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CAVANAGH TO HAVE ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY. George S. Davis Incident Creates a New Order in Eastern Betting Rings. As aftermath of tiie confusion created in the betting ring at Brighton Beach Tuesday through laxity III the matter of notification to bookmakers and bettors that George S. Davis had been withdrawn from the third race, comes the announcement that in future absolute authority for the settling of all disputes will be delegated to riugmastcr Jpbn G. Cuvanagh. The New York Sun gives this detailed account of the incident: "Among the entries was the colt George S. Davis, owned jointly by the shortstop of the Chicago White Sox of that name ami T. O. AVcbber, his authorized agent. Some time ago Webber bought the horse Gambler from P. S. P. Randolph of Philadelphia for a certain sum. He paid something down and still owed ,200. Last August Randolph asked Webber o pay up, but the latter, unable to do so, agreed to turn over the colt George S. Davis to the Phlladelphiah, with the understanding that if on September 10 the money was not paid the horse woud become the permanent property of the original owner of Gambler. On that date Webber was still unable to make good the ,200, and the colt George S. Davis was formally transferred to Randolph" and the deal was officially registered with the Jockey Club. But in spite of this fact George S. Davis started in a race at Graveseml September 20 in the name of GeonijBS., Davis, the ball player, lie was- also similarliEtrcd In the third race Tuesday, but as Mr. Jjiiph ueiit word to the stewards that he was the rightful owner of the colt, Webber was sent for and ofdered to scratch the colt forthwith. Webber said he had the money with him to; pay his indebtedness to Randolph, but the istewardi, acting within the rules, would not permit klm to start the colt tinder the circumstances. AVebbor wat nWay and proceeded to fend the colt ihatt 1o his- stable at Graveseml, but he did not landlaially scratch, him, As Knap" had bmi en gaged to ride several days ago and had made the weight before the first race, the colt was posted as a starter In the betting ring, the clubhouse and on the official jockey board opposite the grandstand. "With George S. Davis as a starter, therefore, the hirers made him a favorite at 7 to fi, with Dan Buhre second choice at S to 5, Victoria B. at 4, Merrill at 10 and so on. A pile of money was wagered on Victoria B. by the western crowd, "while the first two choices were generally neglected. No sooner was George S. Davis posted oii the jockey board opposite the grandstand than the stewards In surprise sent word to the secretarys otfice that the colt should be scratched. Webber was there and promptly withdrew the colt, declaring that he had forgotten all about the matter. Both horse and jockey were therefore removed from the official bulletin boards and the word was quickly passed around the rlns that he would not go to the post. There was instantaneous turmoil. The bugle had sounded and the horses had left the paddock. Believing that there was no time to make a new book, ringmaster Cavanagh declared on the spur of the moment that all bets were off, and one of his men went the rounds of the ring with an announcement to this effect. "But some of the bookmakers, members of the Mots, decided to offer a new set of prices, which added to the confusion. These layers proceeded to make Dan Buhre the favorite at 6 to 5, with Victoria B. at S to 5 and Merrill at 4 to 1. "When the race was" run there was a .good-sized row in the ring. Bookmaker Tyler and many of the non-inenibers proceeded to refund all the money Wagered on the race, while those who had made a new book were in a quandary. In the midst of the wrangling, with an excitable crowd clamoring for Information, Cavanagh made the official announcement himself that all bets made before the colt George S. Davis was scratched were off, while ,all other wagers stood. Cavanagh declared that this controversy could be easily settled by . the sheets. It was a simple solutiOu of the trouble, but some of the irresponsible layers took advantage of the perplexing situation to refuse to pay back money wagered before the scratching of the colt, while many persons who had backed Merrill, the winner, at 10 to 1, could not understand, why they should not receive the full value of their wagers. But all such disputed bets that were not paid Tuesday were settled the following day in accordance with the sheets. It has often been pointed out that an iron hand was needed in the ring, but no reaj authority has ever been delegated to Cavanagh to act .finally. In view of the tangle, however, Is may be said that in future Cavanaghs word will be law and that when he declares that a race must be run without betting there will be no getting around the order. If Cavanagh had been supreme Tuesday uo second books would have been made on the race and there would have been no trouble, but the experience has taught the bookmakers a lesson that will bring, excellent results hereafter. "The stewards, meanwhile, fined Webber 00 for not scratching George S. Davis when ordered to do so in the first place and then proceeded to investigate the race from top to Lottoin. There was a rumor that George S. Davis was allowed to be posted as a starter in order to get a price against Victoria 1!.; that certain unscrupulous operators fixed up the whole thing and were foiled In their attempt to skin the ring at the last moment. The whole affair looked bad and if there is -any truth in the talk that prevailed all the rest of the afternoon as to the motives of the persons said to be behind the deal it is hoped that the stewards will act swiftly and effectively. "While the wrangle was under way In the ring there were several impromptu scraps which were quickly quelled by the Pinkerlons; A Wall street man who had made a bet witli bookmaker Hanson, when unable to get his money back under the Cavanagh ruling, grabbed the. cashbox and rushed with it to the ringmaster to have the matter adjusted. His action caused a wild scramble, with cries of stop thief, but when he explained his idea of taking the matter into his own hands he was allowed to go with the Information that the mlxup would be settled satisfactorily In due time. " Some persons have believed that they could run things in the ring to suit themselves; said a well-known operator, but youll see Cavanagh the absolute master of the situation in the future, All bets on the race, should have been declared off, as Cavanagh ruled in. the first plage, and no second bookshould have been made. As the racing authorities do not recognize betting there was no chance for additional time to make a new book on the race. In accordance with the custom that prevail in the west. You can bet, however, that the trouble will not occur again. "
