view raw text
GOSSIP OF THE TURF. In order to keep a race meeting free from scandal of any kind tbe officials of a track are forced to exercise the greatest care and bo constantly on the alert, and even though they take every precaution, it frequently happens that unlawful things occur. These days it is a constant battle on the Dart of the officials against the unscrupulous portion of horsemen, bookmakers and race followers. There are many men in this world who are willing to gamble on a proposition providing they have an even break and there are others who want several aces in the hole. It is this class which needs watching. It should bo of Eomo consolation to tho public to know that 99 per cent, of the men on the turf who resort to crooked methods to further their interests always wind up broke. It is the horseman who runs his horses on the square, the bookmaker who makes a legitimate book and the turf follower who always takes it for granted that the game is being conducted on the level who stands the best chance of doing well at the racing game. It is naturally to the interest of racing officials to keep the game as pure as possible, and there is not the slightest doubt that they put forth every effort in this direction. There are bo many ways of doing wrong and bo many persons willing to do wrong that the life of an official on a race track is not all strewn with roses, and it is to their watchfulness that the game owes its present standing. Taken as a whole, there are few illegitimate tricks turned on the turf these days which escape the notice of the officials. Cincinnati Commercial-Tribune. Several Kentucky breeders are industriously looking over the country for Dan Begat, a horse once in John E. Maddena stable, but which, so far as known, has never graduated from tho maiden class. The reason of the eagerness to secure Dan Regan is that he is a full brother to August Belmonts sensational sire Hastings, leading winning stallion of 1902. Dan Began last raced at New Orleans, but since then all trace of him has been lost. H. G. Browns True Blue, which has given such a good account of himself at Bennings, will not be seen again until the New Orleans meeting. He pulled up so lame after his winning race on Monday that it was decided to throw him out of training for a time. At a sale held in the paddock at Latonia previous to the races Wednesday the following horses were sold : Brissac, to J. Brill, 00 ; Siphon, to J. Brill, 00; Belucent, to N. J. Wood, 40; Sunro, to J. We6r, 5 ; Belle of Worth, to C. E. Shoeberg, 0. In view of the great success scored by the Chevy Chase Steeplechase Saturday, the Washington Jockey Club will give a renewal of that contest for Thanksgiving day, Thursday, November 27. A special program of six other races has been already arranged for that day, including the Washington Cup, two miles and a quarter, making eeyen races in all. The cup race, at seven pounds under the scale, sets the weights at 104 pounds on three-year-olds and 117 pounds on four-year-olds and upward, with a further allowance of seven pounds to non-winners of ,200 this year, and ten pounds penalty on winners of ,000 thiB year. Entries to this race and the Maximum at three miles close on Saturday next, the 22d. In this event weights are 100 pounds on three-year-olds, 107 on four-year-olds and upward, the cup winner to carry seven pounds extra. Winners of ,000 this year, ten pounds extra. The Melbourne Cup, the classic racing event of Australia, was run on Tuesday, November 4, on the Flemington course at Melbourne and was won by Victory, a four-year-old bay colt by The Admiral-Charmer. The race is a handicap of 30 sovereigns, with 5,000 added. The distance is two miles. Victory carried 124 pounds and his time was 3 minutes 29 seconds. There were twenty-two starters and Victory won by a neck from Vanity Fair, carrying lOT.pounds.
