The Washington herald., 1908-07-30
HORSE TRAINERS TEMPTATION
Bribe of $4,000 that Was offered to
Scratch n FavOrife-
Prom TltBitz

Perhaps the largest bribe ever offered
occurred when Banantrae won a big
back end handicap some four years ago.
The horses victory took an immense
sum out OF the ring. but two days be-
fore the race a patron OF the stable
offered El8e19 II he would persuade the
ultimate winners owner 10 scratch his
horse. Il IS sUperhuo5Is 10 add that Jhis
Z underhand proposition met vgithw no sue
I cess. whereup0u the trainer was next ap-
/ preached with happily. the same result
Attempts 20 mobile the favorite Of
q classic race or big handicap are SUI
c0mmont Last year the trainer Of q
I fancied candidate for the Derby re-
/ ceived a letter 70 the effect thar &, 90
would be paid him II he undertook 70
l interfere with his horses preparation 50
I that lt could under no Circumstances be
I seen az the starting post. Naturally
[ such q bzre-faced proposal was treated
with utter contempt. but few mornings
afterward.- on one Of the gallops On New
I market Heath. where this horse took his
I daily exercise. a litter OF broken glass
was laid Happily, this was discovered
[ by a stable boy before exercise. other
I wise the horse would have been severely
laued-
The poisoning Of Orme. who was con
| fdently expected 20 win the Derby sone
l years ago was one OF those turf rnys-
I Jeries which VIII probably always re
I main unsolved. but al owner of horses
| closely connected with the stable in
+ formed the writer that there was little
Z doubt that the agent OF some firm Of
/ bookmakers who stood 10 lose a colossal
I sun by Orme's victory had by heavy
| brIbes got at an inmate Of the stable
| and induced him-Or her. as the case
may be-to Perpetrate the deed
The ingenious methods by which out
! siders endesvor 20 worm themselves into
a trainers confidence would seen worthy
| OF a better cause. Thus the famous
[ trainer. Matthew Dawson was wont 20
tel many humorous stories OF attempts
made 10 gain his trust On one occasion,
Z for instance q meek little parson took
I up his residence in some quiet lodgings
u near the stables and every morning be
took himself 20 the Heath. as" he ssid
his doctor had informed him that the
I air there was the most bTacing IN the
world for invalids" Nile after mile the
worthy divine would walk. apparently
taking not The least interest in the race
horses or. indeed. IN racing matters al
all
One morning. however. after he had
baen there fortnight the clergyman
approached the string Of horses and
-Ileekly asked Llelr trainer = ne ElLZl
look over the stables one day. be
cause" he added. ''he had heard tht
u residence of a thoroughbred was almos
as luxurious as any palace This r.
quest was met with a polite refusal
whereat the clerical visitor seemed in
tenseIy disappointed and expressed Z
hope that he might Go so, al any rate
on some future occasion
This proposal was also refused. bu-
some Two nights later the head lad q
the stable caught the clergyman scramb
ling over the wall OF the stable yarC
I after the horses had been locked I'd 10;
the night. and II afterward transpireS
that he was not a clergyman at all bu
was the agent OF = clique Of puofes
sio1al hackers who stood 10 lose heavih
BY the victory Of this particular horse
Instead OF s-as:%lng over the cuIprit :,
the law. the trainer adopted the simple
device Of leaving him 70 the tender -uer
Cies OF The stable boys. who quietly bu
firmly stripped him Of his clerical gar
ments and deposited him IN the neares
horse pond