The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-12
JOE BERGEN'S RIDE.
HOW AN HONEST JOCKEY UPSET
PLANS TO ROB HIS EMPLOYER.
Big Dick Was Ripe For n "Hog Killing"
and His Owner Backed Him Heavily
The Dishonest Trainer Outwitted by the
shrewdness of Faithful Joe.

Turf stories on the romancing order
GENERALLY contain a wicked plot against
good horse owner who is Gin the story
Hstandinp tap" as gamblers say, on his
eoually 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 POTTER who
goes broke on the race, having "coppered'
what the hero played to win.
Joseph Bergen, who was killed at
Gloucester few years ago, once neatly
spoiled a plan formed by dishonest
trainer to rob his employer, who was
owner of horse Joe had ridden and was
again to ride In the race this story refers
to.
Joe, a younger brother OF Marty Bergen,
graduated, like the latter, from Gutten-
berg, going from there TO Gloucester
where his skill in the saddle, combined
with his known honesty, made him gen.
eral favorite with race goers, ana nc De-
came the recognized leading Jockey OF the
"Duke of Gloster's" domain. In the race
written of, but which will not be describ-
ed. Joe had the mount on horse whose
name will be changed here, contrary to
turf rules, to that of Big DICK. The
owner of Big Dick, business man OF
81
mirer of young Bergen and was success
ful heavy hacker of his mounts. Joe had
ridden Big Dick in his previous race,
which tho horse won, and he told the
owner that his horse was in grand shape
and ripe for "hog killing" as he had
never asked tho horse to extend himself In
the race in question: which be could have
won off ten lengths instead of by the half
length victory the race actually resulted in.
A race suitable for Dick came along q
week after this, and the owner, when he
reviewed tho entries, began preparations
which were carried out for the proposed
"killinc." He was to go to New York
! and bet the numerous poolroom men dur
ing 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 warming 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 colored stable hand.
J ''Here's So" said good natured Joe,
walking with the groom and horse. Bet
! it on Dick for yourself. :"
"'Bliged to you, is, suah Mr.. Joe,
| but | don't desiah no bet on Dick today. F"
whats the matterp Amt he feeling
well?"
| ooh, 'e's feelin all right" returned the
! man. "Dick amt struck on work no.
/ how less you make i'm 1T, an o jus
| amt had gallop since you done win on
| lin ovah week ago
| .You've been down the line drinking,
| haven't you, Peter You amt sure about
this, are youp' asked Joe anxiously.
"Sartin suah Mr.. Joe. I'ze slep' by
Dick every night an mornin TO- ovah a
week-evah since got busted in that crap
| game" 4.str r
"Well, take this SO and sec II you can't
| make a few passes with thom tonight, y
said Joe, and he walked over to friend OF
his who happened to be In the paddock
seeking for tips before betting on the com
ing race.
ssTime this horse-I'm going to warm
up-1will your" asked Joe of this friend
"In break from that pole at the head o.
| the stretch, and don't stop your clock un
til the horse stops. Do this for me, please.
The man promised, glad to be of servict
to Joe.
Then the trainer came into the paddock
and removing the blankets from Dick HI
gave Joe "a leg up and instructions Us t.
how the horse was to be warmed, to which
Joe listened heedlessly, his reply being {
question, asked carelessly:
sis Dick good todayp"
"Never was better in his life He'll jus
mizzle in" replied the trainer, at which
answer Pete's eyes started to roll omi
| nously and so continued while leading TIT
horse out to the track.
Big Dick broke away from the pole In
| dictated by Joe and came down the stretcl
| at his full racing speed. Joe did not pull
| him I'D after the usual short, sharp sprint
though the trainer in the center of tn
track was frantically signaling him t.
do so.
The horses headstall, it was seen, wa
hanging under his neck, and Joe had n
control Of the animal which continued OF
around the course, Joe's position In tn
saddle being a somewhat dangerous one
| On the backstretch the horses speed slack
ened perceptibly, his fast run through tn
stretch having evidently tired him s
much that, when he came back to tn
starting pole, he stopped to a walk, all
Joe dismounting, turned the horse owe
to Pete, who came up on run, stammer
| Ing, FDlCk dlu nOuo hoWB uAi
joe"
Without reply Joe walked off to tn
judges stand. There he told the judge
what the latter knew, that the horse ha
| run three-fourths OF mile at his bes
speed. The owner, Joe continued, was |
New York betting on the horse, and afte
the runaway the animal had no chanc
left, In Joe's opinion. With this view tn
Judge coinoided, and Dick was ordere
scratched. "All bets Off. Twenty mir
utes for new book. Scratch Big Dick
was the ring herald's announcement {
the judges decision.
After divesting himself Of Dicks color
: Joe met his timekeeper.
what time did 1t take Dick to g
! rouudS' he asked. "Over "a, wasn't itS
! lone twenty five made 1t. He wer
fast the first quarter-better than % So
onds--but you were stopping him aft'
that, SUPPOSED"
"No; had all could attend to to site
on. Dick didn't act like he was real goc
today. He'd have to run near to 1:17
win this race, and IL he hadn't got ava
and couldn't run better than he did ju
now big raft of money would have bee
urecked over him - concluded Joe