The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-21
NO CAUSE FOR COMPL Amt
Disqualification Was the Proper
Thing.
PROTEST WAS WITHDRAWN
Mr.. Whitney's Action Was Prompted by
the True Sportsman Spirit in
the Case of Kings
Courier.

| Butte turf men were much concern
ed over the ringside ENHANCEMENT of
the Handicap at Morris Park couple
of Saturdays ago. There has been
more or less comment upon the action
| taken by the board Of stewards con-
| corning the protesting of Sydney Pa
! get in behalf Of William c. Whitney,
| the winner of the handicap. 1t was
| an important decision and the New
| objection was rightly made, and that
| the stewards had no option but to
disqualify Kings Courier unless the
| protest was withdrawn. Continuing,
| the paper says:
This was done at the request of
William c. Whitney. who listened to
| the opportunities of the friends of Col
| onel James e. Pepper, the owner of
| Kings Courier, who pleaded vigorous
| ly and eloquently in behalf of the
| sportsman from Kentucky.
AS Mr.. Paget withdrew his protest,
| the stakes went to the credit Of King 8
| Courier.
| 1t was an extremely generous action
on the part of Mr.. Whitney, who is a
true sportsman, and whose aim is to
elevate the standard Of the turf.
Trainer Sam Hildreth lost his percent
age of the stakes, and w. H. Clark.
the owner Of The Scotchman, lost
5000. the difference between second and
third money, which his entry would
have got. John e. Madden, who owns
| Kilmarnock, who was fourth, would
have received $500 for third money
| had Kings Courier been disqualified.
| Thus 1t will be seen that Mr.. Whit
ney's action in the matter concerned
| several persons. In dlsposing Of the
| case 1t would seem to mean more, as
an example, to the racing public, than
| the mere fact that, although King s
| Courier had been entered by his own
| err in several previous races this sea-
| son as being by Kingston, dam Sty-
| litine, in this particular race the horse
| was entered as by Kantaka--Stylitene
| Going beyond the immediate results
| of Mr.. Pagets protest and looking for
ward to the time when, having arrived
! at creditable old racing age, Kings
| Courier might be retired to the stud
endless complications could easily arise
had this mistake in the entering of the
horses real sire gone uncorrected. His
get and their descendants would be a
pretty tangle for the registry eX
perts to unravel. as being entered in
different races as by Kantaka, while
ne Is registered IN the akeDook as BY
Kingston. which latter is his correct
breeding. appears confusing.
Had Mr.. Paget discovered, or having
discovered the error in Kings Cour-
Ter entry, complained Immediately after
the race, before? bet had been paid,
the judges would have had difficulty in
taking any action but that of the dis
qualification of Kings Courier, the
bets being paid on the second horse
as the winner.
While it showed fine spirit upon the
part of Mr. Whitney to withdraw his
protest, the fact remains that in nine
cases out of 10 the winner would have
been disqualified, and it Is hard to see
how Colonel Pepper and his good
friends would have cause for complaint
had this been done.
Disqualification was the proper
thing, as it would be in another race
with the same circumstances surround
ing it, for there are rules made to
govern racing for the protection, in
just such cases as the one cited above
of the owners of race horses, and it
seems bad example to set to allow
the matter to be settled as it was.