The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-02
TOO MUCH SUCCESS
John Keene, an American Trainer,
Ruled Of Russian Turf
for a Year.
He Was Charged With Doping
Aroused Jealousy Of Russians
by Continued Success.

st. Petersburg, Sept. 22.-John Oliver
Keene of Lexington, Ky, trainer for the
racing stable of I. Lazarev, who has been
suspended for year, dating from Aug.
30, for the alleged use of some unknown
drug, has Won seventy-nine races with
his stable, and more than 100000 during
the last four or five months. Keene and
his friends say that is the only reason
for the ruling against him.
Keene was trainer last year for Henry
De Bloch, the millionaire of Warsaw, and
won $4,000 with single horse, named
S1rdar. He has already exceeded this,
tho the season Is not over, with M. La
zareys Irish Lad. horse which has won
$56,500 and now holds all the 3-year-old
records for Russia.
The success Of the stables handled by
| Keene has been the sensation Of Russian
sporting circles for q year, and he has
been accused of running horse-racing in
this country. since everybody bet on his
entries.
| Keene's success was attributed by the
leading sporting journal of St. Petersburg
| to wise training and good riding.
The rival stables, however, were I'M
| willing to acknowledge that Keene had
won by superior training alone, and had
for months been trying to prove a case
Of doping" against him. They eventu-
ally procured Keene's suspension for a
year.
When the st. Petersburg season opened,
the technical committee Of the racing
club began collecting foam from the La
zarev horses mouths at the end Of every
race. They gathered it on cotton and
put 1t in bottles. It was afterwards ex-
amined by chemist named Perl, who
claimed to find traces in it of some form
Of morphine Keene was then summoned
before the board Of stewards, and he
swore that he had used no chemicals. Two
stable boys claimed they had seen Keene
give some medicine to one or two horses,
and M. De Bloch wrote a letter stating
that he had discharged Keene for "dop-
ing. Keene did not deny that he had
doctored the horses. when they were sick
and demanded that he be confronted with
NJ, De Bloch, but the board Of stewards
denied this request.
It Is claimed for Keene that, admitting
the honesty Of the tests, trace OF NOR.
phine might be due to the use Of GER.
tain leg wash composed of a small amour,
OF laudanum spirit. extract of arnica
saltpeter and sugar of lead, Dissolved 'ir
alcohol. It Is asserted that quantities o.
this mixture are frequently employed ant
that no objection has been made to thi
leg wash by the racing authorities.
Keene will appeal to the Grand Duk,
Demitri Constantinovich, who is protec
tor Of Russian racing. I ...
Other Americans engaged in racing her
also have been In trouble j. G. Mitchell
M. Lazarevs rider has been fined $40
for an alleged foul which all the Ameri
cans deny, and has been forbidden to rid
for anybody except M. Lazarev.
Trainer Frank Stars was ruled off 70
having a bottle of speed elixir ina va
lise. but the penalty was afterwards re
duced to nine months suspension. H
claimed he employed the elixir only, afte
a race, to help his entries cool off prop
er1y. >@
William Caywood, a rider, has been dis
missed by his employer with the offer Q
$4,000 instead Of $3.50 due him on hi
contract The employer said he did no
like Caywood's riding Another American
named slattery had previously been dis
missed by the owner Of the same stable
his contract being cancelled and his earn
ings withheld.