The Washington critic., 1890-05-08

race, and probably not before the meet
ing at Latonia, and / might state fur
ther that he may not start before the
Suburban. 1t will all depend on many
circumstances that will figure In the
matter. We never had any intention
Of starting Knott at Nashville, and he
was entered In certain events there
simply as favor TO the management of
West Side Park. The public may rest
confident that he will start in the, SUI
burban unless some accident befalls
him in the meantime. He Is not doing
any strong work now because there Is
no necessity for IL. The Louisville
races are now nearly month off, and
what is the use Of working the horse
this far ahead of the time he will
probably start2 We propose to take
the best possible care of Knott, and
whenever he starts in a race he is very
likely to be In good form"
The report has also gone abroad that
Spokane, who lowered the Derby record
last year from 1861 to 2;34i, is on the
verge of breaking down aud will never
start again. Spokane has wintered at
Churchill Downs, and this information
was q great surprise, not only to his
owner and trainer, but also to many
people who have seen the great son of
Hyder Ali every week and can bear
testimony to his splendid condition. 1t
was stated in these columns several
weeks ago that Spokane was never in
better condition in his life, not even
; when he ran the Derby last year, and
there has since been no cause to change
this opinion. Mr.. Noah Armstrong,
Spokane's owner, said to a Courier
Journal reporter last evening: II can
see no ground whatever for such a
statement, and ] watch him pretty
close. Spokane Is a rugged, hardy
horse, and was never sick a day in his
( life, and he was never heartier than he
is today. | expect to start him in a
race here, If the weights suit
me, and can see no reason
why he should break down. lie
is in much better condition now than he
was just prior to Derby last year. and
he ran pretty well that day, didn't he?
The report must have reference to his
leg, which is still slightly bowed from
an accident in Chicago In the spring
race when he was a 2.year-old. But
gave him rest, and his leg healed up all
iiSht' huy lOW, all DlS TdCcS nave bttl
made since the injury. and the leg has
shown no signs Of weakening. 1t was
on account of that injury that put a
rubber bandage on his leg when he ran
last year. Twill still use bandage this
year as precaution, and will substitute
a silk bandage in the place of the rubber,
as 1t Is much better
1t has always been a wonder to me
that Spokane was not completely ruined
in that first race of his life at Chicago
in the spring of 1888. Hamilton rode
the colt, and he butchered him up ter.
ribly. l expected q good deal from
Spokane in that race, as he had worked
three fourths of mile few days be.
! fore in 1:1S, which was the tastes,
speeding on the track, where nearly a
thousand horses worked every day.
selected Hamilton on account of his
reputation as jockey. told him thai
| Spokane was somewhat of sluggard
and was slow to start and I did not wan'
him butchered. Spokane was slow al
| getting off, just as said, and Hamilton
regardless of my directions, sockcd thu
spurs into his sides. The colt had never
felt the touch of spur before, and i
| frightened him nearly to death. HI
drew himself up into knot, and stayed
that way during the whole race, run
ming on his toes. He did not try to wiz
race, but to get away from the spur
which Hamilton kept plunging into hi
sides at every stride. This was the tim,
his leg was hurt, and it's a wonder Ii,
was not ruined. "-C0urier. Journal.