Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-12-05
WAS IT A HIPPODROME?
The Match Between Jay-Eye-See and
St. Julien.

NEW YORK, December IA promi-
nent member of the Fleetwood Driving
Park Association Saturday made public
some of the inside history of u recent
great sporting event, in the course of
conversation, that will interest turfmen.
As is we'll known, The trOt between JAY
Eye-See and st. Julien at Fleetwood at
tracted more public attention and
greater crowd to witness it than any
match, probably. between two horses
since the trottiag race was introduced.
The match was for purse of $4,000,
and j. l. Case, the owner of the clever
little horse was congratulated on
all sides, not, only for the honor
of his victory, but for the substantial
reward which through his horses
prowess had become his. Mr.. Hickok,
the driver and part owner of st. Julien,
on his side came in for an immense
amount of sympathy, and was reported
to be almost heartbroken at the veterans
defeat. To certain members of the
Driving Park Association this exagger-
ated sympathy and congratulation must
have seemed thrown away and wasted.
Little by little, it is said, the fact leaked
out that the match which attracted i'm
mense crowds of horsemen was but little
better than an ordinary hippodroming
exhibition.
One of the best-known owners of fast
trOtters In the world, a prominent mem.
Der of the Driving Park Association,
says: "The whole affair was q skill
fully managed hippodrome, and the
only man who got left was Mr.. Case.
The true facts of the case-and, though
l do not want my name mentioned in
connection with such a disgraceful af-
fair, you may accept my statements as
unquestionable-are these: Case made
a bargain with Mr.. Crawford to let his
horse out for two matches for the sum of
1000. A regular contract was drawn
up, signed, and sealed months before the
matches were arranged. With this contract
in his pocket, Crawford arranged with
Hickok to trOt st. Julien against the
young horse at Fleetwood. According
to the rules of the association, the stakes
IN any match must be deposited before
hand either with the president or treas
urer. In this case the stakes were
nomlnally SO put up, but in point of
fact this was mere form. The only
genuine pecuniary arrangement made
was one whereby Mr.. Crawford was to
pocket rs per cent. of the gate money,
the association paying all expenses,
advertising included. So we'll was the
match advertised that when the day ar
rived the congregation was far beyond
all expectations. By this time Mr..
Case had discovered the clever
little trick which had been played
on him, and when in addition he
saw the crowds Saturday morning he was
furious. If there is one thing Case is
fond of it is money, and when he realiz-
ed the immense sum which was to go
into Crawford's pocket while he had his
paltry 81 900 only he refused to run his
horse, giving as an excuse that the track
was too heavy and it would be danger
Gus to speed Kim. His real object was
to have an offer in money made to him.
But Mr.. Case had a shrewd set
of men to deal with. Dave Bon
ner said to him: Look here,
Mr.. Case do you see those people p
pointing to the grand stand. Now, if
you do not let your horse run you might
as well go and dig your grave inside the
inclosure. Still be was obstinate, and
it was only on the declaration of the
committee that they would put Murphy
up behind the horse and trot him any
how that he gave in. I can only regret
the part the association was unwittingly
made to play in it. -
Case was furious, and it is said tried a
blufing game at Albany, where he
trotted his horse later, and there sue
ceeded in getting $500 additional before
he would consent to Jay-Eye-See's start.
ing. No one felt sorry for Case, for he
is not much beloved among sporting
men.