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A jockey by the name of Houlihan came to Upson Downs one December day with a letter to Jack Adler, then chief aide to Judge Blinkiron. Opening the letter Jack discovered that it was from an old Yonkers friend and requested him to "look after the bearer, jockey Jimmy Houlihan, a nephew of mine, and a most promising and upright youngster, who has ridden this summer with marked success at Lowrey and. the Dump, up at 110th street and First avenue." Adler recommended Houlihan, who appeared to bo well past the voting age, to several of his friends among the owners and to Judge Blinkiron, with the result that Lester Doctor, then racing a small and unselect stable at the little course by the canal, put him up on a horse of his, sure to be a red hot favorite and apparently a "standout" About an hour before the race Adler noticed Houlihan in earnest converse with a bird of whose morals and purpose in life Jack had his doubts. Later he questioned the jockey .lbout his companion. "Aw, him?" said Houlihan. "I knowed him up at the Dump. He got me my first mount But I told him just now I didnt want nothin to do with him down here. I dont think hes very honest, Mr. Adler." But when the odds on Houlihans mount were posted and Jack saw the suspicious party whispering to a certain layer, which action was immediately followed by a hunching of the odds by tho layer, persisting till post time, Adler had an idea there was something stirring. Wherefore Judge Blinkiron called Houlihan out of the post parade and warned him that no one had yet gotten away with murder at Upson Downs. When the break came Houlihan was pulling up, then set to whipping his mount, took him to the outside on all turns, tried to run him over the fence at the last turn, necessitating a full stop and then was beaten a couple of lengths, so the press boys said, but Judge Blinkiron dropped Houlihans number as the winner. Now the official placing board could be seen from the, lower turn at Upson Downs and suddenly the eagle eye of Adler noted I Houlihan riding alongside the horse placed second and gesticulating wildly to the losing : jockey. The latter, a midget of fourteen, on arriving at the stand could hardly wait to unsaddle his mount, so in haste was he to mount the steps to Judge Blinkirons pagoda. "Whats the. idea, kid?" queried Adler. "The winner fouled me !" exclaimed the youngster. "Where?" "Where ? I dunno ; wait till I go ask him," said the jockey. "On your way to the jocks room," ordered Jack. That night Adler sent the following wire to young Mr. Houlihans uncle up in Yonkers : "Our grand stand not very securely nailed down. After watching your nephew ride one race Judge Blinkiron decided safety pur property demanded giving young man the gate. Sheriff also was interested eye witness to performance and gave him hours to leave town. Dont worry, lad is well able to look after self. Merry Christmas. Adler." Billy Burtschell used to compliment Upson Downs with the presence of his stable. The first horse he ever raced there was herded all over the course by a pie-bald skate ridden by old Jock Ripantear. Nothing was done about. That night Billy met judge Blinkiron where each could stand with a foot on the brass rail. Billy appeared jovial, even though the loss of that race still hurts. "Judge," he remarked casually, as if feeling his way, "what does one horse have to do to another at Upson Downs to be disqualified?" "Put him over either fence or knock him down and jump on him," replied the judge, as he watched the bubbles forming on the edge. "H-m," grunted Burtschell. "And what does an owner have to do to get ruled off here?" "So much as blink an eye at one of my decisions. Heres how, Mr. Burtschell," smiled the lovable of old Major. Wherefore Billy spent many hours with his open eye under a water-faucet, like the boxing boys do. He liked Upson Downs and didnt care to run afoul of Blinkirons wrath because of nervous optics under trying circumstances.
