The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-05-01
GOSSIP OF The RACEYUGCK
DAVE JOHNSON rs ADVISED TO
RETIRE ROSEBEN.
Bic Train Sun Enjoys the Confidence Of
Trainer Weir, However, and VIII Start
Again Jockey Sumter's Narrow Es-
cape From Dcath-Big "Fleld" Crowd.

cape FROM Dcalh-biB 'flelu' crown.
Il guess your old horse Is done for. Dave.
and you'd better send him 10 the farm 10
spend the rest Of his days in peace" said
Frank ]. Farrell to Dave johnson Just after
Roseben had been disgracefully beaten
In the Pnumonok Handicap Yesterday. He
will never be the anne horse again aud
would not give Won SEQ FOR him right noN 70
III looks that way, replied Johnson, with
a sad smile. He rad no excuses to-day
and did the best he knew how. guess that
attack Of blood poisoning last fall was too
much for him, although he has been working
well and seemed to be- all right in his trials.
His race was a big surprise to me, " re-
marked Trainer Weir He worked very fast
two days ago. and I believed that he would
win to-day's race In a gallOp, | still have
confidence IN him aud will send him 10 the
post again soon,
Willie Shaw, when ROseben was beaten
the other day. said that while the Big Train
was knocked back just after the start he did
not have his old foot at any stage, Shaw
expressed the same opinion before yester-
days race, but so confident were Johnson.
Farrell and their friends In the famous Splinter
that they backed him extensively, So did
the rank and file Of the form players. who
expected to sec Roseben rush TO the front
with his usually wonderful speed and then
run the others on their feet.
That was the way Roseben used TO win
his races In days gone by, but in yesterday
event he showed Conclusiyely that he ia q
hack number, for the present at least, II not
Tor AL time. lie broke with his well known
alacritv at the barrier, but could not 20 to
the front. lie had not run a quarter Of a
mile before his hackers knew that the Big
Train would not get anything,
sRosehen has gone" was the ommCut
on all sides as he made a i~ruitless attempt
10 overhaul the pacenakcrs on the far turn
He will never amount to much again, %
Then when the once great racer came home
absolutely last there was a feeling Of sorrow
among those who remembered his notable
triumphs in the past.
ROseben, II will be recalled, was at the
point of death last year, \ bruise on his
hoof developed blood poisoning. and il was
only the most heroic treatment that saved
HE life. Experts who have studied his case
said yesterday that the Big Train. though
looking well. had lost much Of his former
vitality and that he would never he the cham
pion at short distances agaiu, In all prob
ability no greater Splinter than loseben
ever lived. he won with all sorts Of heavy
burdens, carrying as much as ~ pounds TO
victory. His greatest performance was when
he ran seven furlongs az Belmont Park a
wear ago last fail In i22. a worlds record
that will probably stand uneIualled for a
long time 10 come,
II Roseben should ever recover his proves
It would he wholly due 10 the skill Of Trainer
Weir, who has patched him up on several
occasions before this. That Rosebpn will
be sent TO the races again is a f]oregone con.
%clusion. but il is doubtful II he will ever have
the undivided confidence Of the racing public
again,
II turned out after the race tia. Red River
had worked six furlongs IN i:latwj DAYS ago.
But the fact was kept secret, 80 that only The
immediate friends Of The Wilson Stable knew
how good the son of fatherls,- vas. Red
River won TIE Paumonok last wear, running
the distance in ia Is with ~ pounds. In
Yesterday race he received eighteen pounds
" the scale from Rosebeu and was backed
rm Q Ito . to TO >, Roseben opening At : to !
aud closing At 3to >, Restigouche went back
from 5 10 ? to 10 to > and showed much i'm
provement over his previous race. There
was a hot ZIP on Bat Masterson, who Was
backed from ~ TO q, but ldaltO's Support
was chiefly TO show. Rod Rivers time,
iIs SIS, was three-hfths Of a cond slower
than the track record made by Quadrille in
1905. II he had been extended the Father
less colt could probably have created new
figures for the distance.
Jockey Sumter, under contract TO !. n.
Mccormick. had a narrow escape from
death In the third race. Ne had the mount
on J. ". Mays Patriot and just after the
start the colt got into such a rough Jam that
he was knocked down. Sumter few over
the colts head and landed near the fence
with such terrific force that ho vas picked Up
unconscious. Harry MorrisSey, one Of Mars
Cassidy's assistants. picked the little fellow
up and placed him in the starters carriage,
The driver did not seem To know where tho
paddock gate was, 20 Morrissey carried tho
Jockey to the track hospital. whore for a time
II was believed he had been fatally injured.
Hut 10 tho course Of an hour Sumter regained
consciousness and was taken to his home In
an automobile. lie was suffering from many
bruises about the head. but WAS pronounced
out Of danger by tho physician in charge.
The last time Queen Marguerite started
she was intcrfcrrcd with a. the start and
this fact was impaired by Eddie Dugan to
his friends, including Boots Durnell. II Vas
said. So when Queen Marguerite started
In the first race Yesterday with Iugan in
the saddle the tip vas all over the paddock. |
The Italian COnfederaCy had It and when
the speculation started the Henry OF Navarro
hlly was backed 20 extensively that the books
got 4 severe jolt as she came home on the
bit, She went to the post 4 slight favorite
over Harcourt, who Vas steady at I 10 .
hut who got a shockingly bad ride from
who kept the Ben Brush colt under
a choking pull going w the backstretch
and apparently never let him down. Big
aud Heaslip we're both well backed place
and show while there was a generous play
on Frank Weir's Chantilly, who had no speed
AT any stage. shaw. who rode Chantilly.
has never been successful at either Jamaica
or Brighton because Of the sharp turns, 80
the wise men usually steer clear of his
az these tracks, l.
Thomas Newton, who bought Mark Antony |
II. out Of a selling race the other day from
n. T. Carman, run him out in the second race
yesterday. From : TO ? down to II to ) Mark
Antony II, was reduced and he landed the
coin In brilliant style. The form players
and many OF the smartest bettors fell for
Molesey, who was steadily taken at 4 TO 5.
went back half a point to 0 TO ?, while
Pins and Needles was played from 20 10 IS.
When the prices went up on the third race
The Newcastle stables CeremoniOus, a colt by
Sempronius-Cerela, was the choice Al 8 to 5,
but he went up to , TO ,, in spite Of much
for the wise men proceeded to ham.
Jack Joyner's Ramble from 3downtostoS.
Rsmble WAS the goods. too. with the result that
some OF the chalkers were burned mp. p. J.
Sir John, a colt by Sir DiXon-0n-
wss reduced from 70 to 9 In this event.
\ bunch Of show wagers being cashed on
him. II was a sort Of Dryer day. for that mat
Ter, a. the veteran turfman's colors were
carried TO victory In the last race by Melissa,
} neglected Is TO l shot.
Bad News Is in" said the mart fellows
before the fifth race and the betting