El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-03-20
Z~--v1z, - --y--s7~4r FL ~Zs%1
&C 1o1s br the ontlonal -. Bureaa.

FTER a court decree had put an
a end to racing in Indiana, late in
= = the year 1895, and while the
sport OF kings was frowned on in Chi
cago. western turfmen built n track on
the lake shore in Wisconsin, Just north
Of the Illinois line. AT this track, on
October u, 1895, occurred one OF the
most mysterious affairs the American
turf has ever known. The coup, II
il was a coup. has come to be known as
the Famine case, and while II has oeen
the subject Of wide discussion among
sophisticated race track followers. the
general public has paid little attention
10 II because 1t knew then and knows
now very little about it.
Because Of the unusual character OF
the setting and because Of the FAR
reaching results. the Famine case is
one OF great Interest To begin with,
the track itself was a marvel in a
way. Following the decision Of the In
diana supreme court, which stopped
racing over the border Of that state. the
great western metropolis found itself in
a raceless situation, which was not at
all pleasing. So some Of the holder
Chicago turfmen cast longing eyes at
Wisconsin and found out, or thought
they found out, that they could do very
well in that state.
To GO to Canada.
Accordingly there was meeting in
Chicago one night at which 1t was re-
ported that an option had been secured
on a little farm over the border and on
a railroad. The plot OF ground present
ed some difficulties In the way OF con-
struction, but IL was decided that these
difficulties could be surmOunted and the
track, named then and there Ideal Park,
was ordered built Just IS days later
the course was completed from grand
stand 10 back fence, and the first meet
ing opened and racing continued at 1t
until early IN the winter, when the SOW
ereiRn state Of Wisconsin concluded
that il did not need any racing and
could get along very well without Ideal
Park.
However, the track prospered in the
few months ii was allowed 10 run and
there was some excellent sport there.
Every event had to be closely watched,
because there was deep cut at the half
mile post and opportunity was given for
tricky work Possibly on account Of this
there was an exceptionally high class
lot Of officials in charge Of the course.
The late Col. II. Lewis Clark, OF Ken
lucky. was presiding judge, and Martin
Williamson. afterward TO become famous
in the same capacity, was secretary.
Fantine's Arrival
A recital Of this fact is necessary for
a full appreciation Of the Famine cpl
sode. Famine herself was q late arrival
at the track She came by way of Can
ada There was very little attention
paid to her. for II was not judged that
she was a mare worth a reception com
mittee or anything like that When
she was entered in a sprint on October
II. il was taken quite as a matter OF
course. She was introduced in the usual
way and Identified in the usual way
and her Identification seemed TO be all
right
When the day OF the race came there
was a mild play on her in the betting
ring, but not enough to force down her
ample odds 20 any great extent In the
Chicago pOolroOms. however, hundreds
OF people seemed to have received her
name as a good thing, and as result
fairly large chunks Of Famine money
was scattered all over the town Just
what the sum Of the handbook betting
was no one could tell. but il seems TO
have fallen short Of the sum necessary
10 cause suspicious eyes to be cast at
the entry
Reputation Unfarnished.
Accordingly Famine went TO the post
with her reputation untarnished- She
was well ehandled, got away TO a nice
start and in the stretch broke away in
front and came under the wire q win
ner by & good margin There was moth
ing unusual about that The bookmak-
ers paid off on her and so did the hand
book men. They Weare called to the
post for the next race and when the
card was completed everybody went
home, including the officials Of the
track. with the conviction that the day
had been satisfactory in every way.
A few days later. SO the story goes,
and, mind you. there is no official rec
ord to show this conclusively, a stable
hand who was too talkative, began to
tel some things about Famine that did
not listen well His conversation was
TO the effect that that Famine was not