New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-20
TIE TUEF SCANDALS OF TIE DAY

The discussion within the last few days Of the
merits of the Kentucky Derby, in which
the Dwyer colt Runnymcde was I'M
expectcdly defeated by Green Morriss
colt Apollo, has set some people into wid ieVer
Of agitation and alarm. Denuncations oil Captain
Sam brown, the well Plttsburg million
aire and horstman, have been filling the air
wherever booi1Inakers and their sympatilzers
among stable owners trainers and Jockeys are "ono
to- assemble It is hardly surprising perhaps
that there is q practical unanlmty OF opinion
among all the baser and lower elements OF inc
turf that Captain Brown should be promptly
ruled off every race track in America Tor CARING
IN east any doubt ON the good faith of any contest
decided ON a prominent course. 1t is amusing to
watch the antics of fellows who if they had their
deserts, would be serving long terms IN prisons
for frauds and robberes Of all sorts, but VINO
have eagerly seized this opportunity to pose ms
virtuous conservatOrs OF the reputation OF racing
and to denounce in the bitterest terms any one
who ventures to question the integrity with which
the snort is conducted This hollow humbug can
deceive no one who knows anything about racing
here and abroad
But no matter what Captain Brown may have
said about the Apollo-Runnymede Derby or any
other race, there Is not the slightest danger that
any racing association in America Will rule him on
He owns too many fast and famous horses and
spends too much money on the turf Tor any as
ISOLATION or jockey club to dare 10 take this step
Lack of pluck is the chief Characteristic OF Antri-
can racing organizations at their best That Is
where they differ most conspicuousy from the
English Jockey Club They have allowed them
selves TO be browbeaten and bullied by lot OF
low bred rascals UPSTAIRS of the gutter, who are
successful enough in riding, training or managing
horses suppose that they are entitled to dictate
to the officials who conduct tho sport 1t Is
really pitiful to see the manner in which American
racing officials cover before some foul-mOuthed
Jockey, whose impudence and conceit are only
eoualled by his entire lack Of intelligence and
honesty.
1t is not likely however, that the somewhat
loose and windy talk Of Captain Brown will ever
do much to purify the turf, as he is in the habit
of qualifying and modifying on second thoughts
statements which he makes. Like the jockey
clubs he generally lacks the courage 10 stand by
his guns When he INDUCES in any criticisms and
his remarks raise storm in any quarter, Captain
Brown generally seeks cover with a good deal Of
precipitation. Still, 1t is not wise for stable
owners whose records will not bear close scrutiny.
for bookmakers whose connection with notorious
Jobs is well known for trainers whose horses show
no respect for public form and no consistency or
for Jockeys whose strength of arms as their mounts
are rounding the last turn into the home stretch
is the conspicuous point in their riding TO threaten
Captain Brown or to use any clustering about any
! honest criticism Of the turf. Tho Apollo Runny-
| mede race may have been all right. But no small
part of the running the great Eastern race
courses last year was open to suspicion. II
people who desire to keep the tnrf clean and honest
consider carefully the extraordinary varieties Of
form shown at Jerome Park. Monmouth Park.
| Sheepshead Bay and Brooklyn In 1887 they will
have food enough for reflection and cause enough
| for action In a number OF races in which noted
horses took part all four of these tracks, the
signs Of fraud wero So open, clear and positive
, that no spectator who had any knowledge OF
racing matters could doubt the evidence of his
eyes This sort of thing must be stopped this
year or the turf will stop and stop suddenly.