The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-03-10
''NERVED" HORSES
IS SHANE OF THE TURF"
Pidable Instance of Animal 'sraeI Which Occurred at
Fair Grounds Recently Brutal Exhibition and
Much to Knock the Game
By !. S. A. MCFARLAND.

NEW ORLEANS. La, March 2--The
Shame Of the Paddock IS what we'll
known local turf critic termed the prac-
tice Of racing ''uerved' racehorscs early
this week.
His reference to the subject was in
spired by pitiahle incident which arose
during one Of the closing days of the
recent fortnightly meeting al the Fair
Grounds.
The well-kuOwn performer Israeiite
snapped of his foot at point near The
fctIOck just opposite the fin.l sixteenth
pole during a three-quarters race.
Jockey Pickett was hurled into the
fence Later on be came around all
right Not so the horse. There he
stood right I'm front of the main sec
ton OF the grandstand with thousands
OF men and women looking on Hobbhng
about on the bare stump with the hoot
part dangling like a piece OF sail tackled
10 "A spar was Israelite-
Nearly Caused a Panic.
Several women became Iysterical as
{ the horse lurched next To the railing
nearest the grandstand, and almost
panic prevailed. when a sergeant Of po-
/ lice from the racetrack squad Clamberrd
/ over the railing and ont on TO the track
/ with a glinting pistol in his hand.
! Either Israelite was possessed of the
provcrbial mine lives OF 81 ommy s
! cat or the sergeant was woefully lack
/ ing IN pistol practice Suffice 20 know
! that again. and still again, the kicking
{ IsraeIite received "a pellet Of lead on
{ each occasion the anguishcd sroan or
/ the grandstand occupants responding.
ANY number of Tacegoers vowed they
had done for racing right there and
( then. and IL was easy 70 be seen the
/ spectacle had proven knock OF the
deadliest sort for thoroughbred racing
No more brutal thing has been seen
on.a racetrsck in years than the passing
| of Israeute The accident and death OF
the. horse may be charged To The hard
! chances a desperate owner and trainer
\ will take with Il horse 10 fetch home
the money
Was Nerved in Three Legs.
Israelite had beer nerved in three
legs and WAS not fit to carry himself
on a surface the least bit slippery, for
the reason that not having any feeling
I in his lower hooks because of the re-
moval Of the nerve cord. ne could not
control his feet On the day OF The
accident, Pickett swung him into the
stretch rather sharply, and getting a po-
sition next the rail he wa obliged tc
null out in the finish. In so doing Is
raelite snapped of the deadened lower
part Of his off forefoOt, and down hI
went. According 70 the experts of thu
paddock, Israelite should never have
been raced
ITS a standing disgrace to American
racing that so many 'nerved' horses are
permitted TO race" declared an Englisl
racing enthusiast who happened 10 b
/ discussing the Israelite incident within
! earshot of the writer some time later
E for il is cruel and absolutely danger
! Gus TO the boys who ride them. Then
; again. the public bettor must be con
sidered. for nerved horses are know
to be the most erratic performers of al
offenders in that way
$ ION the Continent, particularly il
] Austria and France. the paddock vet
n erinarlans are instructed by the tur
( powers to refuse permission 10 start {
e any horse bearing an aggravated nerve
e treatment The same thing ought TO b
= done here in America" Undoubtedl
S reform in that direction will come i
t the near future.
b Israel Precipitated Feud.
= Israelite will be remembered always a
/, the medium whereby the celebrated Dun
neIl-McCanerty feud was precipitateC
d In the autumn of 1904 McCafferty an
y Durneu were at Jamaica, L. I. Israelit
u was started by Durnell. and McCahert
: ran him up TO an unheard-of price. Tn
Y horse showed himself 20 be touchy
d the feet and legs and was ''nerved" fC
., the first time then.
= That winter DurneIl and McCaffetr
developed their quarrel to such an q