The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-09-27
ASTORYO FTHET TURF
DOES " SOLVE A MYSTERY or LONG
sTANDlNGf

ticularIy Interesting 20 Horseanen. ;
The racing season had begun, and in
consequence Saratoga was thronged with
visitors. The hotels were crowded, and
the cottages had long since been taken.
The halmy air, the sight Of magnificent
equipages, handsome, well dressed men
and beautiful women all conspired to
drive away ARE, no matter what ones
trouble might be.
SO / thought as, comfortably seated
in o huge rocking chair, ] looked about
me from the piazza of the Grand Union
hotel n glorious morning in July,
1Sa-. All the people near me seemed
intent ON discussing only une subject
wig, racing. / remember distinctly to
have caught several times the expires
sion: He's sure winner. Nothing can
beat him" Then again some one would
say: 1.-The Black Whirlwind Ia q won
der. He will win in o walk, |" and va
rious other like opinions. Not being ia
miliar with race horses and racing
slang, / was unable TO make heads or
tails out Of all I had heard, and realiz.
ing that I was out Of my element ] con-
cluded to take a stroll and indulge in a
quiet smoke. After having traversed
two or three blocks I found myself Just
behind two gentlemen walking leisure
" along, who seemed to be talking
about something in q very serious a
ner. The walk being narrow, ] made
no effort to pass them and lazily follow
ed behind. enjoying my beloved pipe.
Very soon / again heard the word
"Whirlwind," and / confess that my
curiosity was greatly excited. Just at
this moment a rather stiff summe
breeze came up, and bearing directly
toward nj waited distinctly to me their
conversation. The larger Of the two
(whom I will designate as Mr.. A. said
TO the other, $50 You are surely going
to start him in the -- stakes today,
are your"
The smaller man (whom / will desig-
nate as MIR. d. replied: why, certain
". I'm sure to win. There is nothing
eligible to start that can make my colt
even extend himself. OF course he will
start and win too"
"Well, " said MIR. H., II have q prop
osition to make, or rather, I should say,
o bet to propose"
Lets hear it, " said Mr.. ID:
In very cold and measured, tones Mr..
ii. then said, "ME. D., ! will bet you
$5, 900 that If your colt crosses the wire
first today the race will not be given TO
him and $5, 900 additional that III you
do start him he will never again run in
another race"
BY this time I was trembling with
excitement, but something beyond my
control forced me to continue being an
unwilling e~avesdropper.
Mr.. d. quickly replied: "Why, what
is the matter with You? Has anything
unusual happened that has caused your
good sense TO forsake you? Your propo-
sition is too foolish to be thought Of for
q moment.
Well" replied MIR. H., 50 little
esting news about your colt, and / do
not believe that my mental faculties
have forsaken me. I repeat that I am
willing to make the wager, and I know
full well that I thoroughly understand
what / am saying and doing. Do You
accept the wager or not, Mr.. D.T'
All this time I was only q few feet
behind them, regulating my pace by
theirs and trying to appear very preoc-
cupied.
After some hesitation Mr.. D. replied
| that he would consider the matter and
would give an answer before / o'clock.
Somehow I did not feel 3 if had
committed a very great offense in listen
ing, but ut any rate I thought that i
had heard enough, SO / turned and re-
traced my footsteps, thinking there was
something very peculiar in what ! had
overheard. / worried over it 30 much
that I concluded to go out to the race
course i called a cab and vas Don
there. In the betting pavilion, ! APP
preached q man who seemed ito the
manner born and politely asked il he
knew anything about d horse called
1.-THE Black Whirlwind." He under
stood at once and told me the proper
name was fremont and went on to say
that in all America there was not Q
3-year-o old who could outrun him"
After thanking him for his informa-
ton ] went mp to the grand stand and
there purchased q programme. Sure
enough, fremont was entered I'm the
fourth race. Very impatiently ] sat
there and waited Finally the first race
was run, which ! watched with little
or no interest, and after the Jockeys had
dismounted again made my way to the
betting ring. I stood on the outskirts
Of the crowd, quite interested in what i
saw and heard, though I could not nm
derstand the modus OpGrandi OF the
bookmakerR Suddenly ! heard q loud
shout from the end OF the ring. I tried
to ascertain what was the matter, but
was pushed and jostIed about by the
crowd 30 savagely that / could not ges
an answer to my inquiries. Soon, how
even, I heard q voice cry ont. Scratch
fremont,
This was repeated by many ON ali
sides Every M appeared surprised,
and no one seemed able to give any rea-
son for the colts Withdrawal
n