Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-09
DISQUALIFIED
DERBY WINNER
QUITS ENGLAND
Craganour's Owner Has Revenge
by Selling Remarkable Horse
to Argentine Republic,
BY f. &. b. Fitzhamon.
Special Gable to The American.

opeStat Ssptc 10 . ne american
u ARTS, Feb. Few turf secrets
have been more sensational and
better kept than the inside sto-
ny Of why c. Bower lsmay's remark
able horse, Craganour, was disquali-
fed at EPSON last Derby Day, after
winning England's world famous race.
and of why its American jockey
Johnny Reiff, received no official cen
sure for the humping and fouling that
was alleged by the stewards Of the
Jockey Club
2etri5uti0n FOR Esinay brous lit
about by those in high places. it has
been told to me here, was the motive
for the Unprecedented action-retrl- B
button sharp and singing, but with
out a public turf scandal
Craganour had been the Derby
1avorite all the winter, was backed an
over the world--a telegraph operator
IN New York drew Craganour in a
$4,000 sweepstakes and was rich FOR
few minutes-and went TO the pos,
"a red -hot first choice Consequently
many were the press comments upon.
and plentiful the public ratings
against. the stewards peremptOry dis
qualification. But nobody looked be-
meath its surface.
The strange incident has been the
chief subject Of so many New Year
turf reviews that once again II has
become the topic of the moment in
sporting circles throughout Europe.
Otherwise the sensational story be
hind ii and the explanation OF Johnny
Reiff's escape from the heavy handed
punishment he is supposed to have
deserved might never have been re
lated TO me by one close to a person
age of high standing on the French
turf.
Show Reversals Of Form.
At the beginning. c. Bower Ismny
was amusing himself with a stable Of
Steeplechasers and hurdle racers be
tween flat-raCing seasons, and three
Years ago some astonishing reversals
of form by these horses attracted no
1lce. Last winter the form of lsmay' =
jumpers was so in and out that K
became a scandal and eliminated in
their trainer and cross country jock
ely being ruled off the turf early last
wear. That much Is matter OF pub
lie knowledge,
Perhaps one Of the men ruled off
loosened his tongue At any rate,
some further information privately
reached the turf authorities, who sat
tight and said nothing
Last year the flat-racing season IN
England opened on Easter Monday,
and on April the Derby favorite.
lsmay's Craganour, which repeatedly
had two roped" the best 2-year- olds
sn 1912, was saddled at Liverpool fer
the Union Jack Stakes OF $4,000, II
being a mile race.
Captures Big Purse.
AS there was nothing in the field
of four that could make him gallon.
Craganou was topheavy favorite at
. 20 8. He was beaten. At the end
of the month CraRanour came out at
Newmarket Again the race was a
mile. but the stakes were 1874, 900.
Craganour's form reversal was a mas
terpiece He ran and won a smash
ing race.
Still the stewards said nothing, so
far as the public knew, although they
would have been within precedent had
they suggested to the owner that he
sell his Derby favorite and give up
racing for a time
A few weeks later lsmay's colt won
ahe Derby, and preat was the Joy Of
the betting public.
No complaint was made by any
Jockey No objection was lodged by
any owner or trainer. The stewards
just stepped in and calmly took the
Derby away from lsmay while telling
the public that Cracanour was dis
qualified for fouling and humping.
Immediately up went a public do
mand To know why the American
jockey went UNPUBLISHED II Craganour
really had fouled Aboyeur That d.
mand has been reiterated frequently.
II has sprung up again. Meanwhile
the stewards sit tight and say moth
ing.
Jockey Goes Unpublished.
The answer as told me, Is that
there was nothing for which to pun
fish Johnny Rein. The stewards were
hitting over his head
There was an aftermath, lsmeN
drew two cards and told Ne stew
ards he would sue for an appeal. The
stewards stood pat and laid thei'
cards upon the table lsmay's appeal
went into the discard The Derby
stakes, $4,000, were paid to Aboyeur's
owner
Ismay has had his come back,
though. Both Craeanour and Ahov-
eur. one actually and the other on
cially Derby winner for 1913, are sons
OF the great sire Desmond, the big
winnings Of whose get have placed his
name easily first in the list 81 sue
cessful sires
Desmond is dead. It was antici-
rated his best sons would be invau-
ole FOR the future OF the British thor
oughbred Now comes Ia reNanChc.'
lsmay sold Craganour TO go TO Az
gentine Republic ON condition that III .
colt never should race again In the
British Isles nor bc used I'm the stud
Ia 3.