The sun., 1903-01-07
HORSE SHOW SCANDAL.
REMARKABLE REVELATION RE-
GARDING 4 PRIZE TO 4 TROTTER.
A Correspondence That shows the Mare
Ruritania to Have Received Blue Rib.
hon IN Confict with Rules Or the SHOW
Declared CnsOund by Veterinarians.

Ruritania to Have Received Blue Rib.
hon IN Confict with Rules Or the Show
Declared Cnsound by Veterinarians.
At the recent Horse Show the first prize
for single roadsters In Glass Is Of the trot-
tong classes was awarded TO the Stotes-
bury mare Ruritania, q frequent pr lie
winner; the second prizs going to the HON.
man mare Vida Wilkes. The third pris,
went to Wilkie Patchen and the highly
/. commended to Kitty Clan. The rail birds
noticed at the time that Ruritania, who
entered the ring with Webb IN the drivers
seat, retired and came back stripped and
was logged up and down to halter. Later
she reappsared and gained the priss, Back
of this embarrassing and reharnessing there
Nas q story of an unusual character in
horse show annals. which will be revealed
by perusal of the letters printed below.
II seems that Ruritania was lame. or
20 appeared to all. or the majority. OF the
veterinary surgeons appointed by the show.
Mr.. Hoffman, the owner of the contending
entry. thinking that the burden OF protect
ing the entering owners under the rules
was upon the officials Of the show. made
no move in the matter until the decision
was over. when the following correspondence
ensued
DEC. 8. ibo,.
20 khe Board Of Directors of tie Natondi Horse
Shor Associ1tion. IS East Tror'y-third
street. Nor iork c,'y:
GESrLEMEN: In justice to myself and
also to the general public. | desire to eau
the attention of your board of directors TO
the awarding Of the first prize IN Cass 10
for single roadsters and the best-appointed
road rig. and would respectfully ask for
On explanation for such award.
The facts are as follows:
The mare "Ruritania. driven by Mr.. Webb
n this class No. Is. WAS unanimously de-
clarcd unsound by all three of the associa-
tons veterinary surgeons. and was given
the gate on account of being unsound After
the mare was given the gate. the driver OF
the mare. Mr. Webb. obtained immediate
permission from the Ring Committee OF that
day. to reenter the ring with the mare. after
unlocking her from the vehicle, and allowed
a groom to Jog the animal In the ring up
and down in front of the veterinary surgeons
In order to try and prove that the mare Was
not unsound. After jogging the mare up
and down several times. one OF the veterinary
surgeons declared the mare to he sound.
the other two still holding to their opinion
that the mare was unsound. The Ring
Committee then allowed the mare to he re-
hooked to the vehicle. and to reenter the
competition. and she was immediately
awarded the first prize. and my mare vida
wilkes" was awarded the second prize. |
write this letter simply to ask your board of
directors whether it is right or just. after
a horse has been declared unsound by the
veterinary surgeons. and Kiven the gate
on account of such unsoundn -ss. TO he allowed
within the space of three minutes to reenter
the same competition?
IL has been the rule hereto fore that horse
declared unsound shall cease to comp'te.
When there was such very grave doubt
a. to the soundness of tn. Ruritania mare.
should not my horse. of whose soundness
there was no question. have had the benefit
Of the doubt? Especially considering the
fact land. gentlemen. this Is matter OF
mously declared the Ruritsnia mare nnsound
when she entered the ring. and when the
iqme the E sarsecns as We're % Obliged to unhsrness
fns .oandne.s % snd Sde then 20 eSs not
unanimous on the part OF the veterinary
l desire 70 add that ! do not write this letter
N ,se ns8r4 sps OF proessd !" she amy a.
horse show, and never intend to do so, and
have purpossly allowed the time 70 elapse when
Is the above ruling to be- precedent. and
hsreafter when horse Is given the gate for
priyisse q rsfnt.rns G tRe rns nam and am
soport1nity 10 try aud prove such unsound-
1 sioud esteem it . favor TO be present
at the meeting Of your board when this letter
is presented. Yours very sincerely e iyi,,x
Two days later Mr.. Hoffman received
this reply from the secretary of the show.
Mr.. John @. Heckscher:
, NEw T9Hk. Dec 5. 100;
"";s ~ ~ sweet, Hew Yrk: '''' '' " '""
DEAR SIR: The board OF directors OF the
Eational Horep show Association Reg In
the Sd Of December, and are very glad that
explanation regarding the substance matter |
fbe Rims Committee assure the board Of |
directors that during the deiberation OF the |
vsssr,naran, a., as to the so9ndness d or IN IN
fore any Anal conclusion had been reached
or report made by them. the driver requested |
to prove his contention that the mare was
the mare ,h. she 5 the the Fn d snd
ma ,ority Of the veterinaria decided to pass
aub.soHentiy sub % "a awarded her The ribbon The
directors desire TO state that they think an
r~s thas she shond have 70 nnha
messed without 10 doing IL would then
have been clear TO the onlooker what was the
object 70 be gained by embarrassing the
The spirit in which you write your letter
10 appreciated by the board Of directors.
and they trust that you will see that the Ring |
0mmtttee. acting in connection with the /
judees. had no course to pursue other than |
that outlined above Yours truly.
JOHN G. HBCKscHER. Secretary.
Mr. Hoffman, however. underst ood the
facts to be different from those described
by Mr. HecIscher. and terrifying himself |
with an affldavit from the three veterinary
surgeons. he wrote u second letter 10 Mr.. |
Heckscher dated Dec. -
NEW YoRK. Dec. 20, 1902.
JoAa q. HeekscAer, Esq.. care Ndtsonoi Hor@
SAoW AsseciofioR, 10 East TvenfL third
street. Nor York;
DEAR SIR: 81 beg to acknowledge receipt
Of your favor OF Dec. s in answer 10 my COM
munioation Of Dec. 5: Permit me TO say II
was most gratifying TO learn that the spirit
Of ny letter was 40 correctly Interpreted, |
and also most gratifying to know your board
Of directors recognizes the error Of allowing
the mare "RuIitania." under the circum-
stances, to leave the ring.
Ny communication having been 80 kindly |
rece1ved By your hoard and % courteously
ansvered. do not wish TO seem over-p~r-
sistent In this matter. but nevertheless feel
must ask your attention TO the folio wing
made In your letter under date
d me me Rms committee assured tn. board
Of directors that during the deliberations of
the veterinarians as 10 the soundnees or un-
.OundNA0a Of the mare 'Rurit ania . and before |