The San Francisco call., 1897-01-24
HIS TURF CAREER.
Plunger, Corr upter Of Jockeys and
Finally Ruled OFF for Fraud.

as it was meteorlc. Entering the portals
of the Bay District racecourse a mild,
meek-looking Celestial, with no more
knowledge of the horseracing game than
a parson has of faro, it was not long be-
fore he had under his control three and
possibly more of the best Jockeys riding at
the track, and when in March, 1896, he.
together with Jockeys Chorn, Chevalier
and Heinrichs, was ruled off the turf by
the officials of the Bay District track for
fraud and jobbery, it created great sensa-
tion in the world of turf
Little Pete made mis- advent or the turf
during the sumlher of 1895 while the long
siege of racing gwen by the California
Jockey Club, so prolific of jobs and
crooked races, was in progress. Meeting
with only ordinary success in picking
winners on form, the willy Chinaman soon
found out there were many tortuous
curves and inshoots to master before one
could hope for success, and he proved an
apt student. He soon found out that
jockeys were no different from ordinary
mortals and that glittering gold could
accom- plish many things.
1t was common gossip q bout the track
during the summer months that certain
jockeys were frequent visitors to the shoe
factory owned by Pete on Washington
street, in Chinatown; q mention of which
only caused a few smiles and knowing
winks among the trainers and swlpes.
1t was not long before there were some
very suspicious looking races, and in
variably l. tile Pete held tickets on the
winning horses. The confidential friend
7
pertaining to turf affairs was Jockey
Heinrichs, mild-looking, blonde haired
youth hailing from st. Louis. Heinricns
was an artist in the saddle, keen and
shrewd, demon inisher, but with very,
very cloudy reputation as to honesty.
This glib-tongued, blue-eyed youth Little
Pete chose as his first Lieutenant
The Celestial was in the habit OF back
ing the horses ridden by Heinz 1chs heav-
ily, and invariably he cashed his tickets
There was much talk about dead ones
finishing behind the winner; but the
judges saw not and Little Pete was grow
ing rich daily.
Then came the end of the long summer
rncing season, a short interval OF rest and
then the ausplcious opening of the fall and
winter season of 1896. Many new
Eastern horses were on the scene Of rae
ing operations, as we'll as jockeys of East
ern repute. Among these latter was Jerry
Chorn, colored lad in the employ OF
Barney Schreiber, the st. Louis turfman,
a rider of many sterling qualities.
The season progressed and Little Pete,
present daily was often observed looking
over the form book of the races run. which
he always carried in his blouse. Then a
trip to the saddling paddock, chat with
a jockey or two and Little Pete's commits
sioners would be seen skirmishing about
the ring placing his coin. Tales of mon
ster winnings made by the Celestial
punger were told, to which that indivi-
dual would reply that "he backed two or
three horses i'll the race and only won a
trife"
One day the talent in general backed the
mare Wheel o Fortune, ridden by Chorn,
very heavily, as she looked a certainty.
Little Pete strung his coin op the chances
Of Rosebu carrying the Burns d Water
house colors, and strangely enough the
judgment of the little man from China
town proved superior to that of Caucasian
race-goers of many years experience.
with suspicion by many, but no action
was taken in the matter by the officials in
the judges stand.
AS the meeting dragged through the
long winter months and merged into
spring, eIated at his successes, Pete en-
gagged il a book-making venture. At this
he was only partially successful, as it was
whispered about that one or TWO horses
laid up with his book. supposedly dead
ones," were resuscitated, and the book
lost heavily. On top of this came a
rumor of a rupture between Pete and
his trusted Lieutenant, Jockey Heinrichs.
The cause of this was, it was said. jealousy
on the part OF the jockey that other
Jockeys who were getting better mounts
were usurping his place in the good graces
of the plunger from the land of the
Flowery Kingdom.
In the latter part of March, 1896, mat
ters came 10 focus and the racing world
was treated to startling surprise. At
meeting he'd one evening by the Board of
Stewards ofthe California Jockey Club four
or five jockeys we're summoned before
them and closely questioned regarding
soma very suspicious looking riding that
had been viewed from the stand Murder
will out and it was claimed that Jockey
Heinrc g, under promise of a lenient SEN
tence, let the cat out of the bag, and the
Chinese confederacy was a thing of the
past. At any rate, much silence was OBJ
served by the jockey club officials regard
ing how tho information was cleaned.
After a searching inquiry jockeys Chorn
and Chevalier were ruled off the turf for
life ana Heinrichs and plunger Fong
Ching were warned off the turf.
Many tales of wondrous winnings were
told about the little yellow man, but as
he was of secretive turn OF mind they
were never verified and how much he
added to his wealth during his open Ca
reer on the turf will probably never be
known. That he became a hend to the
game is certain, Tor even after being ruled
off he sent money to the track to be played
on certain horses.
Jockey Heinrichs is now riding on an
outlaw track in the East Chevalier, the
colored boy, is an exile from his native
land, plotting hor; e. over the race courses
OF Guaiemala. Jerry Chorn, it is said, is
a penniless hanger on about the race
tracks OF ST. Louis and the prime mover
in the gigantic turf swindles occupies a
slab in the City Morgue.
Four More Arrests.
2:10-Four Cinnamon, All Wong, All
Yup, All Kong and All Hing, were ar