Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1902-02-28
TRICKS OF RACING MEN.
Various Methods used to Affect the
Running of Horses.


Running of Horses.
Horse racing offers so many oppor-
tunities to gain unfair advantage with
the promise of large financial returns
that INSCRIPTIONS men are always to
be found who are willing to risk dis
covery and disgrace for the chance of
reaching the coveted prize. This has
always ebeen so. and they will be off
ciale,0f sfare wisdom who In the future
can make it impossible.
Turf scandals have been known ever
since horses were first brought into
speed contests. Brides with poison
on the bits have accounted for many
defeats of splendid thoroughbreds by
inferior animals. This is crude meth
cd, however, and is now seldom resort
ed TO even by those of the most brutal
instincts. At one time trainer wish
ing to accomplish coup in the betting
ring would select thoroughbred
known to be capable and enter him for
race In the running of which he would
wear what are known as boots on the
fore legs.
These boots would be heavily weight
ed with shot, and would so anchor the
horses feet that he would show far
beneath his true worth. This operation
might be repeated until a time would
come when raid would be made upon
the bookmakers (''layers of odds" they
are now called. With the wagers prop
erly made the heavy boots would be
removed and the thoroughbred would
run away from horses that had pre-.
viously defeated him with ease.
This came to be looked upon as a
clumsy method, fraught with unneces-
sary danger Then scheme was Gre
ated for using soft metal between the
hoof and the shoe. Loss of speed would
result, and the reversal would come
after the horse had been reshod In a
proper manner. Vigilant racing off,
ctals soon discovered the secret of this
piece of dishonesty, and 1t, too, became
Unpopular
git was nearly decade ago that mys.
tRrlous stories began to be told about
saddles with electric battery attach
rbents, and the wonderful speed devel-
dped by their use. A few such saddles
fave been made and used, but not
many. The drugglng Of horses was
found to be safer and more effective.
sDrenching was first resorted to. Just
before being sent to the starting post
the horse was given dose, carefully
Estimated as to quantity. of whisky,
tnqndy or some similar liquor. The
result would be a stimulation of
strength aud speed, unless an overdose
vas given or the start was so long de-
dyed that the effect wore away.
Gin either of the last named circum.
Stances the liquor would accomplish
just the opposite of what was desired.
This method of drenching Is still some
fines resorted to, although 1t is now
poked upon rs crude. At one time the
hockey Club ruled against 1t. and pun
shed all Offenders vigorously. Now 1t
y regarded more lenicntly, aud some
owners "drench" their horses, without
any attempt to keep their methods Sc
eret
ALMOST every dishonest trainer has
his own favorite drug and his own
method OF administering 1t. Horses
that suffer because OF weakness or sore
pess of the forelegs receive local appl-
cations of anesthetics that result IN
their hammerng along over hard
track without feeling the pain that
would be theirs had they not received
the attention of the veterinary surgeon
} In defense of this practice the argu-
plent Is advanced that the thorough
bred has been saved unnecessary pain
4tcrlme lies IN the act of running a
horse that is physically unfit to COM
pete.
Eucaine is the drug now generally
used as an anesthetlc to be applied to