Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-31
Old Stnr of the Hest.

The publication last week of the tribute OF
T. Grattan to the gallant old stallion, Star
of the West, has called out letter from IL. v.
Blssell, of Red Wing, in which, while not
naming or mentioning the judges, Mr.. Bssell
charges them with deciding the stallion race
at the late State fair (the result of which was
the incentive of Mr.. Grattan's
tribute) in spirit OF 1aVorit-
ism. and not in accordance with
the the facts Mr.. Bissell does not say this
in so many words, but the language used will
allow of no other obstruction. The charge
is yery serious one, and that Mr.. Bissell be-
lieyes he is justified in making 1t, is shown
by the fact of his signing his name to The ac-
cusation. We trust Mr.. Bissell is mistaken,
and that the state fair management, or its
friends can make it clearly so appear. No Or
ganization depending upon public patronage
Tor support can afford to be dishonest IN de
Gliding contests given under its auspices. 1t
NAV pay in money on one or two occasions
but It will, in the end, destroy confidence and
finally bring disaster. Our State Fair asso-
citation especially should be spotless. 1t be
longs to the entire state, is supported partial
ly by direct appropriation from the state,
and was formed and kept in existence osten-
slbly as an advertisement of the excellence OF
our soil and its products. and the enterprise
and intelligence of our breeders, manufac-
turers, etc, and to fulfill its mission,
it must be understood that its awards
are not secured through fraudulent colluslons,
or any purpose of favoritism, but solely upon
merit.
The following is Mr.. Bissell's letter:
To the Editor of the Globe.
RED WING, Oct 25, 1SS1.-I notice in your
issue of the oath an article from NJ. I. Grattan
in which he gives Star of the West, his get
and Norm Fuller quite send of. From t q
L, Ioft
Star was the only horse in the race, but such
was not the case. The entries were: Star OF
the West, Almont Boy, Mambrino Eclipse and
Buckthorn. The night before the race pools
sold well for some time with Star as first
choice and field against Star. Finally Star
was barred in the pools, and Almont sold first
with Mambrino Eclipse and Buckthorn in the
field. In this way all the pools were sold and
nearly all of the first choices were bought by
parties controlling the horse race department.
Star won the first heat in 2:36H Mambrlno
a close second, Almont third, and BuckthOrn
fourth Second heat, Mambrino first, Almont
second, Buckthorn third and Star fourth.
Time, 2:34. Third heat, Mambrino first, AL
mont second, Star third, Buckthorn fourth.
Time 2:34K But the judges gave Mambrino
third, and assigned no cause for setting him
back.
Fourth Heat -Mambrino first, Star second,
Almont third, Buckthorn fourth. Time 2:35.
But they again set Mambrino back to second,
and gave Star the heat.
The judges then put off the race until the
next day. If the race had been trotted out
that night, while there was plenty of time, it
would have been walk-away for MambrinO,
and it was as you will see.
The next day the heat was called at 2:30 p. IN.
All the horses responded, and after scoring a
few times, Star got good send-off, but only
kept the pole to the half mile pole, when
Manbrino went to the front and stayed there,
coming in on q jog four or five open lengths
ahead of Star. Time 2:34H. But Star was
given the heat, Almont second, MambrinO
third, and Buckthorn fourth.
If Mambrino had been given this heat he
would have won the race, or if he had been
given second in the heat he would have beaten
AlmOnt for second money; and that would not
do. The last heat the hackers of Star
mistook Star for MambrinO, (both being
black, and yelled, "Judges, see him runl
Judges, see him run!'' and kept it up until
one of the same party saw their mistake,
when there was not quite so much yelling.
Star ran the full turn and part of the home
stretch under the whip, and then could not
catch Mambrino.
l write this as think, it nothing more than
right that eachhorse should get its just deserts,
and will say for Messrs. Fuller and Grattan
that think them both gentlemen, and Star a
gamey and fast trotter for his age.
Yours, Respectfully,
Ii. Fl. BIssELL.
The above assertions l can prove for fun or
money, by the affidavit of some of the most
reliable men in our state.