Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

600 for the two seasons. In all only some
eight months work for the starter during
the period named. or about $3.50 per racing
day. This was the largest compensation
ever paid to starter in this country.
Two Christmas and New Year holidays.
during these halcyon days for Walbaum
and his associates. We're the warmest in
generation. On December 25, 1890 and
January l, 1891, the temperature rose to
10 degrees in the shade. Nearly 10000
people made the trip to the now famous
hilltop on each day, the glass partitions
We're thrown wide open and overcoats and
wraps went to the check room
But some of the winter days were fierce
at times, hundreds of men working on the
with sponges and doing the best they could
by deep-toothed harrows to keep 1t from
freezing up entirely. The blizzard of 1888
and several other big snowfalls necessi-
away the tracks "feecy" coverlet.
Along in the winter of 1892 the most SEN
sational incident OF the tracks history oc-
Cured, The races We're being run In
dense fog, one OF that kind of winter fog'
that the old maxim says will freeze a
dog" and the progress of the several con-
tests could not be seen except for less than
furlong just above and below the judges
stand. The starts were signaled by bugle
calls, and the bookmakers continued In
many cases to take money on the horses
until their rafting hoofs showed that they
We're close at hand and the race almost
over.
In a mile-and-a-quarter race that day
the horse Kingstock, a full brother to that
great racer and sire Kingston, was left at
the post. His boy, a lad just beginning to
ride, quickly got an inspiration. He waited
until the gradually nearing echo Of flying
hoofs told him that the field was nearly
back to him after going mile. And then
as the leaders doomed up through the mist
the boy started Kingstock and came In
f1rst-by four lengths.
AS Kingstock had been well played the
crowd cheered horse and boy and c. J.
Kelly. his owner, started out on the track
just as the judges hoisted his horses num-
Der as the winner. For short half minute
or so. until the other horses came back to
stand Kelly and Kingstocks hackers were
much elated, and scores of holders OF
Kingstock tickets lined up behind the
stands in the ring
But as Virginia Bradley's coon niger,
who rode Pamray, the horse that finished
next to Kingstock, came back to the scales
and saw his mares number placed second
to Kingstocks, he called to the Judges,
Say, gemmen, dat ar Kingstock boss was
And in another second or two other Jockeys
sustained the Bradley boys claim. Then
Starter Caldwell arrived and the Kingstock
Jig was up, and the bubble OF air castles
Of his hackers bursted.
OF course Kingstock's number came down
In fifty, amid some Kisses which were
squelched In roars of laughter from the
crowd when the situation was announced
from the judges stand The Jockey was,
of course, ruled off for his inspiration"
but owner Kelly was held gui!tless, and
he had nothing to do with his boys original
scheme.
Some two weeks later Kingstock won q
good race at odds of GO to l and Owner
Kelly had on $500 against $4,000 But the
Unprecedented occurrence in the fog Is still
talked of by those who were On the hill
top that eventful afternoon. 1t is the only
case of the kind I ever witnessed or ever
remember happening on any race track in
the world
Years rolled on, and Walbaum, Carr, Nc
Laughlin and Crusins counted their profits
IN millions. Walbaum purchased the great
horse Lampllghter from Capt, Sam Brown
and matched him against Marcus Days
and 10000 purse. Ths race. run at Gut