view raw text
COMMISSION DOES EXPECTED Action of Kentucky Racing Body; Creates Little Surprise. Adoption of Open Claiming and Allotment of Dates To Lexington and Latonia Routine Procedure. LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 23. The action: of the State Racing Commission at its ses sion at Lexington Saturday, March 19, in granting dates to Lexington and Latonia, as well as abrogating the claiming race rule which has prevailed in Kentucky for fifteen years or more and substituting the claiming rule in effect on the New York and Maryland tracks, came as little surprise to those familiar with the sport of racing in Kentucky. The dates for Lexington, April 16 to April 27, and Latonia, June 25 to July 30, were practically written off before the meeting. That there would be a reduction in the purses nearly all the horsemen who race in Kentucky and Illinois had been apprised, but how much of a cut from the amounts given in recent years was merely a guess. The Racing Commission granted the old association track at Lexington the right to give an average of 00 a race for purses, with a minimum of 00 and Churchill Downs and Latonia an average of 00, with a minimum of 00. The added money for stakes at Churchill Downs has already been announced and that for Lexington and Latonia will follow soon. By legislation Lexington was relieved from paying ,500 daily license tax and that tax reduced to 00. The old tax of ,500 still is in effect at Churchill Downs and Latonia. The racing stewards which served at each of the Kentucky tracks were reappointed. In the instance of the telegraph censor, Ferdinand Gnau was appointed to this position in place of "Buddy" Lentz. Quinn Cogar was named official timer to fill the place made vacant by the death of S. K. Hughes. ALL MEMBERS PRESENT. The Racing Commission organized and elected Polk Laffoon chairman and W. E. Smith, vice-chairman. All the members were present, in addition to those mentioned, including Sewell S. Combs, Frazier Le Bus and Theodore Mueller. The commission ordered the new claiming rules and all other official business transactioned printed. Tom Underwood, of Lexington, was named secretary of the commission, vice Charles N. Lewis, resigned. Mr. Underwood is manag ing editor of the Lexington Herald, owned by Desha Breckinridge. The old Kentucky claiming rule was that "in all claiming races all horses are subject to claim only by owners of horses running in the said race. Claims are entered under these regulations for the entered price, plus the gross money added by the association. The transfer clause - prohibits sale of any horses claimed to any one for a period of sixty days, after the race in which it was claimed, except in another claiming race. Anyone purchasing a horse which is entered in a claiming race shall forfeit the right of filing claim for another horse entered in that particular race." The new or open claiming rule adopted by the Kentucky State Racing Commission is that every horse may be claimed by anyone except its owner, for its entered price. Every claim must be in writing and filed with the secretary or clerk of the course, accompanied by the amount of the claim, in cash, unless guaranteed by the association, at least fifteen minutes before post time and shall be deposited in a lock box provided for that purpose. If more than one person should enter a claim for the same horse, the disposition of the horse shall be decided by lot in the presence of one of the stewards and the person so determined to have the right or claim shall become the owner of the horse, whether it be alive or dead, sound or unsound. SLXTY DAYS LIMIT. Any horse so claimed shall not be eligible to start in any race in the name or interest of the former owner for sixty days after the date of the claim, nor shall it, unless repurchased, remain under the management of the former owner or trainer for a like-period. The secretary shall not open the bids or inform an owner that a claim has been made until after the race is run. No person shall claim more than one horse. Each horse shall run for the account of the person in whose name it starts. When a claim has been lodged with the secretary or clerk of the course it is irrevocable and is at the risk of the claimant. It was held by one member of the Kentucky Racing Commission that the "open claiming rule" will have a tendency to bring new blood into the sport and make owners of selling platers run their horses where they belong.
