New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-29
\ THE RACETRACK.
BIG LEAKS IN AQUEDUCT PIPES.
SOME OF THE CONTESTS WERE SOAKED WITH
DISHONESTY.

SOME OF THE CONTESTS WERE SOAKED win
DISHONESTY.
When President Reilly of the Queens County
Jockey Club fell Ill with pneumonia his sickness
was A serious injury to Aqueduct and 10 the 'utl
season in New-York in 1899. In his absence GER
tain turf cozeners have been playing fast ana loose
on his track Ungentle critics say that the nrst
qualification for a stewardship on a racecourse IS
complete vaculty OF intellect. That Is vie SIAN
der Instances have been known in which persons
have served as stewards whose skulls were not
entirely empty. 1t must be admitted win soi
row however, that some Of the stewards VINO SIT
aIoft while horses are pulled have never coNhceu
those who knew them best that behind their races
practical and effective minds were nesting
WHY is II that it has been the too frequent Gus
tom to select for stewards innocent blanks ana
cphers? Might 1t not be pleasant novel'y once Ill
a while TO appoint real man as steward man
who would be bold enough and brave enough 10 RUE
off turf thief when the thievery was lneNcusdoiy
obvious and offensive? Under the existing law III
This State an enormously lucrative Gambling trust
has been created for the benefit of the owners OF
raceracks Their profits come chieny from tue
betting rings. Unless the officials see 10 II 'ha'
racing is thoroughly honest, they ahront ana IN
suit the legislation which has created GamoHng
Trust I'm order TO fill their pockets. why shouio
the neople of New-York tolerate A Gambling Race
Trust more than Faro Trust unless the managers
of the Gambling Race Trust are ready 10 prove 10
all doubters that racetrack gambling is more nom
est than faro-bank gambling? And how can tney
furnish such proof while those puroind Sir FaIsl-
falls Philip and Frank, and the overworked hanoi.
canner arc the stewards? On Thursday part OF
the entertainment was ronica as anything ever
seen at Iron Hill Yesterday Songer on the Ia
vorite Tyran in the first race tried as jealousy 10
win the first place sponge stuck to a leuse
in the ocean near Key West tries three uiles "
day 10 lump over the moon.
The annual report Of the State Racing Comms-
sion 10 the Legislature (Which was ADJOURNED yes
terday) was sent 10 the newspapers last night II
is deliciously humorous document Only Dcd"
Swift once more in the flesh could have written IT,
This report declares that she improvement oil the
breed Of horses has been advanced most materlai-
" Go 10 Aqueduct and how the improve
ment Of the breed Of horses has been advanced
most materially" with Spotless st. Philip unsus-
picous Frank and the retrospective Offcial Hanol
CAMPER as stewards. Even W. J. ArkeFs Judge
never published anything funnier than this annual
report. All the comic periodicals both OF the new
World and the Old ought to compete for the prvi-
leee OF printing that report In full. Whiie Dwyer
and Clarke and Vosburgh smile as stewards, ana
take no action while such fraudulent races as
some Of those of Thursday and Friday take place
this report asserts that the practically universal
communication of the public is supporting The
turf And the report says further than the con
fdence of the public in the sport is assured NOW
the plain truth is that the public has no commence
at all I'm the sport while such stewards as Dwyer
Clarke and Vosburgh permit such performances as
some of those at Aqueduct this week TO go on
without investigation or interference. This memo
rial reads ike report of the Louisiana Lottery
when the lottery company practically owned the
State of Louisiana. II does not tell the truth rs
TO the actual condition of racing at Aqueduct TINS
week.
Lady Lindsey was the favorite in the second race
Her defeat by Satin Slipper was so overwhelmlng
that any efficient board OF stewards would nave
made an unsparing nvesugauon wln 3a G GeIaS
nor had disobeyed his orders on Lady Lindsey
oConnor brought up II the PSHs OF
racing in this State, who is so conscientious that
ought TO be OF the 0GHy wbg
not? William c. DAILY appears TO be constantly
efuent of the unreserved odor and incense OF
And yet il songer on Tyrtan, oLeary on Ordeal,
OConnor on Lady Lindsey. McCue on GALES.
0'Connor on Effervescent and Scherrer on Alex
had ridden such at Maspeth as they rode yes
Off in other words. an important part of the rae
ing at Aqueduct on THURSDAY and on triday was
gorge of Maspeth. of The Dump. of ST. Asaph OF
Gloucester and of Iron Hin would have risen
Vosburgh do? They winked and bnked That
was ali And Reilly was SIN weak from the et,
'pid songer really try on Tyrian the favorite. in
the first race? Ask the ceman.
How easily OLeary could have won that first
into trancei six months the Island for OLea:y
for dsorderly conduct would have been light
penalty A life for Songer for suspected com
picity with dissipaed persons might not have been
a misht Statues for the stewards, Dryer, Clarke
and Vosburgh. Tall statues they ought TO have
Statues with heads OF gold, with feet Of clay and
But what can be gained by lingering upon the
sickening story.
Here are several final words: 1t Is revolving
disgrace 10 the great State OF New York that
track gamblers should go scot free after fleeing
and plundering the public the public was feeced
and plundered by certain Jockeys In certain races
al Aqueduct Thursday and Friday.
And the stewards who looked on idly and did
nothing while that fleeing and that pundering
Postscript A-OLeary's ride on Ordeal I'm the first
race was inexpressbly shocking. Almost as shock
ing as the ride OF SOnger on Tyrian.
Postscript B-OConnor's ride on the favorte, Lady
Lindsey may perhaps have been honest. But find
an intelligent person who watched II and sincerely
believes il was honest. Of course the stewards
Postscript Gid McCue try win the third race
with the favOrite GALES, when he pulled GALES
into a hopeless pocket in the homestretch? Some
fools and some stewards may think he really tried
IN win Does any one else think so?
Posts script D-Did OConnor ride as well as he could
on the short-price favorite Efteryescen In the NTH
race? Ask the stewards. What are they for er-
cept TO promote racetrack gambling and to protect
dishonest Jockeys?
Postscript Elbow did nimbe 10. Scherrer ride
Alex in the last race? In true Sherrer style. In
iust the style which should earn him permanent
Vacation. And how aid McCue ride the favorite
Neponse in that last race? In Just the style that
a Chinese opium held might ride and therefore
in just the style to please those entraneed and be-