The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-04-29

nouncement was made to know
the identity of the winner.
That's how close they were.
Some said it was a half length,
others a head and there were
yet those who even declared it
wasn't more than a nose.
Fate Plays a Prank
So by such a finish a de-
serving equine came Tito his
own, and by the same odd twist
of fate another great horse, the
brown gelding, Captain Kettle,
was deprived Of winning perna.
, nent possession of the silver
tankard offered nearly so years
ago by a gentleman of the
Worthington countryside, one
Ross Whistler, founder of the
historic competition.
I expect 80 per cent of that
throng of 10000 people were
pulling for Captain Kettle, and
his gallant amateur rider,
Charlie White. It seems that
two legs on a cup of such sig
nificance is worthy of the third,
but that was not to be. You
see, Captain Kettle had won
the race in 1888 and 1884 hand
running and a victory in 1885
would indeed have been some
thing more than a coincidence.
So there was the pathos of
that incident and there also
was the regrettable end which
came to the very gallant bay
gelding, Trouble Maker, winner
of the race in 1882 in the best
time since the event was inau-
gurated ~ years ago, 8:51 3-5.
Stumbled on Landing
Trouble Maker typified his
name from the outset, challeng-
ing Captain Kettle, who broke
in front, for position, right up
until the time of his fall going
over the seventeenth fence. The
handsome, graceful jumper
sailed clear of the rail all right,
but his front legs buckled as he
hit the ground, and he pitched
forward on his neck, breaking
it, but throwing his rider, Noel
Lang, clear and uninjured.
The horse must have died in
stantly, but those within range
of the sight will never forget
the pitiful piece of horseflesh
crumpled there-dead in action.
To the winning rider, Stuart
S. Janney, must go great credit
in handling his splendid mount.
He was satisfied to let Trouble
Maker, Captain Kettle and even
Vaudeville set the early pace,
but after the big third fence,
Mr.. Janney moved Hotspur
forward to set the pace by
often as much as five lengths.
Mighty Severe Test
In many respects, it seems to
me the Maryland Cup Hunt
race is quite as much of a test
for horSeflesh as is the famous
course at Aintree. While it is
not hardly as long as the Eng.
lish course, the nature of the
jumps is such that the lepperS
must clear their five-foot jumps
to avoid a fall, whereas at Ain.
tree the highest jumps are only
three inches taller and are of
brush, which can be grazed
without disaster or a fatality.
Too, each horse carries the
same weight, 1855 pounds, the
riders all being of the amateur
or gentleman" type. This con-
dition eliminates all handicap
ing. You have to be all horse
to even finish such a course as
that which was raced Saturday,
as attested to by the fact that
only half of the eight starters
finished.
For instance, Mullah fell at
the eighth fence, doing no harm
to himself or rider. Trouble
Maker killed himself at the sew
enteenth hurdle, Vaudeville re-
fused the twentieth fence and
Cocky Captain fell at the twen-
ty-first fence. the next to the
last obstacle Of the over-hill and
down-dale course.
Trouble Makers death is a
real loss to the Steeplechase
sport. He had won every i'm
portant chase in this country
and had finished in the Grand
National. There was mist in
the eyes Of many over his I'M