OConnells Bad Race., Daily Racing Form, 1899-06-02

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OCONSEIL8 BAD RACK. Presiding Judge Hamilton created quite a stir yesterday at Harlem and incidentally gained many friends for himself among the race going public. Colonel Hamilton acted directly after the fourth race in which OConnell, an odds-on favorite, was disgracefully beaten. The race was at three-quarters of a mile and had four starters— OConnell, Hobart, Booey Boy and Moroni. OConnell, who is ran in the name of J. Barron and Co., bat is said to be owned by Mr. Costello, the feed man at the track, was a strong favorite, and opening at 6 to 5, was hurriedly backed down to 7 to 10. He was about the only horse well backed in the race. Mr. Costello says he bet on him and that his trainer also had a bet down. Bloss rode OConnell, and he says he played him and knows positively the trainer did because he Bloss loaned jhim 00 before the race to bet. That there was something wrong, or that the old horse is no longer of any account, is a certainty. He got away in front but did not have speed enough to outrun a fat man, and down the backstretch Boney Boy and Hobart ran away from him. Those who eaw the race were surprised at OConnell being so badly. out run. He has always had speed enough to keep up with Hobart, or in fact, almost any other horse in training the first part of it. It is true the first quarter of this race was run exceptionally fast considering the condition of .the track, but OConnell plodded along many lengths back of the leaders and could never gain an inch during any part of the journey. What makes the race look so very bad is the fact that Moroni, who was behind OConnell all down the back-stretch, won the race away off by himself, while OConnell, who got the path in the stretch, simply crawled along. Had the latter been anything near himself he would have gained some measure of ground in the stretch. Instead of gaining, however, he kept falling back. After Bloss weighed out Judge Hamilton at once called him into the stand and asked him for an explanation. The boy claimed he rode as hard as he could, but the horse bad no speed and acted dead under him. The judge then had the bandages removed from OConnells legs, thinking perhaps they might have been loaded, but found everthing there to be O. K. Owner Costello was called up, but he could give no excuse for the horses bad showing. After a short consultation with Secretary Nathanson and Associate Judge Chevington, Colonel Hamilton | declared the race no contest. The decision was greeted with hearty applause and all bets were refunded. The first two races on the card furnished close and exciting finishes. The first was a half mile dash for two-year-olds, and Tom Berrys Sorrel Ro»e was favorite at 8 to 5. It was a very ordinary lot and Berry said before the race that it would have to be if his filly could win. Such was the case and Sorrel Rose, fifth when the stretch was reached, stood a drive the laet quarter and got up iu time to win from Laura G. G. by a neck. Neuberger was the fortunate one in the second race, and Sam Summerfield said that every Hebrew on the track bet him on Neuberger. Vitatoe had the mount, and by clearly outfiu-ishing Keitz on Jennie F. won the race in a staggering finish by a narrow margin. Jennie F. was at one stage of the betting as good as 100 to 1. A good strong finisher would have won with her. Tophet, the favorite iu this race, finished absolutely last. The third, a selling race at one mile, furnished an extremely lively betting race. Simon D. was the favorite and heavily played at 8 to 5 and less. His following, however, was no greater than Monongahs, while Bauquo II. also had strong support. The race was strictly between the the trio and Monongah, a useful racing tool, won hard held. Banquo II., after a hard drive, beat Simon D. for the place. Cuirassier, at 20 to 1, won the fifth race in an impressive way from Josephine B., and Hoods Brigade, well ridden by Holden, carried off the purse in the sixth race. The day was bright and cool, but the track was deep and sticky and a crowd of 2,000 made up the attendance.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1890s/drf1899060201/drf1899060201_1_1
Local Identifier: drf1899060201_1_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800