elsewhere, for greater patronage at the meetings in this state this year. A rule forbidding the giving of guaranteed stakes for any amount in this state after the forthcoming spring meetings was unanimously adopted. A rule introduced by Colonel Clay last year specifying that the commission to be charged by tho associations from pari-nlutuel and auction pools "shall not exceed five per cent, of the gross amount of money handled" was also unanimously adopted.- Other rules were adopted doing away with private valets for jockeys and requiring associations to arrange for attendants to be hired by the jockeys, providing for the employment of a graduate veterinary surgeon to be present at each track on every racing day, and prohibiting the transfer of any horse from one ownership to another merely to get the benefit of the apprentice jockey allowance or the services of an exceptionally good apprentice rider. A rule intended to increase the pay of jockeys was introduced. It provides that In races of 00 or less the fees shall be 5 for a winning mount and for a losing mount and in all other races 5 for a winning and 0 for a losing mSunt. Secretary Bidwell read a letter from Senator Hainp Williams or Arkansas stating that next week he M-ill introduce in the legislature at Little Rock a bill intended to revive racing at Hot Springs. "There was a letter from John D. Knapp of St. Louis saying that the failure of the Missouri Legislature to adopt the proposed racing bill had not discouraged the friends of racing and that a statewide campaign for the support of the people is to be begun at once. The commission adjourned to meet again April 29, the opening day of thp spring season of racing here, when applications from trainers and jockeys Will be acted upon.
