Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-01
CrooEed Work q, Saltwater.


To the Tu9f Editor OF the Globe.
The old adags that It is only the wound
ed pigeon that futtees, wa5 never better
verified than in the efforts of the Judges
Of tho recent races at Saltwater to square
themselves with the public for their IN
warranted bad faith with those that had
made entries OF horses in their races, as
well as their most Infamous action an
decisions in the judges stand. Unfortu-
nately the managers of the Washington
County far invested full power to man
age the races to one O'Brien, who besides
exercising full control of all matters per
tanning to that department, acted as pre-
siding judge in the stand. This person,
sBllled with vanity on account
of the position he occupied, would insert
his thumbs in the holes of his vest, and
true to his nature, wag his hands in true
I'm t3tion of the sign of the Sons of Malta,
and at the same time by his bombastI
gut all that sought him for any informa-
ton pertaining to the programme for the
races, and his crooked action in the Judges
stand was characterized with all the in
fanny known to the most Infamous ghouls
of the trotting turf. His action in sup
pressing the tins made by the bay gelding
Zig, for the purpose of avoiding for him
a record better than 2:40, should and will
disgrace him with all men
desiring an honorable trotting turf. The
gelding Zig has been trotted at number
OF the Minnesota meetings in the slow
classes this season, and gained record of
2:42. Although known to all as being Ca
paole of speeding mile in 2:30, or less,
he has invariably been pulled by his driv-
er, ono Spencer, a mouthy, blatant indi-
vidIal, who, when he opens his mouth, a
lion would be silenced and seek retirement
in his den. On the 25th instant Zig was
started at Saltwater in the 2:3O class
against Flora Belle and Naomi, the former
having a record of 2:2915, and the latter
about 2:39. Flora took the lead from
The wire in each heat, with Zig a
close second throughout each mile until the
clos. when he waa Nulled to avoid a fast
record, Flora !aking the first heat by q
length in 1882. In the second heat the
gelding trotted at the mares side through
out, his driver evidently wishing to drive
the mare out to better record, but when
just past the distance post both horses
broke and ran under the wire, the gelding
showing first by half a length in 2:32A.
At this, after a short consultation in the
stand, the doughty O,Brien declared the
heat in favor of the mare, thus saving to
the gelding a low record. This race
was not finished until the next
day when the final heat was trotted, re-
sulting after like exhibition, in favor of
the mare. AS soon as the ESQ race was
ended, the $40 race was called, and Zig
was brought out and started against two
others, only one of which, David R., being
able to drive him out better than 2:40.
Much interest was now evinced to find out
how the thing would be worked to avoid
record in the thirties for Zig, as it was
we'll known that David R. could trot and
repeat heats in 1886, while Zig had just
trotted heat in 1924. The start was
made with Zig at the pole with David R
Convenient distance of two
lengths in the rear, which positions were
maintained to the wire, the judges giving
out the time as 2:391a. Before the COM
mencement of the second heat complaint
was made to the judges that the driver of
David R. was not trying to drive. Zig to a
record better than 2:4O, and that there was
of the two horses and requesting that an
other driver should DO given to David R.
AMI that the horse was capable of driving
Zig out in 2:35. No attention was Paid
to their request, and they were
started for the second heat,
resulting the same as at first. Time, PAL.
Before the next heat an appeal was made
to the driver of Daniel R. to drive Zig out
which he promised to DO. Before the start
for the third heat was made a party of
gentlemen we'll known to the trotting turf
and owners of horses with low records,
took position on the grand stand directly
opposite to the judges stand, with watches
in hand prepared to accurately time the
heat. Among the party was Mr.. W. b.
Weary, owner of Capt. Herod, Mr.. Pills.
bury, owner of the gray gelding Pedro and
Mr.. Geo. B.Clayson, superintendent of the
Milwaukee & st. Paul railway, Mr.. Geo. P.
Smith, of Hastings, and several others of
equal prominence.
Tas start was made with even heads and
with Zig at the pole, it soon being evident
that faster time would be made as David
R. was being driven up to his speed, and
although he was carried to the extreme
outside of the track by the driver of Zig,
in order to avoid fast heat, yet the white
geld1ng remained by the side of the bay
throughout the heat and without a skip or
q break during the same, both horses pass
ed under the wire side by side with Zig a
neck in advance. The eyes of the party
above mentioned were turned to their
watches when all alike had stopped at
1865, and much satisfaction was express
ed at the result, all expecting to hear
the time declared from the stand.
But in this they were disappointed for
O'Brien was equal to the occasion, and
great was the disgust expressed when that
rascal declared the heat, no heat, and no
time made. A more bare faced fraud was
never perpetrated on any track, nor a
more infamous decision was never made
from a judges stand. The excuse for this
action, as given from the stand, was that
Mr.. Deny the driver of David R. had pull
ed his horse, when it was evident to every
person present that he was driven for all
that was in him, and it was in fact, the best
and fastest mile the horse ever made.
Thus was the horse Zig reserved for the
2.40 class, by coalition between Blifl and
Black George, tricky driver, and Co
conspirator with the methods of blackleg
in the judges stand.
At the commencement of the fourth heat
the establishment of the spectators was at
&I-G