The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-02
SPONGE FOUNDIN
HARWOOD'S NOSE
Owner Says 1t Was Used TO
Prevent Colt From Winning
Race Last Wednesday.

4 host OF incidents detrimental to
racing occurred yesterday afternoon at
the Aqueduct track. A sponge was
found IN horses nose. rough and tum-
Ole riding caused fine thoroughbred to
be so badly injured that It was found
necessary 10 destroy It. and n careless
ride took victory from a popular favor
tie which was many pounds better than
his opponents. These and minor viola
tons OF the rules OF the sport caused
1000 racegoers to heap the sevcrest
criticism upon every one and everything
connected with tho game.
Scarcely had the crowd ceased grun,-
bling over the fact that Ute, an odds OH
,favorite in the hrst race. had not received
q good start when 1t was announced
that Joe Marrone had found a sponge
In the nose Of HARDWOOD H.. the imported
colt which he claimed out of a race
last week. Msrrone said that the sponge
Rad been used on his thoroughbred by
some rascal before his race last Wednes-
day and that 1t had not been discovered
until yesterday morning. He said he
had questioned his stable hands, but
could learn nothing Of value In running
down the culprit.
It was not the first sponge which had
been used to prevent a horse from win
ming this season, and II caused the stew
ards much concern. They went into
conference and when they emerged they
Issued the following statement:
Make Trainers Responsible.
a sponge was found in one Of Har-
woods nostrils this morning. This geld
Ing. owned by Joseph Marrone. was
beaten in his last start. The stewards
OF the Queens County Jockey Club dur
Ing the afternoon handed down the fol-
lowing ruling:
courtable for tho physical condition OF
their horses In all races, and any trainer
starting horse which has been tam
pered with will have his license sus-
pended and the case referred to the
stewards Of the Jockey Club"
The sixth race brought the dastruc-
ton of ono Of the gamest little Allies
that ever looked through a bride.
She was Stitch-in-Time, which Maxey
H.rsch bought from John Sanford last
week. She came to grief by being
jumped on by another horse during the
contest. Fifteen horses made up the
fed. and which stepped on her is a
matter OF conjecture.
IL Nas - iou6h anu tuInDlc affair III
which almost all the Jockeys were
guilty OF foul riding. Stitch-in-T Time
was beaten by head by Home Sweet
Home and for her great race earned the
conlmendation of a majority of the
crowd. but when 1t was learned that she
had finished with her hamstring cut in
half even veteran horsemen gasped and
shswered her with praise. To them II
seemed impossible that she could race
so we'll suffering such agony. The ham
string is the large sincw at the back of
he hook. which II injured usually makes
the leg useless.
what Hit wisstone.
While the jockeys were being criti-
clsed for their rough work the horses
vent TO the post for the final event. II
Was big field. and among the con-
testarts was Commander J. X. l.. RosSs
imported colt Wigstone. Because % his
recent fast trials and the fact ih4t .!
Belmont Park he ran an excellent race
he was made the popular choice and
received the support OF vast majority
o! the crowd. Lawrence Lyke got him
away 10 a good start. and entering the
home stretch Wisstone was two lengths
In front. In the run past the grand
stand this lead was increased to four
lengths. A sixteenth of u mile from
home Lyke began TO ease up his mount.
His opponents we're far behind and to
him and the spectators the race was
over But 1t wasn't. Ten Jumps from
the judges something happened. Wig
stone threw his head in the air and
climbed instead Of going forward. As
he did Jockey Taplin brought Mrs,
PAYNE Whitney's Debadou up with a
rush and before Lyke could get Wig
stone going again Debadou was home
the victor.
All sorts Of reasons were advanced
for Wigstone's defeat. Some said he
stepped in a hole. Others said he hit
the fence But there were some whe
SAID nothing happened to him and that
Taplin stole a march on Lyke. But ir-
respective OF the cause Lyke was roundly
condemned In the opinion OF all the
racegoers he should not have stopped
riding his mount,
Hanovia Takes Handicap.
Iyke and Taplin went into the judges
stand Persons near the stand said the
Judges called them in. but this was de-
ried What the riders told the ofhcials
vas not made public. but after the race
had been officially finished the Judges
declared that Wigstonc was beaten be-
oaTse he tired.
Hanovia. the chestnut mare belonging
IN Joe Mlrrone, scored another brilliant
victory in the fourth race. a handicap
az one mile. She came from far In the
rear IN the run through the stretch and
30, home in time TO earn the major
port on Of the purse by length from
namrosch. Bayberry Candle nnished