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j FANS HANDICAPPING CONTEST Fairmount Park Awarding Prizes Based on Regular Point System. Horses Finishing Second and Third to Be Comntcd— Patrons Allowed Unlimited Number of Programs. COLLINSWOOD, 111., April 26. — A handicap rating event, similar to the one which was so successful in New Orleans last winter and which will see the distribution to fans of ,500 in prize money, will be conducted at Fairmount Park during the twenty-seven-day spring meeting, commencing Saturday, May 6. It is a vast improvement over the patrons handicapping event tried here last fall in that the principle of skillful handicapping is encouraged through the awarding of points for seconds and thirds in addition to firsts. 00 will be put up daily and 00 on Saturdays and Decoration Day to the fan totalling the most number of points each day. Points will be scored on a basis of 60 for a first, 30 for a second and 10 for a third. An important rule change over last year is that there will be no limitations as to how many programs a fan can enter in the event. Last year, a person was confined to three or be disqualified. Also the event will lift the former restrictions against horsemen and jockeys, making it a free-for-all. Otherwise the rules of the event are like those of the former plan and very simple. To become a participant, a fan obtains a. regular racing program, on which is attached an entry blank. Selections by number are made for the eight races, and then deposited in special boxes, which will be placed in the grandstand and clubhouse enclosures. Boxes will be closed five minutes before the first race, and then after all programs are validated, they will be placed in the hands of judges for the event. BLACKMAR JUDGE. In making announcement of the handicap rating event yesterday, general manager D. C. Burnett revealed the judging of the affair had been assigned to James Blackmar, of New Orleans, public accountant and auditor, who will come here several days before the meeting to enlist a local crew of workers to aid him. "I feel confident in predicting the handicap rating event will be the most popular innovation we have ever tried at Fairmount Park," said Burnett yesterday. "Crediting points for seconds and thirds, in addition to firsts, encourages real handicapping skill, and the fact that a fan can win a prize without having to pick all winners is an item which should appeal immensely to the public. "Last year, the patrons handicap event was tried with two plans, but both stressed picking the most winners only. One held up the prize to the fan picking the most winners in the first seven races; then in case of ties, the issue went down to one-two-three selections in the eighth and last race. The other ruled for seven straight, winners a day. Neither of these plans, I believe, impressed the public as I feel the new event will." Burnett studied the operation of the handicap rating event in New Orleans for several weeks before deciding to inaugurate the plan here. So popular did the event prove in the Crescent City, national attention was focused on it last December 7, when the almost unbelievable number of sixty-seven persons correctly picked all seven winners on the days program. The prize that day was split sixty-seven ways. In case of any ties daily, the prize will be split between the number of successful hand-icappers with top score.
