view raw text
GOSSIP OF THE TURF. When Mr. Bratton became identified with the Kinloch Jockey Club he consulted with his associates and they decided to build a steeplechase course similar to those in England. Mr. Bratton had the courso surveyed and personally superintended, the construction. After it was completed ho christened each obstacle, the same as they do in England. After the bunting is dipped by the starter the first OOXTIKUBD OK 8BOOVD TA.QV, GOSSIP OF THE TURF. Continued from First Page. jump is called "Down Patrick." the next "Wash House," and should the timber-topper successfully clear this barrier he will next face "Donnybrook." Half of the journey will then have been passed. "Blackwater" is the next jump; then comes l,Sal-doyle," and last, but not least, is "Liverpool." The stretch is then reached, and the journey to the wire is then easy. Mr. Bratton is of the opinion that the steeplechase events will be very interesting to the real lovers of racing. Horses are daily being schooled over the new steeplechase course. Concerning certain rumors in relation to the future control of the Latonia race track a Cincinnati newspaper says : "There was considerable gossip during the spriDg meeting to the effect that Mayor Fleischmann and his brother, Max Fleischmann, had purchased a large number of trie shares of stock in the Latonia Jockey Club, but this was untrue. Then Mayor Fleischmann had only his original holdings, which were a very few shares, and he has since made no purchases which have been recorded on the books of the club. "However, Mayor Fleischmann has. a lively interest in the future of Latonia from a sportsmans viewpoint, and it is. not beyond the range of possi-bilities that he andjjhis associates, aB well at other prominent Cincinnatians, will become large shareholders in"the historical old club, which has weathered a decline following the ravages of a crew of gamblers, and is now bidding again for the first-rank position it once held among the racing organizations in the west. "The majority of the stock is controlled by President George G. Perkins, who is at present with his family at Magnolia, Mass. Prior to his departure for the east, Judge Perkins Baid that certain Cincinnatians had discussed with him the future of theclnb and at that time he intimated that it was his intention to part with much of the stock and that it would go into the hands of gentlemen who have the best interests of the sport at heart and would bend their energies in the direction of the upbuilding of Latonia. "Judge Perkins will be here during the course of the next seven weeks and there is a probability that after his arrival there will be several changes in the roll of stockholders." Concerning a participant in the Golf Steeplechase at Harlem, Monday, the St. Louis Republic says : "John 8. Bratton took a dog named Teller to Chicago to run in a steeplechase stake on Monday. Brattons friends all got down for limit bets. The horse had shown good fencing ability at the Fair Grounds and ateo speed and staying power in trials. He finished last of the horses that stood up. He was backed from 20 to 1 to 5 to 1. Everybody at the Delmar race track had a bet on him in local handbooks. You could not pass through the Del-mar ring that some fellow would call you and say : " Put a little bet on Teller in Chicago today. He will win sure. Tom Kearney reaped a harvest. "Tom Morgan, who went up to see Teller run, says : He got off in front and was in front for six furlongs. He jumped handsomely and we thought that we had it "in." Suddenly MacLaren collared him and he threw up head and tail and then quit cold without excuse. " It is always thus with these good things. Undoubtedly the horBe was short of racing work. Gallops and work-outs are all right, but it takes races in the colors to the crowd and track buBtle to fit them. Quiet gallops in the morning are different things from screaming races in the afternoon. They will bet on Teller another time and lose, then turn him down as of no account. Then he will come on and gallop home. The races he loses will about fit him."
