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BETTING RING IN A MESS. BELATED .ANNOUNCEMENT OF GEORGE S, DAVIS WITHDRAWAL CAUSES CONFUSION. All Bets Are Finally Declared off and New Book Is Made Merrill s Party, However, Fails- to Make New Wagers. 57 New York, October 2.--A big killing was spoiled and one of the most perplexing situations the bookmakers have find to face this season was brought about this afternoon by the enforced scratching of George S. Davis in the third race at Brighton Beach. When the colt was posted as a starter the stewards ordered him scratched owing to a technicality concerning his ownership. But the stewards forgot to notify the clerk of the scales and consequently betting went on almost up to the time the horses were called to the post before the announcement was made that lie would not start. A wild flurry- ensued. Hundreds of anxious bettors having wagered on the .favorite before he was withdrawn clamored for the return of their money. The "Mets," In accordance with precedent established by them In the Altuda case at Saratoga, on their own Initiative refunded- all wagers made on books in which the favorite was .included and in the short time at their disposal proceeded to make a new book on the race after his withdrawal. Manager Cavanagh was late In making the announcement declaring all bets off and consequently there was much confusion. The official ruling came almost simultaneously with the clang of the "theyre off" bell and at first everybody supposed that all betting on the race was declared off. A confusion of orders made matters - worsen v One of- variaghVngeritsmlule1 "the rounds .after the race and mistakenly announced that all bets were off and that it was no race. This created and awful mixnp and Cavanagh had the time of his life In restoring order In the betting enclosure. As a matter of fact the calling off of the bets came too late Into the field Ith its 150 bookmakers to permit any of them to lay new odds or make new books ,and, consequently, no confusion existed there whatever, all wagers . being refunded on the race. A big coup had been planned on Merrill, ridden by Miller and ultimately returned the winner. His stable connections flooded the ring with money, hacking him down from 10 and 12 to 1 to 6 to 1, and then came the belated news that George S. Davis had been scratched. These gentry believing that all wagers on sure enough starters, would stand-in accordance with the precedent established by J. G. Cavanagh, the supreme arbiter of the ring, did not take the trouble to renew their commissions at the price offered in the new book and their cleverly planned coup came to naught as instead of collecting a huge sum in winning wagers, something like 0,-000, they only received a return of their original investment. The weather conditions were ideal and a big crowd of spectators was in attendance. Proper won the Cuf, Preliminary by a narrow margin from the immensely improved Oxford. Flip Flap, In poor condition, finished a game third arid may prove a much more serious factor In the cup race Itself. Jockey Walter Miller was fined 00 by ..the stewards for rough riding on Dolly Spanker in the fifth race.
