Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-25
PUT UNDER BAN FOR FoULlNG
BIG BEN
Judges Give Him an Indefinite Period
on the Ground for Rough Rid
ing With Hector in
Fifth Race
BY Jay Davidson.

WnO are at AoNOI Edillt III AhS
fifth race yesterday when Big Ben, one
of the most valuable horses stabbed at
the county course, was caught in jam
and almost put over the rail into the
infield and thereby prevented from
running his race.
The foullng of Big Ben is said by
Starter Hoffman and Judge Hamilton
to have all the appearance Of de-
liberate attempt to destroy whatever
chances Big Ben, the odds-on favorite
had of winning the race.
SO strong is Judge Hamilton of this
opinion that when he heard the report
of Starter Hoffman. who witnessed the
affair, he ordered Jockeys Wiley
Swain, Aubuchon and Mcdaniel to
meet him in the secretary's office after
the last race to submit to an investiga-
ton of the fouling of the favorite.
The result Of this investigation is
that Jockey Wiley is indefinitely sus-
pended and will not be seen in the
saddle again at Ascot this season unless
the ban Is removed.
Evidence Of witnesses to the fouing
convinced the judges that the foul was
not accidental. 1t developed in the
course OF investigation that Jockey
Wiley, who was riding Hector, pulled
his mount across the track and damned
into Big Ben, knocking the Weinberg
chances of winning.
As Wiley pulled Hector across the
track, Jockey Aubuchon on Big Ben
called to him to pull over and not run
into him. but the call was unheeded.
Starter Hoffman witnessed the foul and
heard the call Of Aubuchon, and so re-
ported to the judges.
The ruling of the judges in this case
is generally approved by that element
of owners and the public which stands
for fair racing and the only comment
of an adverse nature from these sources
is that the penalty is not sufficiently
severe.
Owners Alarmed
Eastern horsemen have feared for
many weeks to place their horses in
races because of the rough riding tao
Tics of certain jockeys and the danger
of severe injury or death of their valu
able horses.
Big Ben is one of the most valuable
horses stabbed at Ascot and is prime
favorite with the race-going public.
He is one OF the few horses at the
county course that the public will back
at short odds and his defeat yesterday
was a severe jolt to them.
1t has been frequently charged that
there exists combination of jockeys at
Ascot to take care" of contenders, and
that Judge Hamilton instituted an in
v'estigation and later read the riot act
to the Jockeys.
Judge Hamilton warned the jockeys
against further rough work and gave
them notice that future offenders would
be severely dealt with. Since then
there have been few evidences of rough
riding and fouling tactics, and that of
yesterday is the most fragrant of any
thus far in the season.
1t is believed that the penalty visited
upon Wiley will have a salutary effect
upon any others of the riders who may
be inclined to indulge in these foul
tactics
However, if it does not have this
effect more heroic measures are prob
able of adoption, as Judge Hamilton
has .determinedly assured owners that
fair racing and fair chance for every
horse in every race should prevail.
In the early weeks of the meeting,
two horses that seemed to have
chance of winning were caught in
jams at the seven-eighths pole and
bumped to their knees. Their jockeys
We're thrown to the ground in each in
stance and narrowly escaped death I'M
der the hoofs of the horses behind.
In each instance the horse thus
caught in the jam was laying in third
place and had an opportunity of win
ming until knocked out of the running
by the rough riding tactics.
1t was then that Judge Hamilton be-
gan investigating the charges of a
combination among the Jockeys, and he
has invoked necessarily severe penalties
since to break up the practice of rough
riding and has succeeded in practically
eliminating this feature from racing.
Track Record Broken
Another track record went a-gimmer-
ing yesterday when Wire In won the
handicap from a high class field in
record time. Wire In stepped the mile
and an eighth in 1852, which is one
quarter of a second faster time than
was made by Hans Wagner when he
set the record.
Wire In was an improved horse and
soon after the barrier was sprung had
opened a gap Of two lengths in front
of his field and was never headed in the
run to the wire.
Gilpin and Banker were favortes for
this race, but short prices kept the
public off and neither the books nor
the public won or lost any great sum OH
the result.
Gilpin lost heart chasing Wire In
and when Banker challenged in the
stretch, the McGinniss candidate quit
running and finished third to Wire In
The fifth race furnished another sur
prise when Lacene defeated Big Ben.
The latter was always favorite at 3 to
and thousands of dollars went in as
wise" money on the big gelding.
Ben was away nicely but was
bumped into the rail shortly after the
start and practically knocked out of
the running After again getting in
his stride. Ben made up much ground
and seemed to have a chance Of win
ming, but the effort told severely and
when Lacene closed stoutly and full
of run, the big gelding could not stall
her off.
Lecene ran a great race and stepped
the six furlongs in fast time, 1:12 ga,
which is within half a second of the
track record made by Cruzados. She
might has won regardless of the foul
ing OF Big Ben, but the narrow margin
of less than a length at the finish
leaves room for doubt
Hester w found the distance too
great and quit in the stretch, but fin
ished in the money, beating Hector for
the show without much effort
The tradition which surrounds the
first race each day, that a favorlte
-