Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-13

Sea Horse and tried his best to win the
race, but the distance was too short. In
the matter of declaring to win with Ala
manson and my trainers instructions to
our r.-ht.
LAS for the loss of the lead pad, that
was simply an unfortunate accident that
might have happened to any one. The lead
pad was afterwards found on the race
course. Its loss did not in any way affect
the result of the race as Alamanso was
placed second. after Sea Horse II had been
necessarily disqualified.
Now, as for Gamecock's race on August
I, when he refused the first jump of which
some criticism has been made, the fact Is
that Gamecock had grown sour and sulky
and simply put his feet down and his ears
back and would not try. There Is no way
of telling beforehand what a horse is or is
not going to do, nor there any more
reason on August than there had been
before to suppose that Gamecock would
not go on with his field. That race proved
to me, however, that the time had come to
try TO change Gamecock's disposition, and
ne was put In harness the very next day
after the race. and will be broken to wagon
in order to divert his mind and perhaps
permit him to come back to steeplecha sing
later different horse
ire criticism Of Owens. too, fo- not rerse-
Fer,ng with Gamecock and fogging him
over the jumps was unjust The boy did
Just as wanted him to do. He might
nave utterly ruined the horse If he had
trled 10 send him on in the condition of
temper that Gamecock was at the time
AS Tor the outcome Of the race 1t made no
difference whether Owens had gone on or
NOT as he could not possibly have caught
the leaders.
Now, as for this talk of a gang who fix
steeplechases. 1t is simply idle talk In the
wi m
ing thoroughly, and whose money and sym
pathies are wrapped up in that feature of
racing. We claim to be men of at least
average intelligence. and is it likely that
men like Mr.. Hitchcock. Mr. Colt, Mr.
Wldener and others would continue their
interest in the sport If they believed for a
moment that such practices were going
on? Is 1t reasonable to suppose that We
can all be duped all the time? Our trainers
are sklliful and honest men, and the work
or the jockeys is watched intently every
foot OF every steeplechase race in which
they ride.
we see no evidence of crooked work
and believe steeplechases are run absolutely
on the square. l. for one, If l thought
otherwise, would not continue in the sport
or heard any tangible evidence to lead me
to believe that steeplechases are fixed or
that any gang of fixers is In existence
The Gamecock race aroused criticism
favorite in the betting, and that despite a
heavy play on him his odds did not ma
terially tighten, and in at least one book
heightened from to 1 to 8 TO L.
In view ofthe fact that Gamecock had
soured on racing it is possible that this
bookmaker might have gained knowledge
of the fact and simply took chance that
in his first essay. over stiff jumps at Sara
toga the horse was likely to refuse or fall
II he ran unkindly."
X X
Willie Knapp, the popular lightweight
jockey, was set down for week by the
stewards for striking Baird with his whip
during the running of the Troy selling
! stakes. Knapp rode Arklirta and Baird
Mullins, and Arklirta, which finished sec
ond, was disqualified for fouling Muffins. 1t
was in this mix-up that Knapp struck
Baird. 1t is a peculiar coincidence that
the last time Arklirta and Mullins met in
a race the former was disqualified for foul
Ing Mullins. This race occurred at Brgh-
ton Beach and the same boys had the
mounts.