The Washington herald., 1907-09-22
CUT DOWN In PRIME
Sad Scenes When Racers Are
Killed OH Track.
PAUL JONES IS a REMINDER
Recent Accident in the BevervyycI<
Steeplecbase at Saratoga Recalls
Distressing Occurrence at Benning
Course Last FaIf-Reported Hitch
cock May Retire and Sell stable.

When the stOut-hearted Paul Jones was
so badly cut down in the Beverwyck
Steeplechase at Saratoga. it brought Wv
idly to mind the distressing features Of
the horse-racing game
He was the fifth Of the Hitchcock
stable to meet Ike disaster this sea
son. and only two jumpers now remain
Of what was one Of the most prominent
strings ever raced in the East. Good and
Plenty one Of the truest thoroughbreds
that ever looked through a bride, and
one Of the best timber-toppers ever
known on the turf. met a similar fate. as
did Hot Shot. Of the same stable. while
Hylas and California King were so badly
injured that it is doubtful if they viii
ever race again.
Highball the great-hearted Ben Suome
colt, was another 10 meet an agonizing
death on the turf. Such occurrence. are
distressing IN the extreme. not only to the
spectators. but 90 every one-eveu 10 the
most hard-hearted hangers-on Of the
track.
a similar accident happened at Ben
so wrought up that the attendance feIl
off TO almost one-half during the rest Of
the meeting. The horse in question.
while not a prominent animal. was the
son OF great rse-Ouameut-aud al
though he had won only one race. he
was "a game thoroughbred. The field was
unusually large and within six or seven
lengths Of the wire he got the worst Of a
lot Of rough riding, and was jammed to-
ward the fence
Ordered Him shot,
Then ne was thrown hard against the
fence. and his ankle was so badly shat
tered that the bone protruded. As the
great field swept past the stand the brave
colt tried hard 20 hobble on three legs
after the flying horses. but the agony
was too great and. proppiBg himself
against the fence. he began % whinnv.
The Judges, seeing his condition. ordered
him shot and the track officer. IN full
view Of the great throng in the stands.
pulled his gun and sent bullet through
the moaning colts head. The horse leap
ga I'm She air and feu over dead
No sooner had DE fallen than q midget
Of a chap. not more than ten or eleven
years old and weighing not over fifty
pounds typical track urchin-who had
ridden the dead colt on the occasion Of
the only victory De or the horse had ever
won. raced across the field from the
stables Knocking his eyes. from which
tears were streaming DUcking under the
rail, the little chap rushed across the
track and. tUmhliug across the colts
neck, sobbed with all the wIldness of "a
child's despair. Men and women in the
stands were so affected by the boys
genuine grief that they wept ln sym
pathy. on the way from the track
many Of both sexes were heard % de-
clare they had enough of the game and
would never attend another meeting
Since the death Of Paul Jones and
Good and Plenty 10 has been asserted on
several occasions that Mr. Hitchcock
would retire from the turf. This. how
ever. be has denied. but he says be viii
spend the fall in England. where ne will
indulge in hunting. after which it is
probable DE will TepIenish his racing sta
bile for next season