The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-24
SPORTING NEWS.
Plunger Joe Yeager Quits a
Loser OH the Season.
Did Not Fare Well With "Po-
MES" in the East.
is $4,000 SHY NOW.
Has Not Sold First Call on
Jockey Hildebrand.
,'His Purchase Was a Splendid
EnVaRfmant for Mo -
is $4,000 SHY NOW.

Cincinnati, Nov. 24-Joe Yeager, the
plunging bookmaker, was in the city
yesterday, coming from West Baden to
consult with his father, William Yeager,
who will leave for Los Angeles to make
a book at Ascot Park.
Joe Yeager is at present very much
of a figure in the sporting world. AS
a bookmaker he is one of the biggest
of the big ones; he has a pretty large
racing stable; has Eugene Hildebrand,
the sensational jockey, under contract;
is part owner of the clubhouse at West
Baden; is big stakeholder in the hotel
at that point; controls, with his part
nerS, the ArkanSaw club at Hot Springs
and has a breeding farm at Atlantic,
Iowa. This is certainly going some for
a young man, and to his credit it must
be said that success has not changed
him and he is still the modest Joe
1eager with whom the local turf fol-
lowers are well acquainted. 1t was
formerly Little Joe," but it can't be
that any more, as Joe is putting on flesh
at great rate and is almost as big as
Pa Bill.
Yeager did not have a successful year
and in discussing it said:
Il quit about $50, 900 loser this season.
that included my expenses. L was at
one time 100000 to the good, but 1
could not hold it. 1t was very amusing
TO me the way things were distorted
about my betting. They would have
me betting $4,000 on a horse, when in
reality l bet on another one and lost
At that 1 did lose some swell wagers.
1 lost $4,000 on one of my dogs. Duchess
Ollie. She worked five-eighths in a
minute. but she was not in it, and the
hVe-e1ghths were covered in 1902. 1t
was not very good year for the books
IN the east, and SO many got broke
that the value of the button of the
Nets deprecated about so per cent,
as there are plenty for sale. Wheelock
quit winner; that 1 know. Money got
pretty scarce toward the close This
might have been due to a lack of con-
hdence in the game. as there was APP
parently a good deal of in and out run
ming.
LAS far as Hildebrand is concerned I
want to contradict the story that Harry
Payne Whitney has secured first call on
MIN next season. Negotiations were op-
ened by Whitney for the boys services.
but the deal has not been closed I am
willing to give up first call on him. as
L haven't anything but selling platers,
and second call is good enough for me-
l have another boy under contract, Har-
ry Thompson, whom ] secured in the
east last summer. He has been. an ex-
ercise boy for L. V. Bell and he looks
IKE good one. He will get a chance
to ride after the first of the month
He weighs about 80 pounds and gets
the apprentice allowance.
Il consider Hildebrand the best rider
l ever saw. not because have got him.
Dut MS work speaks for itself He is
cool at al times, alert at the post, a
good Judge of pace. can sit still and
can ride splendid finish. He is quiet
lad, has no bad habits, and saves his
money. He made about $4,000 last
year and turned it over to me as fast
as he made it, and I deposited it for
him. He has a brother Frank, who is
beginning to ride, and he may turn out
as good as lis brother. I got the boy
through a scratch. 1 had signed Red
fern to ride for me, and / thought that
the contract called for Oakland and Los
Angeles. When I got to the coast Red
ferns father said it was only for Los
Angeles, so I had to look for a boy 1
asked Bill Schaut if he saw any likely
Lads and he pointed Hildebrand out to
me, and after a good deal of pickering
bought his contract from Vic Gilbert
ment for Hildebrand is a very knowing
lad, and he gave me some information
about races that were run on the
straightaway last summer that enabled
me to win some good bets.
L am going to Los Angeles, but will
not book there, and will de 1t Hot
Springs about the middle of January
That will be a great point this winter
I could have bought controlling inter-
est in Essex park about this time last
year for $50 L was at West Baden
at that time, and parties interested call
ed on Ed Ballard and myself and male
in it at that time, but 1t would have
been a nice thing to have now. But at
that time the track was not ready, and
there was no certainty as to dates, and
I passed 1t up"