Keen Interest in Bedwell Case: Attitude of the Kentucky State Racing Commission-Interview with Ruled -off Owner, Daily Racing Form, 1910-08-28

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KEEN INTEREST IN BED WELL CASE. Attitude of the Kentucky State Racing Commission , — Interview with Ruled-Off Owner. i Louisville, Ky., August ST. — The final ruling of the Kentucky State Racing Commission at its meeting at Lexington last Wednesday in the two important cases involving the standing of the turf- ; men H. G. Bed well and John Marklein has been much discussed by horsemen at Churchill Downs and Douglas Park. The Bedwell case has occasioned more talk than any happening in connection with the turf during the present summer. By the final ruling Messrs. Marklein aud Beilwell both stand ruled off the turf, with no further recourse, unless they go to the courts. This probably would onJy give them temporary relief, as the higher courts have sustained every decision of the governing body of the turf In Kentucky. All judges, It seems, have recognized the commission as a court of itself, and Its standing as a legal body is unquestioned. Said a prominent local attorney yesterday: "Neither Bed Well nor Marklein could race his horses pending any court proceedings they might attempt. An injunction would be met with a couuter-contention by any track, as a Kentucky race course could not afford to place its track in contempt of court with the commission, and other associations respect in every way the rulings of that body. It looks to me .like lioth horsemen had better look around for a new business, at least until time tempers the commission In their favor and the ruling-off officials at Lexington and Latoula reach a conclusion that they have been punished enough." The Bedwell ruling retire* the greatest string of horses ever outlawed in a bunch in the history of American racing. When W. A. McOuigan. Jr., was ruled off he had a small stable compared to the Colorado turfmans extensive string of horses, and the same applied to the late Hardy Durham, and in both those noted cases some of the horses they were racing at the time were partnership animals. So far as is known Bedwell has no partners, and the huge string of horses he controls are entirely his own property. He has publlclv placed the valuation of his stable at 5,000. The list of the Bedwell horses quartered at latonia, for which their owner has announced his intention of finding a market in California, is as follows: Six-Year-Olds. Berkeley, ch. g. by Dieudonue — Carness. Nadzu, ch. g, by bodowfc — Salt Crass Mag. Prince Ahmed, ch. h, by King Hanover — Percita. Five-Year-Olds. Pajaroita, ch. g. by Key del Sierras — Aunt Bird. Four-Year-Olds. Bryce, ch. g, by The Bard — Los Angeles. Jeanette M., br. f, by Woolstborpe — Black Lily. Knight Deck, b. g, by Free Knight — Belle Decker. Madman, b. c by Hastings — Lady Madge. Richard Reed, br. c, by Marta Santa — Alary. Righteasy, blk. f, by Lackford— Edith Me. Three-Year-Olds. Belle Clem. ch. f, by Contestor — Hide and Seek. Gilbert Rose, blk. g, by Ravelston — Lavena C. Judge Quinn, ch. g, by Ravelston — Lady Wads-worth. Myles OConnell, br. c, by Miles — Meteora. Sticker, b. f, by Yankee — Courtplaster. Two-Year-Olds. Frank Ruhsmller, blk. c, by Bearcatcher — Lavena C. Lochiel, b. g, by Hastings — Lady of the Valley. Pennyroyal, br. g. by Wild Mint — Jennie McCa-be. It is not often that a stable of twenty such useful horses are gathered under one shed. Of the collection Mr. Bedwell values Knight Deck, Pajaroita and Prince Ahmed most highly. The last-named horse stands him more than he ever before paid for a horse, and before he left New York last June he was offered ,000 for the son of King Hanover. After Wednesdays meeting of the racing commission at Lexington. Mr. Bedwell reiterated his icuoeence of violation of the racing rules in the Nadzu case and said: "I shall not try further before this commission. I will ship my horses from Latonla to California and if 1 cannot race them there, will dispose of them in some way that will not make them an entire loss to me. I will find something profitable to do in another line if I am to be denied the privilege of racing. I have bad heavy expense in haviug my horses stand idle these seven weeks, but I am not broke. 1 have saved a considerable sum of the money I have made." The members of the Kentucky State Racing Commission are said to be convinced that Nadzu was drugged at the direction of owner Bedwell and they seem to hold the opinion that he has for some time resorted to the scientific administration of stimulants. It in their further belief that the Nadzu expose was due to unexpected conditions. The conclusion of the commission after its discussion on Wednesday is said to be about like this: "Nadzu, entered for the last race on July 4. hail been stimulated in the expectation that the horses would be called to the post on schedule time. There was, however, a delay of some forty-five minutes 1 from the regular time, occasioned by the allowance of an extra twenty minutes for betting on the ! handicaps and by the calling off of the rounds of the Johnson-Jeffries contest at Reno. Wagers had 1 been made on Nadzu by Bedwells clientele in handbooks throughout the country. The effect of the stimulant would be lost before post time. To make certain that this should not happen, there was a Second administration. This had the effect of an 1 overdose and brought about the expose." The commission placed absolutely no reliance in 1 the affidavit of the negro groom, Keil Williams. They argue that if he could have been bought to drug a horse he could have been liought to swear to ; a lie. The members of the commission have received 1 numerous letters from followers of the turf, large and small, upon the subject and the effect of these letters has been to stimulate the commission in its action. There are some hereabouts who believe Mr. Bedwell innocent, but the majority appear to approve the action of the commission and look upon the ruling in the light of an example that turf offenders will heed. . Col. Milton Young, it is learned, was in favor of . the commission sanctioning a sale of the Bedweil 1 horses and argued with his colleagues for action in that direction, but was overruled by the other members of the commission.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1910082801/drf1910082801_2_1
Local Identifier: drf1910082801_2_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800