The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-01-31
TRICKS OF RACING MEN,

Various Methods used to Affect the
Running Of Horses.
Horse racing offers so many oppor-
t'nitics to gain unfair advantage with
the promise of large financial returns
that INSCRIPTIONS men are always to
he found who are willing to risk dis
"vcry and disgrace for the chance of
reaching the coveted prize. This has
always been so, and they will be Off
Gals OF rare 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
interior animals. This is a crude meth
I'D, 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 arc known as boots on the
fore legs.
These boots would be heavily weight.
eu with shot, and would so anchor the
horses feet that he would show far
beneath his true worth. This opera ton
might be repeated until IL time would
come when Il raid would be made upon
the bookmakcrs (''layers Of Odds' they
are ROW calletD. With the Wagers prop
~rly made the heavy boots would be
removed and the thoroughbred would
run away from horses that had pre-.
rioEs!y defeated him with case.
This came to he looked upon as a
clumsy method. fraught with unneccs-
sarv danger. Then Il scheme was cre-
atci for using soft metal between the
1o"f and the shoe. Loss of speed would
rcsult, and the reversal would come
after the horse had hccn reshod in Il
proper manner. Nigilant racing Off
rials soon discovered the secret Of this
piece OF dishonesty. and it, too, became
unpopular.
1t was nearly Il decade ago that mys.
srrioAs stories began to be told about
saddles with electric battery attach
MentS, and the wonderful speed deyel-
"peu ny their use. A few such saddles
haVe been made and used, but not
many. The dragging of horses was
found to be safer and more effective.
nrtnching was first resorted to. J,,st
helore being sent to the starting post
tue horse was given a dose, carefully
estimated as to quantity, Of whisky,
"ranoy, 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-
.nyed 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
!shed all offenders vigorously. Now it
is regarded more leniently, and some
owners "drench'' their horses without
any attempt to keep their methods Sc
cret.
Almost every dishonest trainer has
his own fayorite drug and his own
method of administering it. Horses
that suffer because Of weakness or sore
ness OF the forelegs receive local appli-
cations Of anestheticS that result in
their hammering along over hard
track without feeling the pain that
would he 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 a
horse that is physically unfit to COM
pete.
Eucaine is the drug now generally
ased as an anesthetic to be applied to