The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-23
WHO IS KING
.O.F.|| The |. E. TURF !?
Racing Public Demands an
Answer to Question.
FIVE J. r H OROUGHBREDS
Talk Of a Special Sweep Stakes O
!. St25,ooO-McChesn Waterbop
Irish Lad, Hermis and African
der-New Pacing Mark.
BY MANHATrAN,

BY MANHATTAN,
NEW YORK, August 22--Nvill the ques-
ton Of the best race horse on the Amer
lean turf be settled this season by an
actual race between those who may fairly
be considered contestants for the title
at weight for age7 This is the question
which is exciting the racing public Just
now, and the answer Is yet in the stars.
There are five horses now running on the
Eastern track, any one Of which has
staunch friends who believe him to be
the best bit Of horseflesh which looks
out of bride. They are Waterboy, Nc
Chesney. Herrnis, Irish Lad and African
der. First Waterboy Wins cracking good
race, and Is hailed King of the Turf.
Tlien Irish Lad clips bit of the record,
and his friends hats are In the air. Again
Hernis rounds into form. and Is promptly
declared the peer OF all thoroughbreds.
Sc 1t goes, and the racing public Is be-
coming keyed up 10 q pitch which de-
nlands settlement Of the question.
Z Mr.. 2. r. Thomas, owner OF Hermis,
Is thoroughly convinced that he has the
best horse in the world, now that the
son OF Hermance has rounded to his old
FORM and Is prepared to back his judg-
nIent against anybody's horse for any
amount. lie Is said to have suggested a
sweepstakes of $4,000 each, to which
either or all the horses named would be
eligible. The mouths Of all lovers Of the
thoroughbred began to water a. the very
iGca Of race between these great racers
for a purse of s125000. the greatest ever
raced for. It is doubtful, however,, II
there is much chance for such glorious
srort, though 1t Is barely possible that
either the Saratoga or Coney Island Off
Gals may arrange the match, II not at
that high figure. at something which will
make the purse as big. IL not bigger, than
anything ever raced for on the American
turf.
II asspeclal for these five horses should
be arranged on one OF the metropolitan
tracks It would draw such a crowd as
never before seen at a race track In the
United States. and the betting would go
Into seven figures. III
1t seems certain that unless drawn to-
gether by a special purse the question
Of supremacy will have to be settled by
word OF mouth instead Of over the track.
Every one of these horses is now as ut
as ever he will be. Hermis, Irish Lad.
Waterboy, and Africandcr have shown
their fitness In races. while It is said Nc
Chesney has fully recovered from his
lameness.
IT is to be hoped they will get to-
gether.
Dan Patch has clipped another frac-
ton of the pacing record. and It now.
stands at 1859 fiat. He did It in such
style that A1cHenry. his driver, Is conf
dent that the great son Of Joe Patchen
can 80 the mile In two, II not three,
seconds faster, and may do 1t before the
end OF the season. In the last half CEN
tury the pacing record has been clipped
20A seconds. From Pets 2:19A to Dan
Patch's 1850 is a great gap, but the clip
ping has been done by fractions OF
seconds since 1892, when Mascot made
the distance in 2:04.
sl Dan Patoh's performance was splen-
did one. Conditions were not favorable
for fast time the track was not par
ticularly good. and strong wind was
blowing across the track A great crowd
saw the performance and cheered both
the horse and the driver
Lou Dillon was not so fortunate In try
ing to lower Cresceus' figures. She made
superb effort. but conditions were
against her. and she could not come
within more than second Of the record
not unlikely that the trotting figures, as
we'll as those for pacing, will be fixed at
new mark before the season Is out.
E5r
There is TAX about the Jamaica Racing
Association making demand on the
Jockey Club for better dates and more
days OF racing. It is said. in connection
with these stories. that the Jamaica As
ISOLATION includes some OF the strongest
politicians In the State, and may use
politics as a club to get what 1t wants.
It Is not likely there Is anything In these
reports. In the first pace, the Jamaica
track has been treated very fairly; In
the next the Jockey Club is not par
ticularly amenable to political pull, and
two forces the Jamaica people would
stand to get the worst Of It, and they
know it. So It is pretty safe PROPOSE
ton to say that there will be no friction
between the track and the Jockey Club
this season. at all events.
The courts have decided the controversy
over the control OF the little negro Jockey.
Wallace Hicks, and he Will continue to
ride for Perry Belmont, under the man
agement OF Antoine Plicque. who brought
him from New Orleans. The action for
control OF the boy was nomlnally IN the
name OF his father, but It Is believed
Hatfield, who formerly controlled the
boy was back of the action. One OF the
funny things developed by the proceed
ines was the fact that Hicks Is now pos
sessed Of a valet. who Is as black AS the
little Jockey and about three times MS bis.
The valet was the most excited man In
Saratoga when the court proceedings be-
gan.
George doom does not want to ride for
the Thomas and Shields stable under his
present contract, but, as the stewards
have decided that his contract Is valid
and binding. he will have to DO It, unless
the stewards are overruled, Captain s.,
S. Brown, who has first call on odoms
services, has become interested IN the
Club. There Is friction between the little
Georgian and Mr.. Thomas. and. besides,
odom holds that he should not be ex-
pected to ride for the combined stable
for the same money he got from shlalds
alone, Gy.
News has reached here that Jockey p.
McGInn, who went to France to ride this
season is coming back to : America ,ss a. He
mote disagrees with him, He has been
fairly successful but believes he can do