The St. Louis Republic., 1900-08-03
BAD STARTS BEAT
TWO HOT FAV0RITES.
Small Jack and John McElroy
Were Almost Left Standing
at the Fair Grounds.
TALENTS MONEY BURNED UP.
Go-To-Be Ran Mile and Seventy
Yards Within a Quarter of 4
Second of the Track Record
Long Shots Won.

Starter William Sruen disappointed a
crowd of bettors at the Fair Grounds yes
terday by making bad starts in the fifth
and sixth races. The contenders in these
events were never dangerous after the flag
dropped. With an even break the fifth
race would have been q fight between Small
Jack and Fred Hessig and III the sixth,
with a good start, John McElroy would
have been the contending horse at the fin
ish. However, all of these horses We're
practically left standing, and finished in
the ruck. 1t was like lighting a match to
the money bet on them, for they never had
a chance from where Mr.. Bruen let them
off. He can offer no excuse. whatever for
his effort in the fifth event. Fred Hessig
and Small Jack were behind the barrier
when the flag fell, and the others were
strung out in Indian fashion. Hessig and
Small Jack were the heaviest played horses
in this event and great roar went up
when the spectators saw that 1t was a go.
In the last race the field of ten horses
were sent off in several sections John
McElroy, the heaviest played horse IN the
race, was in none of these sections. He
was absolutely last when the red rag
swished through the air. He could never
get within striking distance, but that ne
would have been a dangerous contender
was proved at the end, when he was run
ming over his horses. ,
Bruens starts in the other races We're all
good, but then, he only had small fields to
contend with except in the first :ace. In
this event were a lot of maidenS ana no
one would have cared If he did make bad
The races in which he made his bad starts
were the best betting propositions of the
day, and in both cases the heavily played
horses were off SO badly that they had no
chance whatever.
Twelve horses started in the first event:
Out of the dozen at least SIX We're touted
S~- n,,, rt,.S r.N ST
Of the lot. He opened at 6 to l, but the
knowing ones held off until he receded tn
30 to l. Then there was rush Tor the
states. In minute he was down to and
at post time TO ] was the best to be ha!
Joe Lucass inconsistent Winnebejour WAS
favorite. but he ran bad race. 20 @ ous
was much the best and when called upon
he came away from his field and Won cleV-
erly.
After Haviland was scratched there was
nothir 20 the second race but Croesus. II
was a. TWO miles and an eighth, and he was
the only horse OF any ACCOUNT TO accept
the issue. His owner, Sam Wagner. bet
his coin like good Indian. even though
the odds were 2 TO D on. Valid and Lease
man made the running, to the mile and a
half. Then Croesus and Round Turn chal-
lsnged them. Entering the stretch It ap,,
peared as though Round Turn would land
the purse, but Croesus was only sulkins.
When shaken up by the jockey he came on
and won cleverly. Round Turn beat the
Others a city block.
Go to Bed ran the best mile and seventy
yards race ever run 1T TRACK III The
third event. With ll2 pounds up he tray
ersed the distance in 1:i5a4. but three-Quar-
tiers of q second off the track record, which
is held by Miss Mae Day. The little flly
only had 81 pounds on her back when she
made the mark. Go to Bed lay back IN
fourth place and allowed Libbie and
1nsurgent to run their heads off i'll
front The favorite did not start to make
his run until the stable turn was passed
Then he closed like a wild horse and, was
only galloping at the end. If whipped out
he would have smashed the record to smith
Greens Libbie lasted long enough to land
the place. but The Insurgent tired to moth
ing. and Hottentot galloped into third place.
With Loving Cup barred In the betting,
The Light monopoliZed the attention of the
talent, although there was a good deal OF
betting on Verify and Lord Neville. The
latter was first to show after i good start
was effected. Loving Cup took command az
the quarter. closely followed by The Light.
They ran in this order to the finish. Lord
Neville closed strong, and Morse had to
shake UP The Light TO stall off his rush.
The next two races were spoiled by bad
starts on form. Small Jack and Fred
Hessig appeared to have the fifth race al
their mercy, but they We're last to leave the
post. Eva's Darling was off with running
start and was never in trouble.
In the last race Grantor was the best OF
the few favored by the start, and he gal
loped home With hustling ride W. j.
Baker could have bean much closer to the
goal at the end.