The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-02-07
TRICKS OF RACING MEN.
Various Methods used to Affect tn
Running of Horses,

Various Methods used to Affect the
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 been so, and they will be Off
cials of rare wisdom who in the future
can make 1t 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 a coup IN the betting
ring would select a thoroughbred
known to be capable and enter him for
a 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 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 q
clumsy method, fraught with unneces
sary danger. Then a 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 Il
proper manner. Vigilant racing Off
cials soon discovered the secret Of this
piece of dishonesty and 1t, too, became
unpopular.
1t was nearly a decade ago that mys
terious stories began to be told about
saddles with electric battery attach
ments, and the wonderful speed devel
oped by their use. A few such saddles
have been made and used, but moi
many. The drugging of horses was
found TO be safer and more effective.
Drenching was first resorted to. Just
before being sent to the starting pos
the horse was given a dose, carefully
estimated as to quantity, of whisky
brandy, or some similar liquor. The
result would be stimulation OF
strength and speed, unless an overdose
was given or the start was so long de
layed that the effect wore away.
In 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
times resorted to, although it is now
looked upon as crude. At one time the
Jockey Club ruled against it. and pun
| ished all offenders vigorously. Now 4
is regarded more leniently, and somt
owners "drench" their horses, without
any attempt to keep their methods Sc
cret.
Almost every dishonest trainer has
his own favorite drug and his owl
method of administering 1t. Horse;
that suffer because of weakness or sore
ness of the forelegs receive local appli
cations of anesthetics that result IL
their hammering along over a hare
track without feeling the pain tha
would be theirs had they not received
the attention Of the veterinary surgeon
In defense of this practice the argu
ment is advanced that the thorough
bred has been saved unnecessary pain
The crime lies In the act of running 6
horse that is physically unfit to com
pete.
Eucalne is the drug now generally
used as an anesthetlc to be applied t
the forelegs. Bandages are wrapped
about the legs above the ankle Joint
and these are saturated with the drul
about forty-fve minutes before tn,
time set for the race The ordinary
process of absorption accompllshes tn,
rest.
A horse so lame that he can hardll
hobble will go prancing to the post a
though he had never known a pain
He Is not in condition to protect him
self, and is In great danger of breakIn,
a leg. Such an accident often happen
after eucaine has been administered.
One OF the tragedies that cost the III,
Of promising jockey is generally be
lle' ed tQ have been due to the deaden
ing effect produced upon the forelegs o
the lads mount by eucalne. II Is al
most impossible to use bandages upOl
the bind legs, for which reason a spra,
OF ether. cocaine, and eucalne Is used
These methods are not Intended TO In
crease speed. but merely to render tn
thoroughbred ohlivious to pain.
For the purpose OF Increasing speed
preparation, OF which cocaine Is tn
main Ingredient is used. being admin
lstered hypodermically. The injection
Is often made back OF the law. From
this point the drug Is taken M NOR,
rapidly aRda quicker effect is obtained
Thoroughbfeds are iusf as suscansfhi