HERE & THERE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 542, 9 May 1901, Page 15

HERE & THERE

DOPING. A writer in the “ Thoroughbred Record,” U.S., suggests some very stringent measures to prevent the fast growing evil of horse doping. He concludes a very interesting articie this wise : — As to a method of preventing the administration of stimulants, we have something to say; and we urge the track officials to heed our words. Originality in our method does not belong altogether to us, for we believe Mr Joseph Murphy, judge of the racing at Sb louis Fair Grounds, first developed the idea. Building on his foundation, we go on with our suggestion. A stable should be built adjacent to the “pad dock with acapacityof aboutthirty head of horses. Officers of integrity should be placed in charge of this building, with strict orders to permit no one to enter the doors. Horses that by their performances, appearance, or actions have become suspects of carrying a load of dope in their races are to be ordered to this stable, and shall arrive there not later than twelve o’clock on the day of the race. It is fair to presume that not more than thirty suspects will run each day, and this method will effectually do away with the dope or force the druggist and veterinary to produce a dose that will not work for several hours. It will be impossible of

performance, for it is hard to tell at twelve o’clock, within several minutes, what timo any race will be rui after the first race. From twelve o’clock until warming up time for his race, the horse shall remain in charge of the officers of the proposed stable, and then be turned over to his trainer, who shall, in the presence of the paddock judge, do whatever he sees fit in preparing him for the post, so long as he does not violate the rule concerning drugs and mechanic *1 appliances. This surely is a safeguard against the pernicious practice, and seems a competent method of disp >sing of an evil that, unless rigid steps are taken, will surely in a few generations de*eriorate our breed of thoroughbred horses, and render them, thus enervated, unequal to the tssk of competing with those produced in -other countries.

A REMARKABLE ACCIDENT.

The Portland Plate of 1885 was in many ways one of the most remarkable races ever witnessed on the famous Doncaster course. Duke of Portland ridden by Archer, carried tons of public money, which made him a hot favorite, and this caused a good market, enabling the owners of many other competitors to befriend their horses to win a rare ‘ parcel,” and as a matter of fast several animals were backed to win a fortune. Probably none carried heavier metal than <Oharlea Archer’s Broxbourne and John Ham-

mond’s Insignia, and hereby hags a tale. Broxbourne and Insignia were ridden respectively by the brothers James and George Woodburn, and between these two the race appeared to lay until half a dozen strides from the poit, when young Teddy Martin, by an effort he has -lever excelled, or probably equalled, squeezed Dalmony through an almost impossible opening at feirlul risk to life and limb, and won in the last stride by a head.

He had been greatly hampered during the race, and when he did get through on the rails (opposite the judge’s box) he came at a tremendous bat, so much so that he ran wide at the bend, which is directly past where they finish, and this caused Broxbourne and Insignia —who were racing side by side, and who ran a dead-heat for second place —to go straight for the -ails, which lay immediately in front of them, and over which they both went with a fearful crash, smashing the timber to pieces, both horses and jockeys falling headlong amongst a dense cro vd of people who were unable to get out of the way. And now comes the strange part of the story. Neither the horses nor their r ders got a scratch, while only one person in the crowd was hurt, and his injury was of the slightest. It was a memorable race, and for t >v> brothers to ride such a finish, then go flying together over the rails, and for both jockeys and horses to escape scot free, is indeed one of the most remarkable occurrences ever known in connection with racing.

GAMBLERS WHO WIN £2OOO A NIGHT-

They talk a lot about gambling at Monte Carlo, said an old miner; but for reckless gambling and heavy stakes the maddest plunging on the Riviera cannot compare with what my own eyes h .ve seen in many cities of the StateeJ There was more money won and lost every twenty-four hours in Virginia City, Nevada, in the early seventies than Monte Carlo sees in a month, and the gamblers were mostly men whom it would have been gross flattery to ask for the loan of a £5 note.

Those were the days when gold flowed like water, and the penniless workman of one day was the potential millionaire of the next. The famous Comstock mines, which made multimillionairs of John W. Mackay, James Fair, and James Flood, were yielding gold at the rate of £lO,OOO a day clear profit. Men who, a few months earlier, had been glad to earn a few dollars a week as camp cooks and laborers were building palace’ and drawing incomes of from £20,000 to £BO,OOO- a year, and many men who could not sign their own names had balances running into five, and even six, figures at the banks. It was little wonder that money which came so unexpectedly and easily went as q fickly ; and men lost as much in a single night as would. have kept them in comfort for the rest of their lives.

Virginia City bristled with gambling saloons, but none could compare with that of Hiram Sentry and Dan Crittenden. It was simply a frame building ; but, inside, it was fitted more sumptuously than many a Royal palace. The bar was of onyx and the floor an exquisite mosaic of colored marbles. Long Mirrors in frames of silver hung from coiling to floor, and the lamps were of solid silver ornamented with gold. The very drinking vessels were of silver, or of richly cut glass mounted in gold, and the decanters alone at the back of the bar cost £lOOO in Pa vis. The gambling rooms were similarly furnished, and it was a common sight to see a dirty, unkempt miner, covered with mud from head to heel, walking over carpets which cost £2 a y. rd, and resting his feet on a thirty-guinea table. In those days champagne flowed like water, and the proprietors spent £5OOO a year in entertaining their guests On one day, when the Duke of Sutherland visited Virginia City, no fewer than 500 bottles of champagne were opened free of cost to the consumers I have more than once seen a rough miner, whose entire outfit wonld have been dear at a shilling, produce a bag of dust worth £5OO, lose it all within half an hour, and walk out whist ling as unconcernedly as if he bad only Jost a sixpence. But some of the men were of a different stamp; and one room at Crittenden’s was set apart for state officials, senators, and congressmen. Here

the play ran higher still; and I have known poker games to last all night, with “chops” ranging from £l5 to £4O. I have known a man get up from the table in the early hours of the morning’ after playing all night, the richer by £2,000, while to win £lOOO at a sitting was so common as not to evoke r mark. One particular game I remember, which began at eeven o’clock in the evening and lasted until two the next morning. The “ chops ” were from £2O upwards, and the jackpots held anything up to £3600, Money was changing hands at times at the rate of £lOOO a minute, and at the end of the game Senator Sharon eounted £7OOO in winnings. I saw “ three fives ” win £2600 that night; and Senator Sharon scooped in £l5OO as the result of three minutes play. One of the richest and most sensible gamblers I knew was Jack Silverwood, of Detroit, who won £lO,OOO in two week, and then said “ goodbye ” to Virginia City and gambling.

PAYMENT WITH THE WHIP.

On the morning of the Great Metropolitan of 1862 Jim Adams went on Epsom Downs before breakfast to ride Elcho a canter. Just after getting on his back, close to the Warren, Elcho momentarily overpowered him and ran under a tree, and Adams just missed coming into violent contact with an unyielding-looking bough by ducking his head. However, he was not lucky

enough to escape altogether scathless, and a sharp little twig, tough and strong, split hi® right nostril, from which the blood poured. Adams took but little notice of it, and rode the horse his canter. In the actual contest Elcho, who was a fouryear old, carrying 8«t, was made favourite of the twenty-two runners at 4to 1. The race was run at a cracking pace, which was chiefly due to Caractacus (the Derby winner of the same year) running away with Jimmy Grimshaw, who was riding him at sst 91b At the half-mile post Grimshaw was still fifty yards or more in front, and both Jim Adams on Elchj and “Tiny” Wells on that good horse of Sir Joseph Hawley’s, Asteroid (also a four-year old, and carrying Bst 51b), were riding their horses hard with their hands and heels. Wells, who was laying alongside Adams, said—“Jim, we shall never catch that beggar,’’ alluding to Caractacus. “ We sha’n’t if he don’t come back to us pretty quick,” replied Jim, adding, “I owe my ‘ bloke ’ a bit ,for splitting my nose this morning, and here goes for paying him,” saying which he pulled his whip through and set about Elcho to some tu e. The horses ran on under severe punishment in the gamest possible manner, as did also Asteroid. Presently Caractacus did begin to “ come back ” to them, and a few strides from home Adams got one side of him and Wells the other, and “ sandwiched” him, and after one of

the most desperate and prolonged finishes ever seen (in which Grimshaw had none too much room, and got a bit “ squeezed ”) Jim Adam# won a short head from Caractacus on the post, with. Wells only beaten a similar distance on Asteroid. Most undoubtedly »he “ paying ” of Elcho had much to do with his winning, as it is extremely djubiful if -Adorns would have commenced winding him up” so early in the play but for owing him a bit for his early morning’s performance of dodging under the treeUn pulling up Wells said —“Well, Jim, if you haven’t paid your ‘cove’ in full, you have given him a bit to be going on with.”

A CURIOUS MISTAKE.

When it was known that L’Avare, Chittabob, and Donovan were to oppose each other for the Whitsuntide Piate at Manchester n 1888, betting was practically confined to the tno named. A though a fractionally better favourite than the others, .L’Avare was by no mean® hot, and “ 100 to 30 the field ” was for some time on offer. Amongst those ready to trade at this price were Sam Wilkinson and George Collins. Soon they found a customer m General Owen Williams, who, indicating himaelf, tersely remarked, “ Thousand to three hundred mine.” To the bookmaker’s nod of assent the owner did not make any verbal response, but

hurried off, evidently anxious to get on again at the same rate of odds. R. H. Fry, who occupied the next pitch, inquired the nature of the transaction that had iT'. taken place. “I’ve laid the General a thousand to three hundred Chittabob,” replied Wilkinson, obviously well satisfied with the transaction. “I should like a bit of that,” next said the •‘red-hot ’un,” who was accordingly obliged with 200 to 60. In running Donovan was shouted as the winner, but with a stone the worst of the weights Idle Duke of Portlard’s horse could only get second to Chittabob. Of course, shouts were loud as the last-mentioned passed the post, but they only served to perplex Wilkinson, who strongly asserted Chittabob had not won. Fortunately for him, the numbers were soon hoisted, and a reference to his card revealed the mistake he had made. For some reason Wilkinson had conceived the idea that it was Chittabob, and not L’Avare, which belonged to General Williams, and in that belief he had laid the bet recorded. It was therefore at the same time a shook and a relief to the bookmaker to find that, though Chittabob had really won, he was not •ailed upon to pay the wager in question, for the General had, of course, been backing L’Avare, who finished in the ruck. BETTING ON GOOD THINGS. It has been often said that, had the Marquis -■ »f Hastings been content to back only his own horses, the investments thus made would have shown a good profit. Apparently disregarding the terrible facer he sustained over Mr Chaplin’s Derby victory, he rushed on that gentleman’s Blinkhoolie for the Oesarewitcb, a race which on paper seemed all over.

Some few hours before the event it was known that nl< tfi upon thirty runners would face the starter, yet in spite of this the impetuous jouth eagerly accepted 7 to 4 about the bearer of the “ all roe.” Not content with this, moreover, he took 3000 to 1000 that Tlinkhoolie won the Cesarewitch and Lady F'izal.eth the Middle Park Plate, for which all the best c'ass youngsters of a particularly strong y<ar were going Nevertheless, he thought the double an unbeatable .combination, and securing three monkeys twice, with sundry small bets at the same rate of odds, he believed a fine evening’s work had been accomplished. Neither of the pair were placed, the “ cert.” in each instance coming badly untied. It is worthy o f note that, in the case of Lady Elizabeth, this w as the, only defeat she sustained that season out o f thirteen attempts.

AND HE DID.

The late Alec Taylor seldom made a mistake in hie trials. It was his invariable custom to allow a few pounds ‘in case it was wanted,” as he observed on one occasion, and when, therefore, any animal he was trying won his spin with a margin, the Manton trainer concluded be had a good thing on. Thue, when Ragimunde easily accomplished the task set him previous to the Cesarewitch of 1891, Taylor was more than • satisfied. Though anxious to communicate the news to the Duke of Beaufort, that caution which predominated all the veteran’s actions made him hesitate to either telegraph or send a letter. A few moments’ cogitation decided the affair. Eno ing hi* employer could be found at Badminton, Taylor at once started for the purpose of informing the nobleman of the discovery made. On arriving at his destination the trainer heard that dim er was in progress, but the Duke on hearing of his arrival, atked Taylor to at once make his appearance in the dining-room. “ Well, Alec,” was the Duke’s greeting, “ what is it you want ?”

“Your grace,” hoarsely whispered Taylor, for once somewhat excited, “you’ll well win the Cesarewitch I” A TURF TRAGEDY. For some time past a tale which, if not exactly true in detail, must have had at least some foundation in fact, has been goinglthe rounds. It concerns an owner of the “ plating ” division, and a jockey who, while hardly entitled to be called “ fashionable,” is yet well-known and possibly ie■pected by those not enjoying a personal acquaintance with him.

After an unusual run of bad luck, the owner found a “ retriever ” neceesary. Selecting a meeting where the class would not be too good, the impecunious one entered a horse in a couple of the principal handicaps advertised, for it was a two days’ gathering. As the animal was entitled to on the book, he received about middle weight in each race —a state of affairs that exactly suited the proprietor, who calculated he could win both events, and with a useful sum in bets, once again find himself in an affluent position.

In order not to throw a chance away, the satisfied turfite engaged a jockey some time in advance. On the memorable day he gave that young gentleman to understand the reward for steering his horse successfully would be considerably more than the bare riding fee, and on the horseman promising to do his best, the owner retired to watch the race.

To an interested observer there was much to see. After securing a good position on the rails the jockey, who had vowed to do his utmost, calmly pulled out to allow someone else to get up, and then dropped back until at the distance he managed to get hopelessly shut in, while the animal he had made room for won, though with little to spare. Rushing from the Stand, the enraged owner met his jockey returning to scale.

“ What the h — were you doing with mine ?” he hoarsely demanded. “ 1 on’t shout !” calmly demanded the horseman ; “ it’s all right. I’ll ride him to-morrow ; then you can bet as long as they’ll stand you.” “10-morrow!” gasped the infuriated turfite; “ you blanked idiot, I bet all I had to-day !” And therein lay the tragedy.

SON-BETTING OWNBBS

The owner of one of the most successful and celebrated racing stables in England, or in Europe, was the late Earl of Falmouth It was a curious truth that he made it a practice never to bet himself, nor to permit anyone in his employ to do so, punishing with instant dismissal any disobedience to his wishes in the matter. The present Duke of Portland, who has won the Derby twice, as well as both the Oaks and t he St Leger. is equally strict on th subj ct of betting, and is so determined to eliminate the monetary question from racing that he devotes ajl the stakes won by his horses to building almshoi see on his estates for the benefit of aged depend mts and of widows of tenants and of other people on the estate. These houses are models of architectural taste and of interior comfort, and are within easy reach < f Welbeck Abbey, so that they are under the personal superintendanoe of the Duchess. On the centre gable runs' the- inscription : “ These houses were erected by the sixth Duke ol Portland, a the request of his dear wife, for the benefit of the poor, and to common orate the success of his lacehtrses.” Then follow the names of the latter, as well as the races which they won. The extent of the buildings, as well as their character, may be explaineo by the fact that the Duke has repeatedly headed the annual list of the winners of the principal stakes of the year.

We have received from the American Tobacco Company of New Zealand samples of the Duke of York souvenir buttonhole badges, with portraits of the Duke a d Duchess of York, which are being given away to purchasers of Old Judge cigarettes. The badges are nicely got up.