Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-20
VERY FOOLISH RULE.
Herdic Talks About the Law Con-
cerning the Laying Up for Heats.
Mr.. SENIOR PURCHASES REBUS.
Rain Causes Homewood Races to Re Post
poned Until To-Day.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS OF THE DAY

It seems to be we'll understood fact
among Pittsburgers that just as sure as
| Homewood races come round there will be
rain. Judging from past records it is al
most impossible to keep rain and the races
| separate, and the present meeting is no ex-
| ception.t There was a nasty, drlzzling and
disappointing rain yesterday. The water
| didn't come in torrents, but it came in the
irritating Scotch mist fashion and continued
long enough to spoil the track sufficiently
to prevent any satisfactory races. As re-
suit the races were postponed until this
afternoon at 1:30 prompt
The visiting horsemen spent their time
lounging round the hotels, telling stories
and discussing horse matters. There was
considerable talk about the new rule de-
manding an owner or driver to notify the
judges when his horse is going to "lay up"
for a heat. The general verdict is that the
rule is worthless. Frank Herdic, who has
been at all the Eastern races this season SO
far, said:
A Very Amusing Incident.
'There has only been one instance in my
travels this year where the rule was acted
upon, and that was at Point Breeze. John
Reamer told the judges that his horse,
Major Flowers, would be laid up for the
first heat I then announced from the
pool stand that Mr.. Reamer would lay
Major Flowers up for the first heat, and
then added, Major Flowers will lay him
self up for the balance Of the race Of
course the Major did so. The rule is a
foolish one. 1t is to protect the public,
but suppose it Is announced that horse
is to be laid up for a heat,
and, as often is the case, the balance
of the horses get all tangled up and the
horse in question has quite an easy task to
win the heat and does it, what about the
public then? Why, the bookmakers will
get every cent of the public's money. The
rule is of no use whatever, and nobody refers
to it,
Mr.. George Senior, of Chester, Pa, who
is here attending the races, is the gentle
man who bought Rebus, the PAGER. He
paid about s., 900 for the horse, and has al
ready won that amount on him, as he
backed him heavily at Philadelphia.
He Is Quite q PlunEer.
Mr. Senior is quite plunger, and won
81, 600 on one race at Philadelphia Andy
Welch is another grand circuit plunger,
but he is not here this trip. He pocketed
So, 900 on one race at the Hartford spring
meeting, playing the field against Eta R.
During the talk yesterday it was stated
that Mr.. Hamlin, Of Buffalo, paid S. 900 tor
Robert j and his dam. The pair were
bought from j. G. Brown, but Frank Her
die owned the dam not long ago. Mr.. Ham
lin has already won the price paid for the
speedy young PAGER, as he won a good race
at Detroit Monday pacing his heats in 2:17Z,
2:16L and 2:17, respectively. The horse is
well entered in stake events, and Mr.. Ham
lin has good prospect of winning lots of
money with him. Had Mr.. Hamlin got
free entrance to these races and brought Rob-
ert J, the horse would likely have taken
much interest out of the races he started in,
as he would have won them easily, as he did
at Detroit
What the Talent Fancies.
Yesterdays card will be proceeded with
to-day at Homewood, and for the first race,
the 2:29 trot, the talent fancy Dirigo, Rose
Filkins, Quarterstretch and Raven. It is
expected that all these horses will be we'll
backed, and there will probably be 16
starters in the race. o. ss.r- -. .c
For the 2:35 pace Atlantic King is looked
upon as the most dangerous opponent of
RebuA The former can 20 better than 2:20,
but how much 1t is difficult to say.
The 2:19 trot will be an interesting event.
Dandy, who has won at Homewood every
time he has been here, is greatly fancied,
and may be favorite. He has gone three
heats better than 2:2O within the last
day or so at Homewood Abbie V and
Sadie NJ will also be backed heavily, par
ticularly the latter. She has been going ex-
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