The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-12-01
ISOM WAS FOOLED
The Late Jockey and a
Race Chapter.
He and Many Others Duped BY Cal
Leonard-A Sure Thing That
Somehow Melted Away.

Bob Isom, the jockey whose death
at San Francisco has just been an
nounced here, was month longer
than he had planned in Honolulu last
year. The story of his extra stay is
quite interesting. 1t contains some
secret history of the Hawaiian turf.
Cal Leonard, whose name is cursed
in a good many island quarters when
ever it is heard, induced Isom to ex-
tend his Paradise residence month.
A match to be run Aug. 1, 1896, had
been made between Antidote and Billy
C. Leonard was the Antidote rider
He went to Isom and said: You stay
over and you will get the mount on
Billy c. He is not as good horse as
Antidote and will be the short end in
the betting. You have money. l am
broke You bet on Billy C and give me
what is right" Isom had the reputa-
ton in the States of being an honest
rider He was down here out of the
jurisdiction Of his regular tracks, knew
that he was dying of consumption and
! had made no money on the trip. He
made a deal with Leonard.
About four sports of the city were
let lin ON the ground floor by Leon
ard At first they rejected his over
lures, having no faith in the fellow,
but he was SO persistent that they
were finally induced to enter the game.
Leonard wanted $500 from them and
was promised that he should have it.
The betting was fast and furious. After
getting up $4,000 the Antidote people
became trifle suspicious. They well
knew the ability of each horse and
could not quite understand the eager
ness to place even money on Billy G
; When the horses faced the flag, though
there must have been at least $1,000
standing in wagers.
About everyone will remember thu
result of the race, for it was town tall
weeks and weeks. Leonard won out Of
, Antidote. His courage failed and Bill,
lC was second. Leonard had figured
lit must be explained, that he Nigh
not be able to win with Isom on tn
other horse, but that win OR lose h
| would come in for big piece @
money. When they were about 1O
| wards from the stretch reVelatlO
came to Isom and he tried to brin
Billy C home first on his merits, br
if was either too late or the work wa
not in the horse.
Leonard was in hiding in town fe'
days, then was taken to Kauai by
friend who didn't care to see hi
killed. The men who had lost we1
mad through and through and som
of them were desperate. Isom threa
ened to get at Leonard's lnterle
department with a razor on sight. h
complained that besides losing h
money he was out his time, worth
least $500 month. Another aggrieve
narty was Isom's valet. Some your
men around town who could i'll affol
TO lose were hit hard. On the 9TH
hand some betting chaps who slmp
picked the better horse according
their Judgment were proportlonate
Y delighted. Leonard was denounc
everywhere and instead of receiving
good lump of the winnings on Antldo
was paid a moderate fee for his Wo1
He is now a tout around San Fra
cisco and Oakland tracks and
nointed out and pictured by eve
Island man who sets eyes on MIN.
1895 he tried some crooked work
connection with the Autonomy-Lo
Brock match, but did not succeed w
il. Leonard was brought to the Islam
by John A. Cummins and was trea'
royalty by that gentleman.