The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-29
GOSSIP OF THE RACEHRACK.
CASE OF JOCKEY RlDTKE CAUSES
MUCH DISCC SSION.
incident NJ Belmont That Showed the BOY
was NOt Implicated In a Deal Wilh hook
maker smell -AnOther RIder Mixed 40
a In . scandal Involving nesterners.

Inc suspension OF Jockey RAdtke, whlCh
mhy be made perma nent. has convinced
both the public and turfmen in general that
the Jockey Club stewards intend TO investl-
gaUe the many rum)rs Of queer methods
that have been in circulation for the last
Two months. Eadtke has been talked about
constantly. yet in spite Of circumstances
that appear to be against him the boy =
friends protest that he il innocent. One Of
the yarns floating aboVt the racetrack has
connected Radtke's name with BOokmaker
Louis Smell. a member Of the Nets. Alleged
wise men have repeatedly asserted that Smell
knew more about Radtke's turf methods
than any other layer in the ring. Yet there
lis at least one incident to show that such has
not always been the case. In a race at Bel
mont on October 10 R1dtke had the mount
on James r.. Keene's Z2mbesi. The Com-
mRndo colt opened a hot favorite at 9 to s.
but because of q heavy play on three other
horses, LAndsman. Glenham and Sally n.
Zambesi's price receded to & to 5. Book
maker Smell. however. belle we'd that he could
take even greater liberties with r dtke's
-aount. so he hunched the price to . TO 5 and
then ? TO 1, taking In more and hea Vier wagers
on Zambesi than any other aver in the ring.
SIS dis sheet on the race will prove.
There's nothing doing on Fam best" said
several shrewd operators who saw what
Smell was doing. The tip Nas passed to other
smart bettors who generally ind out what's
up before they put their checks down. But
when IL came TO racing Radtke put up a great
ride on Zambesi. driving him home with all
his might and main a head in front of Lands
man. w~hereupon the smart guys who be-
lieved that Smell had All ace threw up their
hands when they realized that this we'll known
bookmaker had lost nearly $4,000 on the race.
The incident goes 10 show that Smell. on
October 10. at least. had no real knowledge
of Radtkeis intentions. Smell. himself. "a ys
that he has done nothing wrong and that
tho how IL DaraACutad Ra6tka daNlares TINT
he did not pail the horse Tommy Waddell.
and in fact has always ridden to win. But
rhe rewards are saying nothing. while the
Pinkertons have been inst to keen the
jockey OUTSIDE OF the gate of the Jamaica
track.
Meanwhile IL is understood that another
we'll known Jockey is on the carpet, or rathe
will be in q few days. This young man has
been criticised time and again. His en-
ployer has become disguised with him. while
several influential turfmen who let him ride
their horses early in the year will have moth
ing more TO do with him. IL is conveyed to
THE Sun by a man who ought to know that
the particular charge TO be lodged against
this rider Is the pulling Of a horse that re-
Gently belonged to James r. Keene. The
persons identified with the man who bought
this horse at auction are Western bookmakers
and sure thing gamblers who have been per-
mitted to operate here all summer. These
persons framed up a job TO fleece a big Chicago
operator known as a "cinch player" out Of
$4,000. They hunted him up one day. 90
the story goes handed him $1,000 in cash
and told him to bet the money for them on
1he former Keene horse to win. As the horse
was a S to / shot the Chicago plunger de-
cided to bet $4,000 for himself out on the
limb and placed the money with four books
which usually handled bis commissions. The
story goes on to to the effect that the jockey
who rode the horse rec eived instructions to
L.
did or not. the fact remains that he pulled
his mount up deliberately at the start and
did not get near the money at the wire. The
Chicago plunger since then, 10 Is asserted,
has gotten wind Of the job played on him
and has decided to make trouble. There
are two other Jockeys who have been ac-
cused by horsemen Of not riding on the level
who are said TO be under surveillance. Both
have caused widespread comment this year
by their glazing performances.
But while jockeys are being hailed before
the turf authorities and ruled on. why do the
and gamblers, who tempt these
hoys, escape punishment? Surely the sharp
eyed Pinkertons, who are everywhere on the
racetracks, must know what are
10 be watched. Surely these sleuChs must
be able to tell when certain ~bookmakers lay
heavily against public favorites which are
afterward ridden in q way that would seem
70 indicate criminal intent? Then why do
such bookmakers remain on the Jockey Club
tracks? Why There are many cOnserva-
tive turfmen no declare that il a few sure
thing people we're warned away from the
track the riding would be better. the racing
would be cleaner and the gate receipts much
larger. Men like John A. Drake, l.. j..
Smathers. John W. Gates and others, who
used TO go to the track daily and bet heavily
with confidence, seldom show up now. They
cay the game cannot be beaten 40 long as
present methods are permitted to exist.
L never saw so much funny business
said Dave johnson on Saturday. The
principal thing 10 find out nowadays is when
a horse has the real stun in him and when he
HASN'T If they'd put the hop into the horses
at all times TO make them run fast IL would
be all right. But they keep the secret well
from the publlo!"
johnson lie not alone in this opinion. There
are many cases, It Is declared. which the veteri-
nary does not inspect, because he does not
receive orders. Giving stimulants to horses
has become such a science that II is now a
most difficult matter TO detect them. Yet
there Is no doubt that horses receive the dope
repeatedly on the local tracks. Before another
year rolls around. therefore. the Jockey Club
will have an excellent chance TO institute
much needed reforms. which will receive the
Endorsement Of racegoers in general.
The Eastern racing season will end. locally,
two weeks from Thursday at Aqueduct. where
the fall meeting opens next Saturday. The
Jamaica meeting has been very successful
30 far and the racing has been excellent. II
only for the reason that spectators can see
the movements Of the horses from the time
they leave the starters hands until they pass
the Judges. Tomorrow the Sayville Stakes.
for two-year-olds, one mile and q sixteenth,
will be run. with Rye. JacObite. Hot To-day,
Belmere. Yves and others eligible. The Rich
mond Handicap. for all age will be run, at six
furlongs. on Wednesday, with Roseben, Lotus,
Dr. Gardner. Rye. Frank Lord. Jacobite.
Halifax. Brookdale Nymph and Dolly Spanker
possible starters. The Packer Stakes. for
two-year-olds hlles. nve and a half furlongs.
will be decided on Thursday. with Belle OF
%lroquois. Baringo. Loring. Fantastic. Toddles,
Royal Lady and Alteration on the list. The
Ravenswood Handicap. for Lree-year-olds
six ~furlongs, Is down for Friday. with Running
Water, Hot To-day, Lotus. Rye. Jacobite.
lronsides and Brookdale Nymph included in
a probable field. A feature at A~queduct will
BE- several steeplechases. On Saturday the
Woodside Steeplechase, at about two miles,
has attracted a lot Of good jumpers. Then
he Creedmoor Stakes. for two-year-olds. has
nlled well. the entries Including They're on,
W. II, Daniel 4Lr TOddinRtOn. IOurenne,