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MORE BARRIERS FOR THE GELDING F R Hitchcock Proposes Eule Making TTnsexed Horses Ineligible to All Closed Stake Events EventsNew New York November 20 The amendment to the Rules of Racing proposed by Frank R Hitchcock relative to tin eligibility of geldings in important stakes will not be argued until the annual meeting of the Jockey Club next January The proposed rule reads No gelding shall be qualified to start in any race closing seventytwo hours before the day of running except in handicaps and selling races racesSome Some doubt exists whether it will meet with the approval of all members of the Jockey Club owing lo the fact that it will exclude really good horses from valuable stakes like the Futurity Hnpefnl Dwyer Saratoga Cup and similar events Such is the desire of Mr Hitchcock and his adherents while those onnosing the rule believe it will so decrease the value of an unsexed horse that it will place the owner of an erratic colt lietween the devil and the deeo sea fearing an operation owing to its decrease in value and if left entire self de ¬ struction would probably ensue ensueManagers Managers of racing associations at present can make conditions to suit themselves within the Rules of Racing and the Westchesfer Racing As ¬ sociation lias already barred geldings from some of its imnortant fixtures Mr Hitchcocks rule would make it compulsory for all associations associationsThere There may be some objection to this es ¬ pecially among breeders as their knowledge of the habits of young horses sometimes determined quite early whether unsexing is necessary for their preservation Horses like Ronmer Borrow Billy Kelly and other rare good horses would hardly have been heard of had tlie rule been in existence lit the present time timeOn On the other hand a gelding is a market drug after his career is over No matter how pro ¬ nounced liis ability he cannot improve the much desired object of racing the breed of horses It is a question that will bring about many argu ¬ ments and deserves much thought and discussion especially where it applies to nominations in the rich twoyoarold fixtures
