Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-04-03
RACE TRACK TRICKS.
The Various Methods of "Doping''
In Vogue.
STIMULATING THE RACE HORSE
Horses Like Human Beings, can Become
Victims of the Cocaine Hablt-Why 1t
Is Prohibited.

-
There are great many people,
even among those who frequently visit
race tracks, who, if asked. would be un.
able to correctly explain what is meant
when it is stated in those journals de-
voted to racing that a horse has been
"doped." If they frequent what are
known as outlawed tracks. those not
recognized by either the eastern or wes-
tern turf authorities. they become much
sooner acquainted with the mysterious
operation, for the reason that it is
rarely practiced on those tracks recog-
nized as the oenters of legitimate rae
ing, says the Washington Star. To the
uninitiated to dope or give horse the
injection is to so drug him as to pre-
vent him from doing his best. Such.
however, is not the case, the purpose
being just the reverse.
Nevertheless. the authorities of the
legitimate tracks. as we'll as those of
the outlawed ones, prohibit the prac-
tice, and severely punish those horse
men who engage in it. As it is ad-
mitted that the operation is performed
for the sole purpose of so stimulating
the animal as to make its chance of
winning that much greater, the ques
tion naturally arises, Why should any
thing tending to increase the animal s
chance of victory be prohibited The
answer to that will best be understood
and appreciated after the operation is
explained.
To dope horse is to inject into his
system certain preparation of drugs.
The formula Of the preparation varies,
but cocaine i'll almost every instance
forms the most considerable part of it.
In some cases cocaine is the sole drug
used, while in others that and strych-
MIA form the preparation. When the
hypodermic syringe is used the ipjec-
tion can be made either on the leg or
neck of the animal, but in fact it is
almost invariably on the latter. First,
because the result is more satisfactory,
and second. because the wound made
by the needle in the syringe can be
covered by the animals name, and the
track authorities and all others not
ION the inside" thereby kept in ignor-
ance of the fact that the animal has
been doped.
When the syringe is used the pre-
paration takes effect in a comparative
ly brief time, in few minutes, accord
ing to the constitution of the animal,
and is effective for from thirty to
forty-five minutes. Its effect is. of
course, to arouse the sleeping energies
of the animal and stimulate and renew
its vigor and activity. This is done
to really wonderful degree for the
time, and in majority of instances
the animal is for the time being a
wild, plunging devil, veritable
equine maniac. The animal seems
possessed of but single object in life,
to break away and run, and once given
his head he cares not what may be be-
fore him, stone wall or what not, but
plunges on.
1t would naturally be supposed that
an animal so acting would arouse the
suspicious of the track officials and lead
to an investigation, resulting in the
detection and punishment of the offend
ing owner or trainer. But it is moi
always an easy matter to distinguish
between horse acting badly because
of temper and one so misbehaving be-
cause of the injection. Then, too, the
animal is seen at its worst while al
the starting post, but seldom is the
start in a race made in front of the
! judges stand, where the horse could
be best observed. The wound made
by the needle in the syringe is but 8
slight one. the flow of blood is small,
and, as the name of the animal covers
the evidence, it is seldom discovered
While the preparation does not crazt
all horses, it does greatly stimulate
them, and the old, practically broken
down animal is made to feel. for the
time being. like 2-year-old, and no
infrequently it causes him to run likt
one.
The effects usually lasting from
thirty to forty-five minutes, the pre-
paration is administered about ten o.
fifteen minutes previous to the hors
being called to the starting post
Where it is injected into the animal
system through the medium of tn
syringe it consists of fifteen grains o
cocaine and two drains of water. o
course the more frequently the anima
is dopeu the less susceptible it be
comes, and the size of the dose is cor
respondingly increased. The constitu
tion of the horse, it is said. more closel
resembles that of man than does tina
of any other animal. and where th
poor animal is persistently given tn
injection he becomes, like man,
, cocaine fiend, and in course of tim
, will make no effort to exert himsel
unless under the influence of the drug