The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-18
GOSSIP OF THE RACETRAG.
PUBLIC LOSES HEAVILY BY THE
DEFEAT OF M'CHESNEY.
Smathers Does Not Wager Much on Big
Mac, While the Drake-Gates Money
Does Not Appear in the Ring on ARR
cander, Several Reasons Being Given.

ehutherb DOes MOI wager Nuen Oh biB
Mac, While the Drake-Gates Money
Does Not Appear in the Ring on ARR
cander, Several Reasons Being Given.
The public at large lost heavily on McChes-
ney yesterday. Every book In the ring was
loaded with bets OF all sizes on big Mao.
with the exception that the commissions
OF several plungers were refused as well AZ
In the case OF Africander. Z. Z. Smathers
was present with a party Of friends, but IL
was learned after the defeat OF his horse
that he had not placed as much money as
he had intended to bet on Friday 1t seems
that when Smathers WAS in Pittsourg on
Tuesday he wired to his betting agents TO
wager $1,000 on McChesney in the Cup Pre-
liminary providing to 1 was obtainable,
but as this price never appeared on the states
MoChesney ran unbacked by his owner.
Half this amount was waRered later In the
day on Dick Bernard, who won at TO l..
On Friday 1t was said on good authority
that smathers would wager SIS 600 on McChes-
ney in the cup race and when the noted horse
man came to the track early yesterday this
information was In the possession o. the book
makers. Whether 1t was the shortness OF
the price or a lack OF confidence in the horse
that prevented Smathcrs from betting this
large amount nobody was able to say. but
he admitted afterward that he had backed
McChesney for a comparatively small amount.
John A, Drake, John W. Gates and their
henchmen were also at the track. after ali
absence OF several days. AS ONeil had
the mount on Africander, II was confidently
expected that the Drake-Gates combinati
would bet SCI, 900 at least on the Star Ruby
colt. But their money was never identified
In the ring so it was said or at least no plum ge
wager made its appearance from this source
This fact caused no end OF talk. II was said
that the layers had decided to refuse the
Drake-Gates money point blank. 1t was also
said that the clubhouse combination OF netting
commissioners did not bring the money to
the ring. but laid against it themselves. 1t
was also stated that the Drake commission
went on in the poolrooms and through the
local betting agencies which have been Or
gan lied recently. But whatever was the
solution to the problem. the fact remained
that the layers were ready to turn the Drake
Gates wager down.
Drake and Gates have probably lost $50, 900
to the books this season. The attitude OF the
layers, as a result. would seem to indicate a
tendency on their part to keep this money at
all hazards. believing that. with their I'M
limited bankroll, Drake and Gates would
sooner or later recover their Losses and posi-
bly, win something on the side. That the
bookmakers do not want to handle such
tremendous wagers as Drake and Gates
have been making all the year 10 quite APP
parent They care more for the money of the
races going public. AZ a result. Drake and
Gates, in order to bet at all. must now cover
up the identity Of their money. pretty DIM
cult matter with so many wise hustlers about
the track each day.
Drake and Gates DO not care to make
small wagers." said a leading ring operator
yesterday They want to plunge. and they
oh tn
books IL things come their way. BY keeping
them IN suoh a position that they cannot
get these big wagers down. the layers think
they can foroe them to give up the game
altogether.
1t is an open secret that Drake and Gates
are nott sitting much money. Its not because
they a. unwilling to take chance. but for
the reason that they cannot get the money
down in the ring. Furthermore. IL can be
stated that the Drake stable will be sold
before the season ends. Drake has already
declared that he has not the time to devote
to racing and that means that he will retire
unless there is change Of base on the part
Of tho bOokmakera? The action Of the layeSe.
by the way. must be u source Of satisfaction
to the members Of the Jockey Club, who have
all along been opposed to plunge bets and
who have on several occaslons advised GER
tain heavy operators to 60 slow.
McChesney was trained to the minute.
That is to say, Frank Taylor could not have
sent him to the post In better shape. But
there is no doubt that the Macduf horse
has lost much Of his former greatness. His
forte has always been stretch running, but
he was outgamed by Africapder. There
was no pace to tire either horse. so that the
result OF the race depended upon the sprinting
qualities Of the pair In the last half mile
That was where McChesney showed that he
was not at his best. Afrcander has been
trained by Frank Weir. The Star
Ruby colt was all in early in the year. especi-
ally after his beating In the Brooklyn Handi-
cap. 1t has taken weeks OF slow work to fit
him, but he ran superb race and Is entitled
to his laurels. 1t was matter Of regret.
however, that Stalwart, the champion three
year -old, who won the Annual Champion at
the same distance last week, was not eligible
to start. He won the Champion Stakes In
s:54 2-5. with lis pounds. which was quarter
of a second faster than the figures hung up
by Africsnder. The latter was badly beaten
in that race, but he was a much better horse
yesterday.
The Brighton Gold Cup is one of the hand
soonest racing trophies OF the year. 1t stands
thirteen inches high and Is valued at 81 900.
The race was inaueurated In 1897. when
The Friar won In 3Se1l. The following year
Hamburg was victorious in +:o2x. Bangle
1900 that Ethelbert hung up the worlds
record for the distance. $40 lis. Prince OF
Melbourne was triumphant In 1901 in 4:os 7-6.
while the famous Gold Heels was victorious
in 1902 in s:54 So. Last year Hermis won
in 1858 Us. Hamburg was the only three
year -old to capture this prize.
lius Hannah. foreman for Frank Lightfoot.
trainer Of the Boston Stable. while In the
act OF rubbing down Ostrich after the colts
defeat by Dekaber ut the Bach on Friday
dead from heart disease. Hannah
an old time trainer and once had charge
Of such horses as Maidstone and Tormentor
In the days OF Gutten burg.
Pat Lynes, who earned living by work.
ing horses on the local tracks. was killed
by trolley car near Sheepshead
Bay.
Previous winners of the Undergraduate
Stakes were Rodermond. Gibraltar. Kingdom.
Flaunt, Handwork and Emergency. The
race was not run in 1901 and 1902.
Jack Mo6innis won good bet when
Dance Music. from his stable, ran third at
10 to
After the first race Judge Mcdowell said
hat Pasadena had beaten Bedoun for the
place by only few inches. Those who were
close to the judges stand said the ruling
was correct.
Royal Window and All Right, who started
n the last race, were both backed down
a. l. l.