The Portland daily press., 1895-03-09
A TRACK TRICK.
The Method Used to Stimulate Race
Horses.
About Doping" and How 1t Is Done-It
Injuries Gambling and Therefore is
Prohibited-The Cocaine Habit.

About Doping and How 1T Is Done-lt
Injuries Gambling and Therefore is
Prohibited-The Cocaine Habit
There are a great many people even
among those who frequently visit race
tracks, who. if asked, would no unable to
correctly explain what is meant when it is
stated in those journals devoted to racing
that horse has been 'doped.' or given
1.-The Injection If they frequent what are
known as outlawed tracks, those not rec
ognIZed by either the eastern or western
turf authorities, they become much sooner
acquainted with the mysterious operation
for the reason that it is rarely practiced on
those tracks recognized as the centers of
legitemate racing. To the unnitiated, to
dope or give a horse the injection is TO so
drug him as to prevent him from doing his
best. Such, however. is not the case. the
purpose being just tho reverse.
Nevertheless, the authorities of the legiti-
mate tracks. as we'll es those of the out
lawed ones. prohibit the practice, and
severely punish those horsemen who engage
In it. As it is admitted that the operation
Is performed for the sole purpose of SO stim-
Mating the animal as to make it's chance of
winning that much greater. the question
naturally arises: Why should anything
tending to increase the animals chance of
victory be prohibited? The answer to that
will best be underst God and appreciate ed
after the operation is explained.
THE DRUG USED.
To dope horse is 10 inject into his sys-
tenn certain preparation of drugs. The
for mu1a of the preparation varies, but CO.
caine in almos. every instance forms the
most considera BILE part OF it. In some cases
cocaine is the sole drug nsed, while in
others that ard strychnia form the l,repara-
ton. There are two methods of injecting
ii Into the animals system. By hypoderLic.
syringe or by supposiory. The Ist is he
one most frequently praci iced. for the rea-
son that the effect is more rapid. When The
hypodermic syringeis used the injection Can
lie made either on the leg or on neck OF the
animal. but in fact it is almost invariably
on the latter. First. because thu result is
more sat1sfact tory. and second. because the
wound made by the needle in the syringe
can be covered by the animals name, and
the track authorities and al others not ''on
the inside thereby kept IN ignorance OF
the fact that The animal has Leen doped.
When the syringe is used the preparation
takes effect In a comparatively trief time,
in few minutes, according TO the consti-
tuition O! the animal. and is effective for
from thirty TO forty-ninutes. It's effect is
of course, to arouse The sleeping energies
of the animal, and stimulates AID renews
lis yigor and activity. This is done TO re-
ally wonderful degree. for the Einle.and in a
ma jolity of instans es tie animal is. Tor the
time being, a Wild plunaing devil. a VERT
able equine maniac. he animal seems
possessed CT but single otjpct in life. x
break away and run. and once given li-
head, he cares not what may lie he fore Lin
stone wall or wtat not. but llunges on.
HOW IT Is CONCEALED.
1t would naturally be supposed that an
animal so acting would arouse he susri
cions q. the track officHls and lead an in,
vestigation. resulting in the detea tions-and