Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-08
OF ROQUOIS VICTORY AT
D0NCASTER.
Pincus the Trainer, and Archer the Jockey.

Pincus the Trainer, and Archer the Jockey.
London Cor. Boston Herald.
LONDON, Sept. Is, 1SS1.-In the very year that
American independence was declared. there
was instituted on Doncaster town moor a sweep
stakes for 3-year-old colts and FLIES. The
premier contest was q very mild one, for only
SIX gentlemen could be induced to subscribe.
and five animals went to the post. Two years
later the event received name. which it has
borne ever since, and which has become so ia
nous that it is talked of in every quarter of the
earth. Those were the days in which hand
some, daredevil Jack st. Leger flouFished. and
the race was named after the honest. sport
loving, but somewhat harebrained Yorkshire
man. For years, however, the contest had to
battle rather hardly for existence. Then it
made rapid strides in public esteem. and now
its subscribers amount to nearly 500 annually.
while the animal which achieves victory is re-
garded as paragon of its kind. But, though
this race had been run over 100 times, and has
been productive on many occasions of great
surprises, lnaSmuch as merit, where merit was
little expected to exist, has. now and again,
asserted itself, it is pretty certain that never
did St. Leger result excite such blank amaze
ment. not unmingled with dismay. as was the
case Yesterday when Mr. Pierre Lorillard's Iro-
quoS came CALAMITY up to the winning post
ahead of no fewer than IA opponents. l must
not be understood to assert that the triumph of
the American horse induced universal conster-
nation. There were thousands who had chung
to him through good and evil report, and, nat
urally, they were jubilant enough. The aston
lshment and disgust were shown by those popu-
larly supposed to know most about racing mat
ters-the people who get reports from training
quarters two or three times every day of their
lives. and are regarded as being an courant with
every little incident which could at all affect
the chances or prospects of competitor. TheJ
threw 1roquois overheard days and days ago,
and now they rue the circumstance bitterly;
mournfully contemplate the fact that, they
have to pay dearly for their indiscretion. Your
readers must have noticed how determinedly
lrOquOls has been opposed in the English turf
market for weeks past. At York the ''set'
against him commenced. All kinds of rumOrs
were quickly af1oat. He was coughing, having
become infected with a complaint through COM
ing in contact with some recently imported
American horses. Then it was said he had got
into a very low condition and was able to do
but little exercise. Jacob Pincus his trainer.
was accused of knowing but little about the art
he protested. In time some genius discovered
that Ir0qu0iS was lame; another critical OBJ
server noticed that he had cracked heel
Scores of people avOwed their belief that the
horse was never intended to win-that it would
pay better for him to lose. Indeed. the torrent
of depreciation flowed forth until it became well
nigh overwhelming. Your readers will readily
apprehend what an effect this would have upon
the peculiarly sensitive turf market. One day
only to l would be laid against the horse
Next morning he was driven back to to 1 in
the quotations. Then some American specu-
lator would quietly invest thousand or So
and straightway IrOquois would come back
with a rush to Z to f. At last the bOokmalxing
fraternity grew thoroughly convinced that Iro-
quois possessed no chance. They laid against
him on every available occasion. Last Friday
Pincus only gave the colt light work-certainly
very curious maneuyre to indulge in on the
very eve of the great race.
THIS CREATED INTENSE EXCITEMENT.
lroqu0is went down lower, however, until ac-
tually 10 to l was laid against him, and the
bookmakers never tired OF Offering long odds.
Certainly he came back once more, but the
hearts of the newspaper prophets were touched
and they threw the American over to a man.
Those who had said ever since the Derby that
the cherry and black of Mr.. Loriard would
once again be seen to the fore took up with new
loves, and IrOquOs was almost completely ig-
nored. The majority would not even award
him place in the great race. There were only
apparently couple among the "knowing" di-
vision, who maintained their serenity. These
were Pincus and Archer, the jockey, the latter
backing the horse to win him between g., 000and
ia, 600. 1t must be admitted that Pincus was
somewhat impressed with the strange hostility
betrayed toward his charge. l am assured that
he grew terribly nervous, and adopted all kinds
OF extraordinary precautions lest lroquois
should come to harm. He had probably heard
of the days when horses that were said to be
unable to win, and were heavily fielded against,
were got at and nObbied. Anyhow, he determ-
med that, were 'nobbling" attempted, he would
fix the scOundrel. The news of his sensitiveness
got abroad, and he was RECALLED with all kinds
of letters calculated to add to his alarm
Threats to shoot the horse were made. and sew
eral letters arrived assuring him that the horse
could easily be ''nobbled," and that a sure
hand would accomplish that little performance.
This is what led the cautious trainer to so
hastily rush the horse Off the moor on the morn
ing before the race. that tout and all the fra
ternity of watchers could have no opportunity
OF seeing him do any work, and yesterday the
candidate for Leger horses was not allowed to
appear in the saddling paddock until the very
moment before the race was set to commence.
Even then there were detectives all about him,
and they never quilted his side till Archer rode
forth into the open course ready for the prelimi-
nary canter. Just prior to that period an
American commissioner had been busy in the
ring and had backed Iroquois to win nearly
flO,O OO Even this did not open the eyes of the
'boOkes, as they are termed. and two to one
was an offer against the American right down
to the fall of the flag.
Before mentioning anything about the race
itself ought to say few words about the
enormous attendance of spectators. Never be-
fore was such an immense gathering seen on the
old town moor Nearly $50 ordinary and special
trains had brought thousands from far distant
towns, while great detachments came by road
rom Sheffield and surrounding towns. The
enclosures were crammed, and the nobleman's
stand probably never before bore such dis
tingushed company. The Prince and Princess
OF Wales were absent in Scotland, so royalty
was not represented.
Unfortunately, a large part of the race was in
visible to spectators, in consequence of a rather
dense mist hanging over the far portion of the
course: When the horses, however, swept
round by the famous Red House and quickly
darted into the straight, Iroquois was seen to
be going strongly, and his rider was not urging
him at all. Then came the rush at the close,
and Archer just gave Iroquois one shake-up.
The American colt, responded right cheerfully,
and darted by, winner by good length from
GeolOgist. There was terrific outburst of ap-
plause, and the victor was followed to the
weighing-in room by cheering mob, who
waited patiently until the reassuring words 'all
right were proclaimed, and then once more
bawled themselves hoarse. To wind up with the
st. Leger of 1881, may remark that many of
the chief SPECTATORS must have been very
heavily "bit"; indeed, there will be a grim kind
of settling day next Monday. OF this, however,
will send further particulars in my next.
Driving With the PaIasOl.
The other evening the Jester was bathing his