Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-25


bet. This is to remove them from the
temptation OF showing .favoritism. On their
coolness quick judgnent and strict hon
esty the exchange of thousands upon thou
sands or dollars, edepend-and how HNle
credit their Judgment and honesty received
You know how IT. is yourself. Every time
your horse is left the Starter is thief and
a blackguard. an9 when your horse is a
any worth mentioning When he isn't a
villain he is clean forgotten.
While we sat watching Starter Flynn pa
tlently and persistently for nearly half an
line asked Mr.. Pettingill what was the
largest field he ever started.
IwehtE-hVe,' he answered; but that
Isn't to say 1t was the hardest" he added.
hour in New Orleans one time with field
of only four horses. They were all full of
soup"
"Eh?" I interrupted.
That's what we call it when they are
loaded with dope"
Again l begged for light and he further
informed me that soup" dope" means
podermically administered to horse Just
before race.
After had worked three-quarters of All
hour with those animals had to let them
go no nearer In line than they were to be-
gin with. hut 1t was the best any one could
do; they were all crazy as bugs. Now.
sometimes you'll get off big field as easy
as lying: It's all a matter of luck. or
courae IL you want to praise yourself, you
can say it's your genius. but you can't look
heaven In the face and say it's anything
out luck, that comes your way, or doesn't,
just as 1t happens"
Starting by Machine.
What is the worst horse to get started?"
I asked.
"Oh, it is with horses as 1t is with whis-
KY. There isn't any bad, only some is bet
ter than o. hers"
l asked both Pettngill and Starter
Flynn what they think of the starting
machine and they both commend Its use
in linins, up, as the one tried Wednesday
was used. But the Australian system Of
replacing tho starter with machine to
the extent of making It go when the bar
Mes up, no matter how the horses get
away, would in their opinion, work in
justice to many horses and Jockeys who
might be doing their best. IF such a ma
chine was generally adopted said Starter
Flynn. there's the horse Clifford. for in
stance. that's nth $4,000 now, wouldn't
be worth $500. He is SLOW in stan ting-what
you call fat-footed, and a machine
start like that would be left at the post
every time
1t is an old established fact that race
horses are better treated than the gen.
crafty of women, and as i have watched
me races day after day, have about con-
lots with a jockey. For one thing, your
chance Of an early death is better and
after the race Is over to see the way the
jockey is relieved of the burden of his
saddle by his valet who looks always
immensely proud to do Jockeys bidding,
Is an indication of all the peace, profit and
nonor that falls to the lot Of a genius of
the pigSkin. Jockey Simms l am told is
worth a small fortune and among his
other laurels. he has it to his credit that
ne IS a dutlful son. He has an old mother
IN the south. for whom he has built a fine
house, where he keeps her like a lady
Another proud distinction this famous
small boy enjoys Is that of being an init
mate acquaintance of "Pittsburg Phil" l
sa" MIN In carr est conversation with the
great plunger one day, and such a pair of
pretty innocents they both appeared!
Simms in citizens clothes Is a decidedly
eood-looklng, slim, small boy de Is twenty
years oidl, and wears in addition to good
clothes that air OF infinite reserve which
stamps The 'dead-game sport" Pittsburg
fbll. wEose reputation for throwing larger
sums OF money to the winds of chance
surrounds him with the interest of a hero
OF romance, Is anything but a hero in ap-
pearance. He does not look a day over
tWentY-three, dresses quietly, and vet in
splte OF ms boyishness and the general
nodesty or his exterior, there is an indie
scrlbable something about him very re-
markabie ard fascinating. The man / was
with saw Pittsburg Pills ticket showing
$4,000 to $4,000 on Clifford the dav Git
ford was beaten by Henry Of Navarro
The plungcr never winked as the race
anlshed. and was coolly about to tear I'M
his certificate of $4,000 loss when his
friend begged it of him to keep as a souve
mir OF 4 display Of both money and nerve.
Congregational Interest.
Between races 1 asked Congressman Bal
ley one day what his horses are going to do
this year
II don't know" replied the Texas men,
trin Of
high bred and many of them possessing
notable records. But when l entered Com
gress l turned them over to friend and
ended my connection with the turf, beliey-
ing such to be duty l owed my constitu-
ents. Horse racing is SO popularity associ-
ated with gambling in the public mind
that though l followed it for pure love Of
the sport it seemed to me that as repre-
sentative Of the people in the lawmakine
body of the nation owed it to my position
to sacrifice all my interests in a sport
which In anybody's mind is charged with
immortality"
While Mr.. Bailey was talking 1 noticed
senator Allen few seats beyond, watch
Ing the race with that peculiar expression
which is most clearly defined in Pa
Days face. and in different degrees Of
perfection characterZes the horsey face as
plainly as ever a bicycle face was marked
l also saw Senator Wolcott, Senator Wet
more, Representative Allen of Mississippi
ana NUMBER OF Otner members Of Con-
gress. such interested spectators of the
races that it occurred to me to ascertain
how general is Mr.. Bailey's view of the
relation of craftsmanship to the turf
l recalled that the very Senate chamber
was the scene of a rare bit of turf tram
saction, Senator Stockbrdge there purchas-
ing from Senator Stanford the famous Bell
Boy, pick of the Palo Alto stud, for So
GOO.
Senator Wetmore is member of the
Jockey Club and vice president Of the New
York Horse Show. He is rather more in
terested in horses for show than for rae
ing purposes. and in all the parade of
horsefesh and fashion that annually occurs
at Newport, the turnouts Of the Rhode Is
land Senator are conspicuous.
Senator Allen finds nothing in populis,!c
philosophy or the theory of good govern
ment to interfere with Senator's breed
ing and racing horses. Senator Murphy. in
token Of his sympathy with this by play
of a statesman genius, not long ago pre-
scented Senator Allen with a colt sired by
HeXameter dam, Lady Lydecker. which
the Nebraska Senator promptly named
Senator Murphy. Although not vet three
years old, Senator Murphy" has shown
less than a three minute clip. Mr. Allen
also owns the high-bted stallion Hermit
tage, which was imported from England
In, md Ic hacta Il