Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-02
A SMART SECRETARY.
How General Tracy's Filly Astoria Made
Money for Him and His Friends-
Fooling the Phiiadel.
phians-Piunging on

Fooling the Phiiadel.
phians-Piunging ON
n Short Horse.
NEW YORK, August 1.-When General
Tracy was called to the Cabinet by Presi-
dent Harrison he felt it incompatible with
the dignity of his honorable position to hold
on to his stable of trotters. So he sold the
most of his fine racers. but still retained his
intense interest in them. The pet of the
stable, Astoria, the 3-year-old flly by Ken
lucky Wilkes, he sold to Fred Gerkin, Of
Chambers street, with the distinct under
standing that Gerkin must report the mares
condition to him from time to time, and
must also trot her in the races in which the
genial Secretary of the Navy had entered
her before the sale. To all these and many
more exacting requirements the purchaser
agreed. 1t was further stipulated that
should Mr.. Gerkin desire to sell the mare
the General had the first call.
Finding it impossible to enter the filly in
New York, where trotting races are almost
unknown, Gerkin entered Astoria to trot on
the Belmont track in Philadelphia. The
General, after looking over the list of
entries, chuckled, and, it is said. told
Gerkin to have 7. J. Sullivan, the driver,
whipped if he did not drive the mare to
victory.
The great day Of the race finally arrived,
and the filly found herself in such company
as Bundle Bee, Anna, Delendine and
Acacia. all of whom in the opinion of the
Philadeiphia experts, outclassed Astoria,
the Generals pet. The few pools sold on
the flly were snapped up by half dozen
New Workers, who secured them at a very
little outlay. In fact, the mare stood so
poor a chance of winning, so the experts
said, that the odds were 20 to 8 against her.
Among the New Workers present at the
races was Charles M. Bomeisler, who be-
lieyed the mare had a walkover from the tip
the General gave the New Workers. After
investing all he wanted to he hunted up
John L. Hill, Bill Leeds and half dozen
other old Philadelphia friends and let them
into the secret that the mare was sure to
win.
These gentlemen simply laughed at Bo-
meisler and intlmated that he must be los
ing his senses. Bomeisler and the New
Workers then got their dander up and
plunged on Astoria until they made the
Philadelphians weary.
The bell finally rang, and the first heat
was trotted, Astoria coming in last. Then
the Philadelphians hunted up Bomeisler,
and guyed him until he opened up the wine
to keep them quiet.
Pool seeling on the next heat became ami
mated, and the Astoria tip became the
joke of the track. Imagine the surprise
and modification to see Astoria win the
next three straight heats and look as fresh
as rose alter the race. 1t then became the
New Yorkers' turn to laugh, for they broke
every Philadelphia sport ON the track.
Some of the latter sneaked home without
waiting to hear the result of the last heat.
The news of the victory was telegraphed
to the Secretary of the Navy, and he came
on here to congratulate Gerkin and the
driver, and also to tell them that, when the
mare trotted at the breeders meetings in
Rochester and Detroit, he, the General,
would be present at one or both places to
see his pet win race.