New-York tribune., 1894-05-27
GoTHAMs DAY OF DEFEAT.
COLONEL RUPPERTs SUPERB COLT
BEATEN. -.-

NOT EVEN PLACED IN THE GREAT AMERICAN
STAKES -HERoID's TWO RACES.
It was fortunate for Richard Croker and General
jackson, the owners OF the Belle Meade Farm. that
the Iroquois yearlings sold on Thursday and
Friday evenings. before the startling defeat Of
Colonel Ruppert's Iroquois colt, Gotham, yester-
day. 1t was generally expected by racing men, in
cuding the writer OF this artcle. that Gotham
would prove to be another Domino. and sweep
everything before him. But In the Great American
Stakes at Gravesend he disastrousy van
qushed, failing even TO get place. lroquois had
a lofty reputation before Gotham came out. as
Tammany Helen Nichols and other renowned racers
had gained much credit sire for the only
American horse that won the English Derby. But
Gothams two races had been 50 fine, ana so
triumphant career was predicted for MN. that
the celebrity of Iroquois was much increased ana
his sons and daughters undoubtedly brought higher
prices at the Belle Meade sale than would haVe
been recorded ~ Gotham had never been heard
Of. Gotham's collapse yesterday was caiamitous'
But few OF the spectators lost AL faith IN 'he
superbly handsome colt He did not run at all IKE
the Gotham Of the two previous Victories Possibly
he was short OF work. He may have been induiSed
n little after his success May TO- He has
long. glorious far-reaching stride. The track was
as sticky as glue This probably hampered MN
grievousy. IL is not necessary that the admirers
of Gotham should look upon him with serious dis-
trust as yet Wait until he meets Walter and
Utica and the rest OF the fast two-year- ODDS on
dry track. and when there is every reason to sup
pose that he is In perfect racing condition Iheh
II he is defeated his running will seem IKE the
ftful fare Of a flash light, dazzling the eyes at
intervals. but eclipsed by darkness ana gloom III
the spaces between the flashes
But even II Gotham should fail to JUSTIFY mere
after the trust which has been rcposed In MIN ana
the praise which has been poured upon him. the
distinction Of Iroquois as splendldiy successiui
stallion is still secure Most turfnen regard him as
the best of American stations. Even II Gotham IS
not the mighty conqueror that blithesome fancy
PAINTED him Mr. Croker's Utica is good cot, ani
he is by 1roquois And there are others
Up to this year the Brooklyn Jockey Club guaran-
teed the value OF the Great American Stakes az
$4,000 This season the club changed the conditions
But it is st.ll rich prize Each starter pays $50
and the forfeits are large. The added money Is
s5oee $Ho0 going the second horse and 800 to tAs
third First money. which was won by Gideon ~
DAILY with their excellent colt Walter amounted
TO $1,000 a comfortable and agreeable sum 70 VIII
Gideon & DAILY are doing well at this meeting with
Walter the Patrimony colt. Nank Pooh, Ramapo
and Mr.. Jinge. Their horses run consistently, and
they are usually at very short price IN the De'-
ting Their trainer is exceptionally able, and their
Jockey Griffin. rides their horses, as a rule, with
cooness Judgment and skill
Gideon & Daily did not expect - overcome
Gotham In the Great American. They knew tha'
Walter. who is by Darebin, out OF Sly Dance Is
q good colt but much glamour glrdled Gotham
victory for their own colt But second money was
s. 900. and they supported Walter literally for a
place Utica also well backed TO run secohd
Gotham was az four to one on in the betting Inc
start was good. and 1t was given in short time
after the candidates reached the post Gotham
dashed off galantly and took slight lead, but he
could not shake off the field as he had done In his
earlier races. Walter clung to him Ike his shadow
and would not let Gotham get away from him. AT
the head Of the homestretch Gotham began to LABOR
and sprawl. The treacherous state OF the track
caused by the heavy rains all the week set him all
abroad. He houndered about pitfuly. Watzer
ran steadily. bravely and stouty. III proved HIM
self racer Of rare mntage Of genuine quality and
he carried off the Great American by an ample
margin Utica getting second place and Applause
third. Gotham poor fourth.
The throng OF witnesses were bewildered and
mystifed. They could not account for SO woful
and extreme an overthrow Of this overwhelming
favorlte But this was final and conclusive
test Of Gothams merits. lie will be different
colt hereafter-On a dry track, at Morris PARK ana
Sheepshead Bay.
Dark and deadly are the mysteries Of racing
In the Maturity Handicap fer four-year-o'ds. neither
Dr. Clifford nor DR.. Rice ran. although the weight
which had been allotted them was in no way un-
reasonable-l2f pounds each. Don Alonzo at lls
pounds had only Herald, Sport and Restraint en-
tered with him The Don has now had racing
enough TO harden and season him, and put him In
for every step Of his Journey 1t was gift 10 him
He was under a gentle pull until the final half
furlong. when Sims gave him his head, ana he
shot away from Herald. who secured second place.
Sport was poor third Sport is sun all OF twenty
To the amazement Of almost every one, ne h
last race a handicap at mile ana siXteenth
The Maturity Handicap was at a mile ana lui,
Don Alonzo at a mile Don Alonzo simply walked
away from Herald IN the Maturity. "a hearney ne,
sprn.er Appomat,ox at six furongs On his record
at this meeting. Ed Kearney appeared to have % the
outran him all the way ana at the finish was pulled
up 70 canter Herald is or heatrafS m 5ds dstnS, n.y.
pressive style. The handicapper has been far TOO TOO
a feat II was amazing 1t was extraordinary 1t
is puzzling and mysterious. Don AIon20 beats
sarres IN of shows Of Ed Keaney who beat Don
Alonzo few days ago. -, ,,... o,,,,.
to have been a to or TO favorite in the ast
race. but for some unknown reason the booknasers RS
were 50 bold as 10 offer even money ana ana i3en @ 70
Pckncker and Bzep had many baekers Yl at. At to
Bliizen but Herald made him look Ike a crippled
An this game Of racing is more recondte. more
labyrinthne more mysterious more elus!Ye h NoTe
failure Of nerve collapse, of mental stress OF in
tel,eciual eclipse of meancholla ana genera par
Delphi. the hidden ways OF Eleusis, and me riddles
OF the solemn Egyptian Sphinx. some foohsn people
SIngs We have no kings in America, except the
kings OF Tammany Hall. whose line Will stretch
out 70 the crack OF doom In November l. is rue
however that racing in this part OF the country IS
10 a considerable extent the sport OF Tammany !
Hal But after ALL It Is not so much the spor! or
kings the game OF gnomes ana ghou.s' Inc
ghouls are the bookmakers.
The iron in the iron horse Bitten has turned
spongy from too much soaking. In other words. !
even Bitten can have 100 many races In a short |
time in deep mud The iron heart Of Bradley. the |
owner OF Bitten ought 70 be touched by the misc
rles of this cruelty abused barbarously maltreated
brutaliy over-raced animal. The spirit OF Henry /
Bergh must be wailing somewhere over the agonies |
OF poor tortured Bitten. Mr.. Haines. Mr.. Berghs |
successor ought 70 interfere. 1t would be mercy
10 Bitten 10 grind him up into glue rather than to
race him 50 often in such heart-breaking nerve
stretching contests.
1t said that the colt by Lisbon out Of Patrimony