Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14
|DEf[AT OF TEN BROCK
Congress Adjourned to See the
Race.
STRUGGLES OF THE TITANS
Five thousand Persons Went Over to
Pimlico.
EAST AGAINST THE WEST
Parole collared Leader in Stretch and,
Drawing Away From the Others,
Won by Four Lengths.
EAST AGAINST THE WEST

a discussion started by the recent death
OF Himyar, as to which was the greatest
horse bred in the famous state during the
last fifty years grew very warm. Lexing
ton, Leeompte, Norfolk, Asteroid, Harry
Bassett. Longfellow, Fellowcraft. Aristides,
True Blue, Idlewild. Springboks Tom Bowl
Ing, Kingston, Domino and others were
championed.
Finally 1t was agreed to leave the mat
ter to Senator Blackburn, who, to about
every man. woman and pickaninny '-bred
in old Kentucky" is beloved as plain
Joe" The senator. when called on to
decide the controversy, said: We'll, folks.
l won't undertake to decide which was the
greatest horse. Our horses from Kentucky
are all good ones, likesour WHISTLES and our
women. But not one OF you has yet men,
toned a horse whose fame some thirty
years ago had spread SO far that Congress
shut up shop for the day he ran so that
all of US could go to Baltimore to see him.
His name was Ten Brock.
Yes said of the senator's con-
freres, with q twinkle, in his eye as he
turned to the speaker, but your Kentucky
horse named did not win that race. did he.
senator?' and the entire company joined
in the laugh that followed.
When the Forty-fourth Congress began
its first session the middle of October, 1877,
there was almost more 'horse talk in
both houses than there was on business
especially from the Kentucky delegation.
OF the two senator's and ten representatives
from the blue grass state that term. Sem
ators Beck and McCreery as well as Rep
resentatives Blackburn. Boone. Proctor
Knott Carlisle, Caldwell Clarke and Dur
ham, all had racehorseS named after them.
Naturally, then, it was not strange that
when Congress convened that fall the name
of Ten Brock should be heard anon in
legislative halls. For In a short ten days
hn f.sidn re- ,, ic
do battle at Baltimore in the greatest sec
tional race that had enthused the turf
world of the country since LongfeIlow,
kentucky's idol, defeated Harry Bassett at
tuckians came in special trains that the
track fence was broken during an argu-
ment over admission tickets.
Great Sectional Interest.
And now the new champion named after
"DicK'' Ten Brock, who took Pryor and
Prioress to England in the middle fifties
and won great races with the pair was
deemed fit to wear the mantle of the great
Longfellow. Even against the two best
horses in the east and north. stout-hearted
Tom Ochiltree and Speedy Parole and as
the rival Sections-east and west north
and south-were loyal to their representa-
yves, the Pimiico race course of the Mary
land Jockey Club became the magnet for a
nation on that memorable day in October.
1877.
Here In Washington, on the morning of
the DAY the race was 20 be run, it was re-
ported at the hotels and resorts that Con-
gress would adjourn at noon to give SEN
ators and representatives chance to go
TO Baltimore But many doubted that a
horse race would cause such an unprece-
dented course, and not a few wagers were
made for and against
But at noon press bulletins at the vart-
Gus newspaper offices bore the sensational
announcement: Congress adjourns for the
day to give members of the Senate and
House a chance to see the big race ar
Baltimore
And similar notices We're posted at the
hotels. ~
The Washington trains went I'D in sec
tions, fully 5000 persons representing the
absorbing interest taken by District snort
lovers in the struggle.
This throng included members of Con-
gress in body and hundreds of others
from diplomatic and departmental circles
1t was the largest gathering that ever
went from Washington to Baltimore to
visit race course.
A Distinguished Assemblage
The assemblage at Pimlico was variously
estimated at from 5000 to 10000. Ger
tainiy, 1t was never equaled at Baltimore
track before or since
The collection of drags and four-in- hands
in the infield was a sight to see thousands
OF society leaders of the Monumental City
viewing the race. And lunch parties were
here, there and everywhere. Clubhouse
and grandstand were masses of humanity
packed like sardines on the stand from
bottom to top.
Only languid interest was taken in the
events preceding the big race. This was
the fourth event on the card, special
sweepstakes of $500 each, with 5000 added
by the Maryland Jockey Club. Not much
money to run for, racing events go
nowadays, but at that time deemed suit
able prize even for horses of the very high
est class. such as Ten Brock, Parole and
Tom Ochiltree
While the race was open to all, the repu-
tation of the three contestants and the $500
starting fee kept all other horses in the
background
the three horses were almost mobbed at
their stables. Ten Brock, OF course, had
the most admirers and a delegation of
western men, headed by Senator Jim
Beck Representative Joe" Blackburn and
other members of Congress kept Manager
Jim Williams on the jump to show the
horse to his distinguished visitors.
Heavy Speculation.
When the big race was rung up the auc-
ton pool quarters were fairly besieged with
patrons.
Weight of money and consensus of
opinion made the kentucky horse the
choice, and pools sold with Ten Brock
the favorite at the following rates: Ten
Brock, $780, Tom Ochiitree, $1,000; Pa
role 5000.
Thousands were wagered in the auction
pools and Pierre Lorillard's commissioner,
the late Skipworth Gordon. bought ma
jority of the pools sold on Parole.
George Lorillard wils by no means the
heavy bettor that his brother was, and his
commission on Tom Ochiltree was a moder-
ate one.
But the big specula tors from New York.
such as John Morrissey, James Kelly Al.
Smith. Mark Littell, Sam Hatch and others,
supported George Lorfliards big horse al
most to man.
The general public split up between Ten
Brock and Ochiltree, as few outside of his
stable connections expected Parole to stay
the distance.
In their ante-post ssaIlop all three oppo-
nents showed UP in good style, although
Ten Brock after his preliminary secured
a bit, which caused some close observers
to prophesy his defeat.
Whether from this reason or not. certain
1t Is that later pools showed Ten Brock
not so strong a choice as ruled earlier in
the selling. Fully 100000 was wagered in
the Underwood pools before the race
Over twenty thousand Paris mutuel pools
were registered in the machines, that con-
tinued to sell tickets at IS and y25 each
off ha aYJrtfnp selling had rIacod