Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-08
STATIONS BATTLE.
aoru u,cH.eReo RACERS AND THE
SCENE A TRAINING TRACK,
rn.r-. After Charge by Cactus On Ramspo
with whiriwina Force--Both AMI
msis BADLY Hurt
New York SUM-

CNew York Sum-
A battle was fought on Sunday at
uo,mdeI Farm, n. j.. between two blood
cd stall,ons belonging to the stables OF
Gideon & Daily. 1t took. place on the
,r.,njny-course, with Mr.. Gideon, j. j.
Ireland the trainer; Jacob Pincus. and
crowd of stable-boys as spectators, and
Mr. Gideon. who has seen every kind OF
eobt known in sporting circles. says he
never in all his experience saw anything
% compare in fury and power with the
contest between the two horses.
"When they finally separated" said he.
in describing the fight. "and I saw that
they were both able to stand up and
walk. I could hardly believe my eyes. 1
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 wei! known to the turf, particularly
the former. who ran In fine form last
season Both are 4-year-ods. Ramapo is
n chestnut. and Cactus. bay. Trainer
HyIand had ordered them out. together
with a number OF other horses. for a turn
around the training track, and they had
inst finished the circuit OF the track,
which IL seven-eighths OF a mile, when
the trouble occurred.
A TERRIBLE FIGHT.
The boy had dropped Off Cactus from ex-
haustion. Almost on the instant OF find
ing himself free he had sprung upon Ra-
mapo. 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 on
almost from sheer exhaustion. Seeing
Cactus start forward he shouted to Reed:
look out. George. he's after you" and.
as Reed turned he saw the horses head
at his side.
Cactus. without sound Of warning.
seized Ramapo by the name. and his
teeth Slipping. caught and snapped the
bride. rhe chestnut went 10 his knees,
but recovered and plunged forward as his
assailant bit at him again. this time
sojzing him by the flank. RamapO is n
lighter horse than Cactus, and chme
heavily to the ground Just as his rider
leaped off. Relieved OF his handicap the
chestnut got 10 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 to-
ward the stand with an instinct perhaps
that he would find protection there, than
his opponent was after him.
Before ten yards had been covered they
were together again. The smaller horse.
acting upon the defensive. half turned To
meet the attack. just as the pursuer
reared upon him. With crushing force
the bay brought his metal-shod hoofs
down upon Ramapo's flank. bringing him
hoo 30
impetus of the charge that Cactus went
rolling over the other. landing on his
back in the roadway. Twisting around
he snapped savagely at the chestnut, but
the latter was now alive to the necessity
Of active defence. and fastening his teeth
J in Cactus's bride. he tore II off. ter
rife duel Of teeth and hoofs followed.
both horses scrawling in the dust. The
sound Of the beating hoofs as they landed
repeatedly with crushing impact could be
heard plainly by the men at the stand.
100 yards away. II seemed impossible to
them that either horse should ever get to
his feet again.
MADE OF RUBBER.
Again the smaller horse dropped. and
again the assailant whirled over him. IL
seemed impossible that any horse could
stand those terrible somersaults. but the
bay seemed made of rubber. On rising,
he instantly turned upon the other. driv-
ing his teeth into his body. Ramapo was
game now. and bit and kicked furiously
| without effort to escape. Both had risen
| at the same time. and the duel became IL
! running fight. The horses were near the
stand now. Both were covered with foam
! and lather. In which red streaks could be
seen. Their heavy breathing could be
plainly heard and the vicious swapping on
| their teeth as they bit at each other. Mt.
| Gideon had Just about siysn up both AMI
| mails for lost when Ramapo broke away
| again and came gallopinG down the track.
| At that moment Mr.. Hyland, seeing that
! both the horses were able TO run. show
| ing that no limbs, at least, were broken,
| decided to take a desperate chance ana
! try to get them apart. He started toward
| the horses on a run, and Mr.. Gideon
mentally added good trainer TO his list
| of losses. Before Hyland had reached the
fighters Cactus had once more reached the
| chestnut and, Selling him by the shoulder,
| had pulled him down, going over him IN
another somersalt. Thus opened the
hardest, and. as it proved. the last round
of the battle Rolling over again, the
bay landed his forehoofs on Ramapo' :
shoulder, and had a piece taken out of
his own shoulder by the latter's teeth.
MANY BODY BLOWS.
Then followed furious interchange OF
| blows landing mostly on the ribs. Both
rose on their launches. and their heads
| came together. Ramapo was fighting bet
ter than he had been, and the bay went
down this time. Instantly he was half up
again, and then both sprawled down to-
| gether For a few seconds there was a
! confused turmoil of beating hoofs and
| swapping jaws. Suddenly the bay sprung
around. half lying as he was. and struck
out with his hind feet one Of them
landed directly in Ramapo's jaw. II
was a fearful blow. From where Gideon
stood ii soupded hollow and reverberated
like H. blow OF heavy club on a
| hogshead.
"My Lord" groaned the horses owner;
"that finishes him sure. No animal could
| stand that"
But 1t didn't. Ramapo got to his feet
once more. SO did Cactus: but before
they could come together again there was
n third party In the fight. The trainer
had seized this opportunity to come IN
between the stations. Mr.. Hyiand Is a
thick-set man, rather short, agile and
powerful, and with plenty Of GOODNESS
and courage. All this a man needs who
goes between two fighting stations and
il he comes out whole he may add 10
his other attributes that OF being born
lucky. Hyland threw his arms about
Ramapos neck and was promptly 1erked
from his feet. He hung on, and wheil
he touched ground again the bays teeth
were at his shoulder, and the bays eyes
bloodshot and strained with fury, were
garing into his. Just what happened
Mr.. Hyland can't tell clearly. He thinks
that he made pass at the stallion, ana
then drew Ramapo to one SIDE lie APP
pears to have arrived at the right mo-
ment. for when he drew the chesthu'
away the other horse dropped MS hea'
and made no attempt TO follow. All th'
fight had suddenly gone out Of him.