The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-04-25
How Jockey and a
Gambler Pulled
the Strings.
NICHOLS FLED
ON THE SIERRA
Rider Of Virsie A. Levanted When
Exposure Was Near at
Hand.

Sec. Nichols, the jockey who rode
Nlrg1e A in her race with Aggravation
last Saturday, left for the Coast yes
terday on the Sierra in company with
a man named Edmunds. VINO was one
of the largest winners over the race.
With Nichols departure much of the
mystery surrounding Saturdays race
is removed, and the affair stands re-
vealed, one of the most barefaced SWIM
dies and disgraceful conspracies ever
perpetrated on the Hawaiian turf
A few weeks ago Virgie A and Ag-
sravation met at seven furlongs, and
the former, ridden by Nichols, won
with ridiculous ease, Aggravation MAX
ing no showing whatever in the final
three-eighths. The winner was backed
for dollars and dimes, and small for
tune was won over the result. Op1o-
pio, who rode Aggravat1on, put up a
criminally bad ride, and the opinion of
many prominent turfmen expressed
without hesitation, was that Opiopio
had sold the race to Nichols. One of
the biggest winners over the race was
Soldier" O'Donnell, the Camp McKin-
ley plunger.
A second race between the horses
was arranged, this time at mile, with
Nichols engaged to pilot Virgie A, and
it was in connection with this that
Nichols got in his fine work.
Virgie A is jointly owned by Lieuten-
ant Hamilton. of the Sixth Artillery,
and "Al' Moore. Soldier O'Donnen,
also of the Sixth Artillery, is an ad-
mirer of the mare, and stood ready last
week to back her to the extent of his
roll, which runs into the thousands.
1t was O'Donnells money that Mich
OILS and his associate were after. To
| this end the jockey spared no pains to
| impress on the soldier that Virgie A
won the first race on her merits, and
was absolutely sure of winning the
second.
The plot went smoothly enough until
the morning of the race. wnen the
news went forth that O'DonneH had
been robbed of $500. This was a sad
blow to the conspirators, but it was
decided to carry the job through and
rake in all the money that could be
obtained at the track.
When the betting opened the stable
money for Virgie 4 was soon placed,
and several hundreds of outside money
was laid in the same direction. AS
yet no decided move in favor of Ag-
gravation had been made. Suddenly
the whisper went around that Agra
vation was the goods, and that it was
case of beg, borrow or steal, but
get on.
The response was marvellous Peo-
pie who never bet more than ten dol
lars on a race unless they have it al
ready won. dug up hundreds. and
worked harder than ever before In
their lives getting their money cover
ed. Through the crowd moved Nich-
OILS confiding to all and sundry that
Aggravation would have to sprout
wings in order to beat Virgie a. Mich
OILS partner distributed a couple of
thousand dollars in chunks among
friends to be bet on Aggravation even
at the sacrifice of a shade of odds.
With wads of money still unbet at
the Aggravation end of the deal, and
with the wise ones clamorng and fall
ing over each other in order to secure
some of the vile thing, the flag fell.
Nichols started the performance IN
thorough accord with his book, and
succeeded in getting the worst Of the
start in a most hagrant manner. To
vation to open up practically unclose-
able gap and passed the quarter pole
: at least two seconds in the rear. OF
course Aggravation won in walk
: and Virgie A staggered home IN a
manner which very strongly suggested
a bucket of water or worse, inside her.
/ Virgie's undoubted speed should have
carried her on equal terms with Ag-
D gravation to the half at least, and
Nichols instructions from Lieutenant
4 Hancock were to keep close up and If
possible pass Aggravation al the half
I and take the pole. Nichols was act
ing as his own instructor in that race,
however, and after the race he care
, fully avoided meeting the Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Hancock was asrounded
at his mares showing. He bet heavily
on her and was naturally anxious to
find out the reason for such a start
: ling reversal of form. To this end he
{ commenced searching investigation,
( and Tuesday Nichols told a friend that
he intended to depart on the Sierra
He kept his word and with him went
Edmunds who boasted last week that
he owned Nichols, and who won over
81 500 on the race
Nichols was warned off the Oakland
track two years ago for suspicious rid
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