The Washington times., 1895-04-17

"It is impossible to teat this game"
said well Known trainer as he passed
out of the gate at Alexander Island yes
terday- He echoed the feeling of ninety
nine out Of every hundred OF the crowd
that filled the train on the homeward
journey, for while the racing during
the afternoon had been little bit cleaner
than the usual run, there was still ample
grounds for complaint
Public form at the track is q farce, and
betters who make a business of following
the lines laid down in racing charts, never
attempt to follow them at this place. To
do so would be a waste of both time and
money. The one way that a better stands
chance is to follow the gang in their
play. To bet against them is Ike burning
money up. They control nearly all the
riders at the track, and that gives them
an immense advantage.
This is not of course hOuest racing, but
no one who has ever visited the track
looks to see there anything that might be
termed honest sport The place started in
wrong, and no attempt has ever been made
to better it. Those in control are getting
Iitus DuN tl4C puLalC c1lt BdEl utGiiAg lOI
il. There Is just one result for those who
continue to bet on the apology for races
run over the track, empty pockets. When
shallow-m1nded youths are permitted 10 de-
liberately pull horses, when certain owners
are allowed the utmost lenieucy in the run
ming OF their horses, when bargains for
wrong doing are openly made with book
makers without tie slightest attempt to
check it, how can anyone look for honest
racing.
Some hoped that the big increase of
revenue brought by the opening orSt. Asaph
would bring a show OF vigilance from those
in charge. but, in place OF a bettering, things
have become worse. The vultures have
found larger and richer crowds to prey
on, and their appetites have been satisfied.
Their nests are well feathered, but they had
better beware. as a perfect tornado OF dis
gust is arising among those who have been
fleeced, and when IL bursts some one is
liable TO get hurt.
SPORT FAIRLY REEKS.
The race-going public are the most pa
tient people in the world. They VIII stand
abuses of all kinds for time, but once their
feelings are aroused they must be satisfied.
The class of sport that has been furnished at
the Alexander track during the last six
weeks fairly reeks. The place has been run
with one obiect-tO fill the pockets of those
who class as the faithful. The very scum of
the turf have been pampered to and re-
ceiyed with open arms Owners and jockeys
with regulations besmirched have been
looked ON as most desirable members Of the
flock. BookmakerS known To make 4 bust
ness oflaying against horses which they know
are not "meant'' have nocked to the place.
Their coming has brought a IesseDing OF
the profits of The Embalmer" and The
Morgue," but the carcass daily brought to
tiOns, and ali the buZzards find 1T easy to
fill their NJ aw.
a word of advice to these pirates of the
ring: Hoist your black flag as high as pos
sible. Nail your halyaris to the pole and go
on with your thieyiDg work at rapid rate,
sor the time for your devastation is limited.
The seas have been cleaned or bucCa-
neers, and so viii the turf be cleaned OF
plague spots, such as that at which you
hold forth. Steps are well under way TO
close the place, and when the order comes
ii VIII be obeyed, and the closing VIII be a
final one.
The public at the track have already
started in to do something to protect their
rights. a number of the big bettors. who
do not boast of the confidence OF 1.-The ad-
nlinistration," have banded together and
styled themselves 1.-The Vigilants." Their
plan OF action is To line up at equal dis
tances, from the head of the hOmestretch
to the paddock, and watch for some boy
that ismore desirOus OF being last than first.
MAKE THEM RIDE OUT.
When they see him apparently asleep
so far as making an effort to win goes, the
the shout that tells him Ito go on comes
like a cloudburst You thieving rascal,
go on and ride, or Wen knock you off
that horse, - is the chorus that greets him,
and sometimes, if the case is an especially
bad one, the language used is not quite 50
elegant
Bad as the riders are, they seem to fear
this shout OF warning and in at least half
dozen cases during the past week horses
have been in the placed three that We're
plainly not meant TO be.
1t goes without saying that the manage
ment will put stop TO these attempts at
self protection by their patrons.
a dead one,'' ''reSurrected" is rather
costly to the bookies and the motto
of the place seems to be, ''P PTotect the books,
no matter what the cost
To keep the racing straight would require
| a man every few feet Of the way, shouting
| and screaming at the willing tools of the
ring. The Vigilants" work has been, in q
| way, q success. but it is not probable that
| they viii be allowed to continue.
| Secretary Tompkins started two of his
| horses yesterday. In both cases il looked as
| if the races had been made to order for
| them, but neither won, BenagiO being beaten
| out by Tommy Lally, and Grand PTix finish
| ing in third position. There was no chance
| tocomplain atthe mannerin which they were
! ridden. Both Were plainly out for 1.-The
stuff and were beaten on their merits, but
the general opinion expressed was that this
fact of an official owning horses is wrong
Horsemeu grumbIed and quietly whis-
pered that they we're glad to see them
beaten, as it is not fair to have a secretary
running horses. He has an advantage that
he should not have, and what is more, it
would not be tolerated at any other track
| in the country.