view raw text
DETROIT PROGRAM OF RACES 1 Judge Murphy to Frame Conditions for Various Events to Be Run During Coming Meeting. ARLINGTON, Texas, April 20. Joseph A. Murphy, director of racing of the Detroit Racing Association, today received authority from Clarence E. Lehr, president of the association, to use his own personal judgment in respect to the condition of races for the meeting which opens May 23 in the Motor City. Judge Murphy immediately announced that while the first hook of the meeting would conform strictly to the regulations set out by the association of racjng commissioners at Miami, he would conserve the best interest of the horsemen assembled at Detroit by making such extra races as would take care of the better class of horses, in the matter of claiming races and, if it was found impractical to live up to the strict letter of the rule as passed, the second book would deviate from it sufficiently to meet the requirements and wishes of the horsemen racing at ths track. While both Mr. Lehr and judge Murphy lean very strongly toward the ideals set up by the racing commissioners, they feel that if the horsemen have a just cause for complaint, their ideas should receive the proper consideration and this will be done. Judge Murphy stated that during the meeting he will confer from time to time with the conservative element of the horsemen assembled at Detroit and jointly they will try to work out a plan that will meet the wishes of the racing commissioners in respect to the claiming rule and other things so that later on a rule may be fashioned that will suit not only the commissioners themselves, but the Thoroughbred Horse Owners Association and the individual horse owners themselves, and that when passed it will stick. Judge Murphy has called attention of president Lehr and racing commissioner Frost to the fact that no publication has been made for the apprentice rider under the new regulations. He further stated that if the present plan of doing away, as was possible with claiming races is carried out, it will be necessary to substitute some plan so as not to dry up the source from which the great riders of the country are developed. Judge Murphy said he may later on permit a three-pound allowance for apprentices in all graded handicaps, and five pounds in all condition races in addition to the claiming, and he hopes this will solve the problem. Judge Joseph A. Murphy leaves here tomorrow morning for his home at St. Louis, where he will remain until after the wedding of his granddaughter. From there he goes to Chicago, and then to Detroit, where he will serve as director of racing.
