AN AMERICAN SCANDAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2715, 28 March 1906, Page 50

AN AMERICAN SCANDAL.

The American trotting world is in a gieat state of excitement over the sensational developments in connection with ilie race between Major Delmax and Lou Dillon, and, writing on February 1(T in connection -with the an American ex"change says: — All the American turf scandal/ fad© into insignificance in comparison with the one that is now less than 36 hours old. The chaise- that C. K. G. Billings's mare, I ou Dillon (Lsߣ), the trotfiher queen, was "doped" "when she was defeated at Memphis a year asjo last 'all by E. 2D. Smathers's Major Delmar (1.59 i) in a race for the 5000dol gold cup, and the fact that the cup. which has since been in Sn.athers's possession, has been eeized by the sheriff and forcibly removed from Smarhers's apartments on a writ issued on behalf of the Memphis Trotting Association, -which has instituted legal proceedings to regain the trophy on an allegation that it was obtained T>v ftaaid, has convulsed tl.e entire turf work l like a traditional K^lt from the clear blue sty. Elmer E. Smathers, the millionaire turfman, says that the forcible seizure of the 5000dol' poid curs won by him in the Major Dolmar-Lou Dillon race at Memphis and the accompanying civil suit for 500dol damages for its detention are due to the fact that «ev-eral men. well known on the turf, plotted to jura him. and stop at nothing to accomplish the purpose. The action is based on the affidavits made by Edward Sanders md George Spear, both -well-known drivers on the Grand Circuit. At the timo of the al'eged drugging of the maro Xou Dillon Spear was a* the head of Smathers's harness stable as trainer and driver. At the same time Millard Sanders, brother of Edward, was acting in a similar capaoitv for Billinge, and was trainer of Lou Dillon. Under oath, Edward Sanders says, in «übstanoe, that Spear negotiated with him to fix Lou ."Dillon so she wouldn't* win. Later on he did business direct with Smathers. Sanders wanted 10,000dol for the job, but accepted 5000dol. In describing how he drugged Lou Dillon Sanders cays^ — "I prepared a rubber bag. tightly tied, capable of holding Boz of quicksilver. After a heat the mare appeared to be so good that I decided the ' little lead I had put in the quarter-boots she wore was not sufficient to stop her. By means of beinfr well acquainted with those in the stable, I got to the mare, and introduced the has? containing Boz of mercury." Spear's affidavit corroborates that of Sanders in many details He tells how Smathers directed him to inquire quietly and learn whether anything could bo done to ensure Major Delmar winning the raoe and trophy from Lou Dillon, and how such inquiry finally resulted in the <]eal by which Sanders agreed to drug Lou Dillon for 5000doL The raco was one of the most sensational in the history of the Joeal trotting turf. The 5000dol gold cup was offered by the Memphis Association, and was to belong to the driving club whose member won it twice. E. E. Smathers took the first race in 1902 with Lord Derby. C. K. G. Billings won the -next in 1903 with Lou Dillon, and the final race the year following Avas won by Mr Smathers, who drove Major Delmar. Before the race, Lou Dillon worked close to the record, and she was favourite in the betting, although Major Delmar was at the top of his form. In the first heat Lou Dillon, driven by Mr Billings, went well to the half-mile post, and then dropped back hopelessly beaten. "W hen che horses were brought out for the second x heat it was decided by Millard Sanders, of the Billings tstabk 1 , and a. ■veterinary that the mare had "thumps," and Mr Billings drove the second teat merely to give the -event the appearance of a contest, and made no attempt to win. Since the above statements appeared in print Millard Slanders, the famous reineman, who had charge of Lou Dillon and prepared the Cahfornian mare for the Gold! Cup event, said: — "I trained Lou Dillon afc the time. lam not familiar with the present developments, but I have made no affidavit in regard to this matter. There was considerable talk about Lou Dillon'* inexplicable collapse after working in F.ucb fast time, and it was intimated that she must have been tampered with. I have no certain knowledge of any wrong-doing, and the present act of the Memphis Club is not based on any information that they have received from me. All I know \t that every due precaution was taken • to protect Lou Dillon, as we hir-ed a special officer to keep guard over her. while sha also had her regular attendant."