Excitement at Washington Park, Daily Racing Form, 1900-07-17

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EXCITEMENT AT WASHINGTON PARK The Chicago race-going patron;-, or gome of them, when they think the judges an- wrong and they are right, will howl, no matter be it at Lakeside. Hawthorne, Harlem or Washington Park. Consequently yesterday at the latter place about 3.500 persons, ninety-nine per cent of whom hardly knew what they were howling about, created an uncalled for scene on the grounds of the aristocratic south side club. People that go to the races should have perfect confidence in the judges, who, as a rule are men of much racing experience and high class and have a much keener knowledge of the sport than has the enthusiast who only attends the races once in a while and who is always influenced by the way he or she bets their money. The cheaper element that go to the races over the Chicago tracks seem to be highly delighted whenever a finish is close and the horses number on which they are betting is not hung out, to raise as much noise as they possibly can. They howl and hoot at the judges, and in fact do almost everything but mob the officials. Such ■ disturbance as was raised at Washington Park je6terd;i ha.- happened time and again around Harlem and Hawthorne, but never yet has a decision been changed, so it seems that the few who insist in expressing themselves so boisterously, would learn from experience that "Comanche war whoops" do not alter competent judges* decisions and would try at least to show some courtesy to the promoters of "the sport of kings." The finish over which the crowd had its noisy-matinee came out of the fourth race, and was between Sim W., ridden by Knight, and Pope Leo. with Bullman up. It is needless to say that the latter was the one that the crowd pinned it--faith to. and he was the betting favorite at 8 to 5. Sim W. was backed and backed strongly, but the noisy contingent was down on Pope Leo and Bullman. Sim W. swung into the stretch and headed for home about a length in front of Pope Leo. but he was tiring and inch by inch Pope Leo and Bullman overhauled him until twenty yards from home where the pair were i about on even term-. From then to the wire it ; was nod and nod and both horses were tired I enough to lie down. Bullman seemed to fairly lift Pope Leo and rode a masterly finish, but little Knight was also iuite busy himself and at the very last stride he let go of Sim W.s - head and the latters white nose caught the judges eye first. In the next stride past the wire Pope Leo was in front, but lie was just a 1 tritle too late to get the decision. Besides the Sim W.-Pope Leo tight fit there 1 was another close finish, and in this instance the crowd had a kick coming, as Master Knight ; on the 3 to 5 favorite, threw the race away. However, the pikers seldom back 3 to 5 shots, ■ and the better class of race goers that do never think of raising a disturbance. Knights carelessness ■ was certainly inexcusable. He was on 1 much the best horse- Mr. Brown— and at the sixteenth post was wiuuingeasily, but a drowsy spell seemed to overtake him at the end, ami I before he awoke to what was going on the w ire I was reached and Dissolute was there first. Rome Reepass. who owns Mr. Brown, and for r whom Knight rides, bet heavily on the colt and I after the race was ?eij sore, but never said a i word. Possibly the judges will punish Master r Knight for his carelessness. The boy is one of f the most honest jockeys riding, but many scandal - mongers made insinuating remarks after r the race about the ride, bit they were far out . of line, for whenever Knight rides a horse he is s always doing hss best ami has no knowledge B what -r of the betting ring. It was through pure luck that Winkfield on u Dissolute won the first race, but the boy came e i ; I - 1 1 ; ■ ■ 1 I right back and, favored by Dame Fortune, captured the second event with Likeness. The race was at five furlongs, for two-year-old fillies, and each, with the exception of School , for Scandal, who had two pounds overweight, carried 110 pounds. The latter, however, despite the overweight, was made favorite, but, opening at 6 to 5, receded to 11 to 5. Caywood rode School for Scandal, and had he not been an expert the filly surely would have thrown him and run away. She acted like a crazy horse at the post, running, jumping, bucking— and, in fact, doing everything mean but lie down and roll over. Caywood was on to stay, though, and managed to get the filly oft with a running start and was up in third position to the head of the stretch, where the favorite died away and finished last. As to Likeness win it was certainly very lucky. She was well up passing the half-mile ground, but alxnit the three furlong post got badly shut off and dropped back to sixth place, seemingly beaten. On the stretch turn, however, all the other starters swung clear to the outside, leaving Winkfield and Likeness plenty of room to come through on the rail, thereby saving a lot of ground and eventually winning in a drive by an open length. Princess Tatyana was second and Fancy Wood third. The mile and a quarter selling race, although only four horses started, furnished plenty of room for speculation, each of the quartette being heavily backed. It was always even money against the favorite. Russell R. He labored to some extent in the going, which was a trifle cuppy, and finished absolutely last. Arthur Behan. a shifty, good-looking black colt by-Hindoo— Gammacita went to the front as soon as the barrier ascended and, setting a pace to suit himself, won handily by a length from The Bobby in 2:06;. which was a cracking good per-, formance for a selling plater. The cheapest lot of horses at the track came together in the fifth race and as i- always the case in cheap fields everyone has a "good thing." There were eight starters in this race and there was just eight "good things." La Vega, the favorite, with Harshberger up. proved the best and won off by himself after luckily getting through on the inside on the far turn. Up to the last race Bullman had not landed a winner, but in that event he came home in front with flying colors on George Krats. It was Bullmans foxy ride more than George Krats ability that won. Sam McKeever. with Mathews up, got to and passed Krats about the eighth post and Bullman played an old trick. He took George Krats up a trifle, leading Mathews to think that his horse was winning easily. Mathews bit at the bait like a hungry fish and stopped riding Sam McKeever. This was just what Bullman wanted him to do, and quicker than a Hash he started to work again on George Krats, and the gelding, responding with one last effort, managed to get up in time to win by a neck. It was a clever steal on Bullman- part and worthy of all t he applause it brought forth.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1900071701/drf1900071701_1_2
Local Identifier: drf1900071701_1_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800