The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-25
ED CORRIGAN'S PART
IN RACE TRACK WARS.
WeliKnown Horseman Has Figured in Many Turf Clashes Which
the Local Situation Realistic TanfOran Ingleside Dispute an
Instance-He Was on the Jockey Club.

DlSCLSSlOu II tCd "a XVI Va o."N
to the unpleasantness Of last week between
the Delmar and kinloch tracks calls TO
mind Ed Corrigan of Chicago. Saratoga
and San Francisco. who figured prominent
Iy in several turf wars of the same charac-
ter. Corrigan has not been involved in a
turf war for nearly a year now. but his
memory is kept green in affairs of the kind.
The last turf war similar 10 the present
affair was the clash at San Francisco last
year between the Tanforan course. of which
Prince Poniatowski was the principal stock
holder. and the Oakland crowd. headed by
Tom Williams. who instituted racing on the
Pacific Slope. Politics proved a factor in
that war. as in the present instance. and
the matter was finally settled by purchase
CT all the San Francisco tracks by Will
Jams.
Corrigan was involved in the matter as
a hacker of Prince Poniatowski and his ele-
ment. He was sore at the Williams crowd
on account of the closing of his track, In
gleside. situated just within the corporate
limits Of San Francisco. The City Council
Of San Francisco passed an ordinance pro-
hibiting betting within the city limits, and
quarter Of a million dollars. invested in
3he Ingleside track. was thus made worth
less.
Organizes . New Company.
Intense bitterness was caused by the ord!-
udlCe, III SOEEAkdl d2lu bbS d>sOC4dltS
claimed, rightly or wrongly. that the move
was q political scheme on the part of Will
Jams to secure racing for himself. Corri-
gan Instantly set about the formation of
q new company and organized the Tan
foran Park corporation. Prince P~on;atowski,
. ~well-known Russian nobleman. who makes
his home at San Francisco in winter, taking
q large share of the stock.
Tanforan was placed sufficiently far from
Frisco to avoid Interference by the author
rfloG N Hanlnv MA nnnlnlDnNaN NJ N
course in opposition to that at Oakland.
Tom Williamss track Both sides had
plenty of money and the war which re-
suited gave San Francisco a plethora of
before.
On the day of the 800 Burns handicap
It Oakland. the Tanforan management Of
fered a 10000 purse to horses eligible 10
start in the Burns race. thus cutting down
raised to a figure unusual at San Francisco
and both tracks lost money for a time. al
though Tanforan had the best of the argu- |
ment.
Two Race Courses Costly.
In a city like San Francisco. where the
sporting element constitutes a larger pro- |
portion OF the population than in the aver |
age city. race tracks of an extensive scale
can be supported, but two courses proved
too much for the city: Previously Inslesids
both made money. The result of the clash
between Tanforan and Oakland resulted in
losing money for both sides. and Prince |
Poniatowski finally became disguised and |
gave up the fight. the unpleasantness of the |
situation affecting him more than the pc |
anxious to continue the fight, but finally |
decided to sell his interests to Williams, as |
did the Prince. |
Corrigan figured In a slight clash when |
1nEieside was first built at Frisco. several |
years ago. Tom Williams. who had pre- |
v1ously monopolized racing. Directing to the |
opening OF another track. A clash resulted |
which proved q losing matter for both \
courses; and Ingleside was finally granted
city ordinance followed two years later. and
the Tanforan-Oakland fight then came on.
His Fight I'm Chicago.
The clash between Ingleside and the Oak !,
land elements was but slight. however, !
Condor elements IN Chicago two years ago. |
On that occasion Hawthorne. Corrigan's |
track; was being operated after a State law
haa oeen passed prohibiting betting on
John Condor. owner of the Harlem track,
was a bitter enemy of Corrigan's and is be-
lieved to have been behind raids which were \
planned on the Hawthorne course. Deputy
Sherfns and Pinkertons were given war
rants and sent out to Hawthorne one day
with orders to close the course.
.Corrtgan did not propose to see his track
closed in this fashion,, however, and, collect ,
ing. a crowd Of stable hands and track at
taches. he sailed forth to give battle, piac-
ing himself at the head of his motley
forces. The result was a complete victory
for Corrigan in a physical sense, as he man
of the attacking party were captured and
were triumphantly carted TO a coachhouse
on the grounds and locked up until after
Peace Terms Agreed Upon.
1t was seen shortly after that in order
TO operate tracks at all in Chicago 1t was
between the tracks and a division of dates
was agreed on. This system Of dividing
dates still prevails in that city. although
one element is said to be always trying to