The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-10
MAY SPLIT THE CLUB
Lake of the Isles Horsemen Are
Stirred Up.
BETTING ON RACES THE CAUSE
Ills Alleged That the Practice Has
Made Some Members Bad
Losers.

The Lake Of the Isles Driving club is
divided against itself, and unless the
trouble is soon patched up satisfactorily
the club may go to pieces The threat
ened disruption Of the club is due to the
dispute over the income of the race
week ago Saturday, and the action Of the
board Of appeals In setting aside the deci-
sion of the judges. "
The controversy may be said to have
its whole origin in the habit which the
club has got into Of late Of permitting, or
rather winking at, bookmaking.
Foul was alleged by Hal Watson, owner
and driver Of Blackield, against Sumner
Johnston, who drove Hambert Nick Ron
ner's horse, Rosebud, was third. lambert
took the first race, the trot being for the
best three out Of five, and Blackfield won
two. In the fourth race, in which Black
field had the pole, Watson charged that
Johnston crowded him into the bank and
forced him to drop behind and finally
finish at the outside of the track, Rosebud
being driven so close to lambert in the
| crowding tactics that it was impossible
even to come between them lambert
crossed the line first and Blackfield was
third.
Watson Immediately entered a protest
The starting judge corroborated Watson's
statement and the driver of Rosebud also
admitted that Blackfe1d had been
crowded. John McArdle one of the judges,
sided with Watson after hearing the testi-
mony, but the other judges in the stand,
DR.. Todd and John E. Neff, concluded that
there was insufficient evidence to show
foul and gave the heat to lambert.
Watson declined to finish the race and
under the rules Of the club filed protest
with the board of appeals within twenty
four hours. The active members of the
board, William Mclean, ID. w. Thurston
and M. A. Gedney insisted that no final
action could be taken on the protest until
the race had been finished Johnston and
Watson argeed to trot final heat last
Saturday and lambert won. The board
of appeals then concluded its Investigation
| and III the end not only awarded the race
| to Blackfield, but threw Hambert COM
pietely out of the running He didn't even
! get place.
Johnston has Indignantly refused to
abide by the decision of the board of ap-
peals. AS he made the book and holds
| the $500 wagered on the race, he has the
! best Of the situation up to date from a
| financial standpoint. Watson had the
! satisfaction Of seeing the other horse
ruled off the Lake Of the Isles track for
| the remainder of the. season.
"It was a very unfortunate affair for
| the club, said Mr.. McArdle, "and one
which will certainly not promote the in
terests of amateur. driving and gentle
mems sport in Minneapolis. The whole
! trouble, of course, was due to the gam
| bling end of the race. II there had been
no money wagered there would have been
| no foul or talk of one. The other judges
asked me to compromise matters by
| awarding the race to lambert and declar-
! ing all bets off. I replied that we couldn't
do that because the club couldn't afford to
/ recognize gambling, which is against the
| laws of the state on race tracks or any
where else