The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-06
STATIONS IN BATTLE
BOTH HIGH-BRED RACERS AND THE
SCENE A TRAINING TRACK.
Charge After Charge Made by Cactus
on with Whfrlwind Force
Both Animals Badly Hurt.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
A battle was fought on Sunday at Holm
del Farm, N. j.. between two blooded stall
lions belonging 10 the stables of Gideon &
Daily. 1t took place on the training course,
with Mr.. Gideon, j. j. Hyland, the trainer,
Jacob Pincus and a crowd Of stable boys
as spectators, and Mr.. Gideon, who has seen
every kind of fight known in sporting cir
cles, says that he never in all his expert
ence saw anything to compare in fury and
power with the contest between the two
horses.
when they finally separated" said he, in
describing the fight, land L saw that they
were both able to stand up and walk, 1
could hardly believe my eyes. l wouldn't
have given $50 when the fight was on for
the chances OF either of them ever racing
again."
The fighters were Ramapo and Cactus,
both well known to the turf, particularly
the former, who ran in fine form last sea-
son. Both are four-year-olds. Ramapo is a
chestnut and Cactus a bay. Trainer Hyland
had ordered them out, together with a num-
Der of other horses, for a turn around the
training track, and they had just finished
the circuit of the track, which is seven
eighths of a mile, when the trouble oc-
Cured. Ramapo, who was ridden by George
Reed, an exercise boy, was a few yards
ahead of Cactus at the finish. Johnny
Thompson, the eXerciser who was on Gao
tus. had been urging him all the way
around, which perhaps reused the horses
temper a little. for he is not only lazy, but
at times i~ll-tempered as we'll. Moreover,
the constant urging of the horse had tired
out the boy, who had been ailinS with chills
and fever. and when he reached the finish
he was thoroughly exhausted.
From the judges, stand, about one hun
dra1 Nra r1c QUAY n va Gideon and pinN1Io
were watching the runners, and trainer
Hyland stood on the track below them. AS
the horses reached the finishing post Hy-
land said to Pincus:
What did you make the timer
Il didn't time them," returned Pincus.
81 didn't think they were running for
Then he looked down the track, and
cileo: ~ ny. the boy is off Cactus. He's
Gideon and Hyland saw it at the same
moment. They knew that a loose high
bred stallion, was apt to be dangerous.
boys had seen the accident, and, according
TO an unvarying rule, when a horse gets
loose, had backed their mounts in a line
UP against the fence so that should the
free stallion come there he could not get
I'm behind them Then all turned their eyes
were. The fight was already on, for Cac-
tus was vicious, and almost on the instant
OF finding himself free he had sprung upon
Ramapo. What had happened was this:
Thompson. the rider OF Cactus. weak from
his Illness and tired out by the ride around
the course, had fallen off almost from
sheer exhaustion Seeing Cactus start for
ward he shouted to Reed: Look out,
George, he's after you" and as Reed
turned he saw the horses head at his side.
BEGINNING .TO FIGHT.
Cactus, without a sound OF warning,
seized Ramapo by the name. and. his teeth
slipping, caught and snapped the bride.
The chestnut went to his knees. but recov-
cred and plunged forward as his assailant
bit at him again, and this time seized him
by the flank. Ranapo is a lighter horse
than Cactus. and came heavily to the
ground just as his rider leaped of. Re
iieved Of this handicap the chestnut got TO
his feet. and started back over the track.
He was not looking for fight. But Cactus
was wild with fighting fury. No sooner did
Ramapo start toward the stand, with an
instinct. perhaps, that he would find pro-
lection there, than his opponent was after
him.
Pefore ten yards had been covered they
were together again. The smaller horse,
acting uoon the defensive. half turned TO
meet the attack, just as the pursuer reared
uoon him. With crushing force the bay
brought his metai-shod hocfs down upon
Rampapo's flank. bringing him heavily TO
the ground. So great was the impetus of
the charge that Cactus went rolling over
the othe-. landing on his back in the road
way Twisting around he snapped savage
ly az the chestnut, but the latter was now
alive to the necessity Of active defense.