Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-13
HIGHBALL's LEG BROKEN.
American Derby Winner Finally Put
to Death

last month. and one Of the best three-year-
olds in training. broke his left fOreleg at
the ankle joint while participating in the
Seagate stakes. one mile and furlong. at
Brighton Beach yesterday. Although his
injury was incurable. the son of Ben StrOme
-Strychinia was not destroyed until last
night. several hours after the accident. The
failure to end the colts suffering was due
to the fact that he was insured for SIS. 900.
and his trainer, Bud May, refused to allow
a bullet to be fired into his head until the
insurance people had made a formal ex-
animation.
Had the S. P. C. A. been represented at
the track there would have been no dilly-
dallying. and the crowd of 1900 spectators
would have been spared from Witnessing a
proceeding that shocked both men and wo-
men. 1t Is understood that w. Nj. Schef-
tel. the owner of Highball. wanted to have
him put out of his agony in the name of
humanity, incidentally waving the insur-
ance money. but May was obdurate. and
when Bob Pnkerton asked him to kill the
horse he said:
THE whole Pinkerton force cannot influ-
ence me. The colt Is insured for $4,000, and
this means a whole lot to me. He will stay
where he is until the insurance company
sends man here.
Many trainers severely criticised May for
sending Highball to the post at all. for in
the paddock before the race the colt clear
ly favored his leg. and he went to the bar
rler SO sore tndt experts pTeulCleu he WOulu
break down in the race.
The Seagate a three-yearold stake,
and Highball taking up 126 pounds. gave
sixteen to E. r. Thomas ST. Valentine and
p j. Dryers knight Errant. The American
Derby winner was favorite at II to 20. VIII lie
ST. Valentine was played at 16 to 3. with
knight Errant closing at 5 to l. Martin
went to the front with Knight Errant and
him. and as he reached the lower turn the
Ben Strome colt attempted to run out.
Odom tapping him over the head with his
whip to keep him in. The colt was so
"proppy," even at this early stage, that
few Of the sharps expected him to win. Go
ing up the back stretch Highball tried to
run out all the way. Odom attempted to
collar knight Errant at the beginning Of
the far turn. but after a short squirt High
ball began to stop quickly that 1t was
seen that he was in serious trouble. Knight
Errant and ST. Valentine then left him, and
the former won the race easily by TWO
lengths in l. 80 80.
No sooner had Highball reached the head
Of the stretch than he was ready to drop
| in his tracks. Odom, realizing that some
thing serious had happened. pulled him up
short opposite the field stand and then
jumped to the ground. He found Highbalf 8
left foreleg dangling. the small bones of the
ankle protruding through the flesh. Several
track men and stable boys crawled through
the rails and went to the colts assistance.
Owner Scheftel and Trainer May hurried
to the scene of the trouble. and Highball
opening In the rail to the intield. He was
surrounded by a crowd. including several
policemen while a wrangle ensued as to
the ACCESSIBILITY of shooting the great three
year-old there and then.
While the colt stood on three legs several
stable boys pulled up punches OF grass
which he ate eagerly. Others patted his
glossy TANKS. and man threw a linen COW
ering over his back. The fifth race was run
when an attempt was made to get Highball
out Of the public gaze. A man pulled on a
halter while half a dozen others pushed the
colt behind. He hobbled out on the track,
and pulled and pushed. he made slow pro-
gress, the crowd denouncing the AFFAIR IN
unmeasured terms. Finally HighbaL was
landed up beyond the free field. where ne
remained suffering until bit OF cold lead
ended his career.
Highball was bred by Major T. ]. Carson
and was purchased as yearilng Dy May
who brought him east last year. AS two
year-old he was regarded as the best colt
in training, winning the Flatbush STAKES
and other notable races. He was regarded
as somewhat of disappointment this year
until he won the Derby. hanging up now
record for the race. On Saturday he ran
third In the Brighton handicap. Owner
Scheftel was completely broken up over the
accident He was greatly attached to the
horse and said that he would have willingly
parted with $50 GOO rather than have lost
him in such manner. He was ready to pay
any amount If the horse could be saved.
but several "vets' declared that this was
entirely out of the question.