The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-04-05
GOLD CUP DISPUTE.
Brings Suit For Alleged "Dop-
ing" Of Lou Dillon.
SAY SNATHERS TRIED TO BUY RACE
Great Turf Prize Won by Major Del
mar Causes Litigation Proceed
ings In New York su-
preme Court.

NEW YORK, April 2.-In an effort to
recover from Elmer f. Smathers the
famous gold cup won by his horse Ma
for Delmar In race with the trotting
mare Lou Dillon at Memphis on Oct.
Is. 1904, the Memphis Trotting associa-
ton as plaintiff began to lay before
Justice Greenbaum and a Jury In the
supreme court all OF the facts connect
ed with the alleged drugging Of the
mare as the result OF a conspiracy plan
ned by Mr.. Smathers. The board Of re-
view OF the National Trottlng associa-
ton took the matter up last year and
in December awarded the cup to Mr..
smathers. The Memphis association
now claims the board Of review acted
Irregularly, and the entire matter Is to
be thrashed out IN court.
No event Of the turf in recent years
has caused the sensation which the
charges brought by c. X. G.. Billings
the owner Of Lou Dillon, against Mr.
smathers stirred up. Involving, as 1t
did, two OF the most renowned trotters
known on American tracks and the
most prominent owners OF racing sta
bles. the case has been followed with
the keenest interest, but now for the
first time has reached the stage OF
public hearing.
George w. Spear, employed by Mr..
Smathers for more than five years as
trainer, took the stand at the opening
Of the trial and stated that at Lex
lngton just prior to the Memphis meet
ing Mr.. Smathers had asked him TO ar
range with the trainer Of Lou Dillon to
have the mare beaten. He declared he
received word from the trainers broth
er that It would cost $4,000. He re-
ported this fact TO Mr.. Smathers, who
declared the price was preposterous
and said he would not give but $1,000.
That was rs far as Spear went with
the negotiations.
The attorneys representing the Mem
phls association next called to the
stand Nillard Sanders, the trainer or
Lon Dillon. Sanders went into the In
innate history OF the wonderful race
mare.
Sanders had carried his narrative OF
the life OF Lou Dillon down to Few
davs before the famous race OF 1904,
which. Il Is alleged, the mare lost be-
cause Of drugs administered to her
when adjournment was taken.
The gold cup was offered by the
Memphls association TO be contested
for by amateur drivers in wagons
The cup was to become the property
Of the owner or club capturing II two
wears IN succession. Mr.. Smathers, rep
resentlng the New York Driving club
won the race in 1902 with Lord Derby
In 1903 Major Delmar, driven by Mr
Smathers and Lou Dillon, driven by
Mr. Billings. the latter representing
the Memphis Driving club, met for the
first time. Lou Dillon won ip two
straight heats, never being fully ex
tended. her trainer declared, TO reel OF
j. both mile heats in the same time
] 2O4A.
r The same horses were to meet agall
d in 1904. Lou Dillon, It was testified
o was never better In her life than Jus
2 previous to the race Of Oct. lS sh
s had worked nicely before the first heat
l. and when the two horses were sen
d away together they went to the hal
l. mile post in almost record time The
@ Lou Dillon suddenly stopped almost [
d walk. allowing Major Delmar to g
y on and win in 2:07. while she hnishe
e the mile In no better than 2:lS IN
h mare was found to be unfit to contlnu
n the race and was reported by We
f. erlnarian to have been drugged. NJ
Billings drove another horse In u
second heat to allow Mr.. Smathers
- take the race with Major Delmar.