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" THE GATES-DRAKE COUP IN ENGLAND. "Whats the matter, John? There isnt anything wrong with the horse, is there?" This is the way John W. Gates expressed his surprise at the unexpected timidity of his friend, John A. Drake, who had declared it to be his opinion that a million dollars was enough to win on a horse race, and had refused to continue wagering that Royal Flush would capture the Stewards Cup at Goodwood. His timorous attitude annoyed Mr. Gates, who took the position, as a matter of principle, that the Important question was not how much had been wagered, but how much more money could be placid at reasonable odds. There are many who did not approve the flambuoy-ant methods usually employed by Mr. Gates, yet who today * admit that in his own way he was one of the most remarkable men this country has produced. A shrewd business man capable of holding his own with the best when it came to driving a bargain, he was nevertheless a speculator by nature and a pluuger by instinct. So long as he could see an advantage in his favor it was his policy to play for high slakes. In his first business venture lie matched his wits against those of a shrewd and crafty veteran, anil, playing for a big stake, won. He followed the same method at every turn to life, the result being a picturesque career with many tips. and downs. He took the frowns of fortune with the same good-natured laugh with which he accepted her smiles. A joke was none the less a joke because it was on him. With Gates life itself was a game, and in the game of life he was a notorious bluffer. The trouble was, and other players discovered it to their loss, he bluffed with as much enthusiasm on strength as he did on weakness. He joyed in contest and. though victory was Street to him, he preferred io play and lose than not to be in the game. It was at Goodwotid that Mr. Gates found the opportunity for the most sensational effort of his life. He planned and executed a coup, the greatest ever known on any race track in any country. Much was written about it at the time, but I never heard th • true story of the winning of the Stewards Cup ny Royal Flush, and the taking of a fortune of more than a million and a half dollars from the English bookmakers, until I had the good luck to find Mr. Gates iu a reminiscent mood during his last visit to Saratoga. He had lieen talking about some of h"s racing ventures, and as the conversation halted I askiil him how his great plunge at Goodwood hap pemd to be made. *li was an accident." he replied, with a laugh. "Drake an! I weie credited with a lot of shrewdness that was n it ours. "If Royal Flush had not attempted to kill his trainer it is improbable that we would have bet on him. When the vicious old horse was felled to his knees by a blow back of the ears from a heavy cane. the first move had lieen made in our campaign which eventually cost the English bookmakers a pot of money. "Mr. Drake and I were In Europe on a vacation. He was racing a large stable in England, and. though we had promised ourselves a complete rest, it was difficult to keep away from the tracks. We had made several heavy wagers and, while our luck had lieon varying, we were consistent losers and the balance against us was so great that the bookmakers regarded us as "good things providentially provided for their benefit. We iu turn, of course, were looking for an opportunity to turn fortune in our favor. "Royal Flush was in a sale at Newmarket. He had beeii a phenomenon as a two-year-old. but in his later years his vile temper and sour disposition brought him into disrepute. Sometimes he would show a remarkable turn of speed; at other times be would sulk and would be beaten by the most ordinary selling platers. His trainers and handlers w.-re afraid of him. ami In- was smart enough to take ad-vaulage of their fears. "Enoch V i-li.-n il was training for Drake and little .lohnny Keiff was doing mosr of the riding. They kie-w what Royal Flash at his l est was capable of doinC and thov advised his purchase. Drake con-- ■mod. and the horse, then six years old. was benight for 12,699. "He. was a bargain at that price, but Wisha:d many a time expressed regret that he had tak -n Royal Flesh into the stable. For pure cusseduess he was the worst horse I have ever knowu. He nit a finger off the hand of one of the stable men and struck down and nearly killed another. Johnny RejiT was the only |ierson he would Berssjt near him without protest. For the jockey he seemed to hive a r« al liking. "He hated Wishard. and the trainer never w-u near him without carrying a heavy hickory cane. It was wed be did so, for one spring day the stallion rushed at hiin in | furv of aiiLer. attempting to ssjaa hi:n by the shoulder. Wishard was prepared Down came the eano across Royal Flushs ems and the horse dropped to his knees. He was up again Instantly ami ready for another rush, but this ttaM the can- crashed against his ribs, raising a bear* v. ell along his side. •"Wishard was deteinii 1 lo have ii out with the , bone and break his temper and spirit if such a thtog were possible, lie knew his own danger, bin was mad dear through, and really welcomed tin-battle. Once the man was almost baataa. Roy.u Flush struck at him and came dowu ou his foot, cruchinj. one of Uis toes. "Finally a blow across the ears stunned the horse. He dropped to the lloor and it was fully ten minutes before he could struggle to his feet. That last blow took all the fight out of him. He had met his master and knew it. After that he would let Wishard smiioth down his neck and he would nose around his trainers pocket for the lump of sugar which generally was there for him. "Following that battle Roval Flush began to show his true form in running. No longer was he unreliable. When ho changed he just changed all over. He did not sulk, and, for Reiff in particular, he would do whatever was asked of him. In a private trial over a half mile course he showed sped wih which ae one had ever credited him. It was then that we renewed our activities in the betting enclosures. "Before his purchase by Mr. Drake the horse had lieen entered for the Stewards Cup. which, as von know, is one of the great races of the English turf. Fortunately for us. tho speculating public did not think he had nn outside chance to win. Mr. Drake, the trainer, and I knew differently. The bookmakers did not realize their mistake until the race had been run and won. Then they were the saddest lot of men you ever knew. They cried some, but it did them little good, and in the end they all paid up iu full, and most of them with -fairly good grace. "How much did we win? Well, it was the greatest successful plunge ever made on the English turf, and that speaks for the entire world. I have never told anyone exactly how much I won on that race. Mr. Drake and I together took away from the bookmakers more than a million and a half dollars." In England it Is the custom of the professional bookmakers to open what is known as "future books" on the more important races. So if a person desires he may wager on the result of a race that is to be run a month later. Mr. Gates took advantage of this custom, it having been agreed that he should do all the betting on Royal Flush, Mr. Drake having an equal share in the speculation. The first wager placed, a small one. was at the long odds of 100 to 1. and the official opening of the betting found the bookmakers laying 40 to 1 that Royal Flush would not win the Stewards Cup. Mr. Drake, a man of iron nerves, long ago made a reputation for himself as a daring si eculator. He pave little attention to the betting operations of his friend, in which he had a share, until one day he noliced that the odds against Royal Flush had fallen to 10 to 1. Then he asked Gates how much he had wagered. "I dont know." was the reply. "I have note made of it all, but havent kept the totals. After dinner we will go over the figures." And so they did. As the total increased Mr. Drakes eyes began to open. Mr. Gates had bet nearly 0,000 and stood to win 5900,000 if Royal Flush was successful. Mr. Drake drew a line at the bottom of the column of figures and, then turning to his friend, ejaculated: "Are you crazy?" . "Why, no," replied Mr. Gates. "What do you mean?" "Nothing," was the reply. "Only a million dollars is too much to win on one horse race." "Rut I can still get ten to one," said Gates. "Well, responded Drake, "go on and bet your fool head off. But whatever goes below the line I have drawn on this paper goes for you. Im through." Gates looked at Drake perplexed for a moment, and then drawled out: "Whats the matter, John? There isnt anything wrong with the horse is there?" And It was an honest inquiry. Ho reasoned with Mr. Drake, but, finding him obdurate, took the burden of the campaign entirely upon his own shoulders. Nineteen well-trained thoroughbreds started that year in the race for the Stewards Cup. Most of them were liberally supported by the wagers of their owners and their owners friends, but in spite of that the weight of the Gates money drove the odds against Royal Flush down until when the horses galloped to the post, 9% to 1 was the best offered. Goodwood was at its prettiest that Tuesday, July St, 1100. though society wasi somewhat depressed by the absence of royalty — the court was then paying resiK-ct to the memory of the murdered King of Italy. Out on the lawn under Ihe trees luncheon tables were spread, ami charming ladies, beautifully gowned, refreshed themselves as they watched the running of the races. Many Americans were present, but most of them were more inclined to wager on Richard Crokcrs Amoricus, which was also entered for the Stewards Cup. than on the English bred Royal Flush. A few. however, caught the contagion of Mr. Gates enthusiasm and sent their money along with his. The race was run over tho course for two-year-olds. six furlongs and almost straightaway. When th - horses lined up awaiting the word, Mr. Gate1* regretfully quit Uio company of the bookmakers and joined his wife on the lawn. There was little delay, and then the flashing of brilliant colors showed that the horses had lieen sent on their journey. As a spectacle, tlie race amounted to little. The nineteen horses started on fairly even terms. Reiff. on Royal Flush, found a iiosition of vantage in the first flight, and there ho remained without effort until the finish was about .".Oo yards away. Then ho shook up his mount and it was all over. Royal Flush took command and with a mad burst of speed finished six full lengths in front of the second horse, ftairrirnn, running the six furlongs in 1:13%. When Gates saw Royal Flush all alone out in the middle of the track, winning with ease, he gave a wild whoop of triumph. He joyfully pounded his friend Drake on the back, then he caught Mrs. Gates in his arms and began waltzing over the green, dragging her reluctantly with him. When she palled away from him and rebuked him for his boiss ietaaa glee, ha declared her refusal to join him in the dance filled his heart with grief. He was like a happy schoolboy and his joy was not entirely lie-causo of the fortune won. Victory after facing odds always meant much to him. Johnny Reiff received *10.000 for his work in the saddle and a check for 9SB.999 was handed !■» Wishard In recognition of his skill iu training and preparing Royal Flush. An attempt was made by some of the English biokmakeis to raise a cry of sharp practice against Mr. Gates and Mr. Drake, but the protest bail no weight back of it. Nevertheless, American ptoageca have been made UTiweleoine in l*ll|lsad store tba day. and so it is improbable that tin- Gales it, will ever be equaled. — Lea L. Redding in Peersoi -■ Magazine.
