The Anaconda standard., 1896-03-14
TWAS A HOG KILLING
Big Dicks Great Victory on the Sec
ond Trial.
MONEY CAME IN BY LOADS
A Race Horse Romance OF a Few
Years Ago-The Trainers Plan
Carried and the Betting
Ring Howled.
MONEY CAME IN BY LOAD

gOOd morse owner VINO Is I'm tne
story standing a tap" as gamblers
say, on his equally good horse. In the
end the plot is always foiled, the good
horse wins by a narrow margin, is not
disqualified, and of course is not bid up
by the plotter. who goes broke on the
race, having "coppered" what the hero
played to win.
Joseph Bergen, who was killed at
Gloucester a few years ago. once neat
ly spoiled a plan formed by dishonest
trainer to rob his employer, who was
owner of a horse Joe had ridden and
was again Ito ride in the race this story
refers to.
Joe, a younger brother of Marty Ber-
gen, graduated, like the latter, from
Gloucester where his skill in the sad
die. combined with his known honesty,
made him a general favorite with the
racegoers, and he became the recog-
nized leading jockey of the Duke of
Gloucester's" domain. In the race
written of but which will not be de-
scribed, Joe had the mount on a horse
whose name will be changed here, oon-
trary TO turf rules. TO that of Big
Dick. The owner of Big Dick, busi-
ness man of Philadelphia, was a warm
friend and admirer of young Bergen,
and was a successful heavy hacker OF
his mounts. Joe had ridden Big Dick
in his previous race. which the horse
NOil, anu lOlu lnt OWneT IHdI MS
horse was in grand shape and ripe for
hog killing" as he had never asked
the horse to extend himself in the race
in question, which he would have won
off 10 lengths. instead of by the half
length victory the race actually re-
suited in.
A race suitable for Dick came along
a week after this, and the owner, when
he reviewed the entries began prepa-
ratfons which were carried out for the
proposed killing" He was to go to
New York and bet the numerous pool
room men during all of the morning,
and two reliable commissioners were
to cover the track betting ring All
that devolved on Joe apparently was to
get off and win. The race was the first
one on the card, and Joe, wearing Big
Dicks colors. went to the paddock to
get Dick and give him his usual warm
ing up gallop.
The trainer of the horse was absent
when he reached the saddling paddock,
and the horse was being walked
around in blankets by a colored stable
hand.
Here's s2." said good-natured Joe.
walking with the groom and horse.
Bet II on Dick for yourself"
" 'Bliged to you, is. suaoh Mr. Joe,
but / don't desiah no bet on Dick, to-
Whats the matter? Amt he feel
ing well?"
''oh, 'e's feeling all right" returned
the man. Dick amt stuck on work
nohow less you make i'm take IT, and e
Jus ain't had a gallop since you done
win on i'm ovah a week ago"
You've been down the line drinking.
haven't you. Pete? You amt sure
about this. are you?" asked Joe anxi-
ously
Sartin suah, Mr.. Joe. I'ze slep' by
Dick every night an mornin' fo' ovah
a week-evh since l got busted in that
crap game"
We'll. take this 50 and see II Won
can't make a few passes with them
Tonight" said Joe. and he walked over
10 a friend of his who happened to be
In the paddock seeking for tips before
betting on the coming race
rime this horse-Pm going to warm
up-will you?" asked Joe of this friend
III break from that pole at the head
OF the stretch and don't stop your clock
until the horse stops. Do this for me.
please. The man promised, glad to
be of service to Joe.
Then the trainer came into the pad-
dock, and removing the blankets from
DICK he gave Joe a leg up and instruc-
fions as to how the horse was 10 be
warmed, to which Joe listened heed
lessly. his reply being a question, asked
carelessly:
rs Dick good to-day?"
Never was better in his life He'll
just mizzle in" replied the trainer, at
which answer Pete's eyes started to roll
ohlnously and so continued while
leading the horse to the track.
Big Dick broke away from the pole
indicated by Joe and came down the
stretch at his full racing speed. Joe
did not pull him up after the usual.
short sprint, though the trainer in the
center of the track was francticalIy
signaling him TO do so.
The horses headstall. Il was seen
was hanging under his neck, and Joe
had no control of the animal which
continued on around the course Joe's
position in the saddle being a sorna-
what dangerous one. on the back
stretch the horses speed slackened per-
cepubly, MS FAST run through the
stretch having evidently tired him so
much that, when he came back TO the
starting pole. he stopped TO a walk.
ana joe dismounting. turned the horse
over to Pete, who came up on a. run.
stammering. Dick amt none short
now, Mr.. Joe"
Without reply Joe walked off 10 the
judges stand. There he told the Judge,
what the latter knew. that the horse
had run three-fourths of a mile at his
best speed. The owner, Joe continued
was In New York betting on the horse
and after the runaway the animal had
no chance left, in Joe's opinion. With
this view the judge coincided. and
Dick was ordered scratched. "All bets
off. Twenty minutes for a new book.
Scratch Big Dick" was the ring her
AIDS announcement OF the judges de-
cision.
After divesting himself of Dicks col
ors Joe met his timekeeper.
What time did IL take Dick to go
round2" he asked. "Over "a, wasn't
it?"
"One twenty-five I made IT, He went
fast the first quarter-better than %
seconds-but you We're stopping him
after that. / suppose2"
mo; / had all I could attend TO 20
stick on. Dick didn't act like ne was
real good to-day He'd have 10 run
near 10 1:17 20 win this race and IL ha