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CHANGES IN SELLING RACE PRACTICES. Pimlico Method of Distributing Runup Money May Be Adopted. [ By Ed Cole. ] New York. November 10. — There is every reason to believe some changes will be made iu selling race conditions or. the eastern tracks the coining season. While it may not be a general ruling from the Jockey Club, the subject will certainly be discussed, and if plausible changes for the lietter are offered, it is probable they will be adopted. The fact that the llnilico management added all surpuls runup money to races of the future lias struck a popular chord among horsemen, who hope there may be a general adoption of the Pimlico method. Since the mutuels have been in operation the profits of the associations have increased considerably and to such an extent that runup money there days is but an incident. Pimlico made no change in the rules governing selling races, but merely donated its share of the surplus to horsemen. Tlie action caused favorable comment all along the line. Pimlico was in a position to be generous, as it has a clear title to everything abiut tlie place, with no indebtedness, and good profits. Some of the other institutions in Maryland are not yet free. Laurel and Havre de Grace have just about cleared up everything in the way of debts and made a prottl this year. Bowie is still under obligations, consequently little can be expected from that association until it is well established. But it will not he at all surprising to see the associations share of the runup money iu the future at Iaurel and Havre de Urace returned to owners through the same channels as at Pimlico. It is not probable there will lie any decided change from past practices by the associations hereabouts, not because they are opposed to such a thing, but liecause the results from gate receipts upon which all have to depend, do not warrant it just at present. Racing is just being built up in this locality from a never-to-be-forgotten wreckage, and while each year there has been an improvement, it has been an uphill task to gather even a small return for money invested. Last season at Belmont Park all purses were increased when the gate receipts amounted to a certain sum. This was appreciated, and next year there is every reason to believe some little additions will be made to purses. Again it may be Mr. Belmont will favorably consider the return of surplus runup money to horsemen. Time may make many changes, especially as the outlook for racing is so promising. One thing is certain, it is not likely the Havana method will be adopted for the distribution of surplus runup money. According to the Brown rule, seventy-five per eu.*. of the surplus wiH he ofnaHy divided among the owners of horses represented in the race in whjcli the runup occurs. The remaining tweuty-tlve per cent, will go to the second horse. The rule does not look bad at first glance, but upon supposition and possibilities it has bad qualities. In the first place, it could encourage men sending horses to the i ost in every selling race for the express purpose of getting a share of any runup money. To get this share some irresponsible person might be employed toy one or two of the unprincipled owners to IkkisI all winners of races in which they had starters. The runup would only need to be sufficient to take away part of the purse or just enough to warrant the owner retaining the horse. It would be possible for a person with a string of poor horses to pick off 0 or more each day with little exiieuse by having some outsider boost the winner of a selling race. If the rule were amended so as to confine the bidding to owners who had horses in the race it would do much to eliminate any sharp practice that might arise. By such a rule there would be a much greater opportunity for retaliation than if anyone were permitted to bid on horses. A clique of horsemen could almost break up a race meeting under the rule as it stands. They could make it so annoying that it would not lie worth while to win races if the purses or part of them were continuously taken away. Of course. Mr. Brown oiild quickly take note of such a thing ami would, no doubt, take his club to the offenders and drum them off the track, but he rule would remain just the same unless revised. Mr. Brown means well by the rule, and it may pan out all right, but as it stands it has loopholes for profitable trickery which could be taken advantage of by unscrupulous horsemen, of which there are some. it is to be deplored, though it is pleasing to state they are decidedly in the minority.
