In The Paddock., Daily Racing Form, 1903-06-21

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IN THE PADDOCK. The paddock was overcrowded. Sightseers were numerous and obstructed the movements of horses and their attendants. Scores of persons who got into the paddock early had to remain there and did not witness a race. Pat Dunne sent Glassfull, the favorite, to the post in the first race, but did not even get a peek at the horse while the field was running. Glassfull was the hottest kind of a paddock tip. John "VV. Gates was a frequent visitor. He looks a picture of health, said he never before felt better and had been greatly benefited by his trip abroad. He saw Rock Sand win the English Derby and lost ten pounds on Acefull, which carried the colors of Herman B. Duryea, one of the owners of Irish Lad. He had 10,000 francs on Quo Vadis, winner of the Grand Prix, in which Edmund Blancs colors were first, second and third. Quo Vadis won by a head with Caius one side and Vinicius on the other, so nearly even that spectators could not separate them. Before the Derby was run he had frequent conferences with John A. Drake, during which the latter was visibly under a nervous strain. Charlie Gates, quite jolly and apparently enjoying himself to the limit, was generally to be found in the company of his father. John Duffy, the St. Louis turfman, who will be 83 years old tomorrow, was warmly greeted by many acquaintances. Although his weight has never exceeded 156 pounds he has been noted for his wonderful grip. Old as he is there are few men of any size that he cannot make yield in a gripping contest. A mutual acquaintance said to Doc Streett yesterday: "Shake hands with Mr. Duffy." Doc folded his arms and remarked: "I have." James A. Murphy was a conspicuous figure in the paddock crowd. He backed Savable in the future betting and being an intimate of John A. Drake did not hesitate about telling that gentleman that he believed the substitution of Lester Reiff for Charley Gray was a mistake. He pleaded with Drake not to make the change, saying he failed to comprehend the wisdom of taking down a boy who has been winning with the colt and putting up a rider who had not been winning. In explaining his position he said: "Mind, I make no reflection on Lester Reiff as a rider nor any comparison of the merits of the two riders. I simply maintain that it is time enough to take down a boy when he rides a losing race." He also tried to persuade the owner of Savable not to start High Chancellor, because the latter was not a Derby horse and might interfere with some of the starters and cause disqualification affecting both horses. John A. Drake appeared relieved after the Derby had been decided. Asked for an expression i about the event he said: "It was a good race and was won by a good horse. The Picket is a better horse than I thought he was. I would like to have won, but couldnt. My horse met with • some rough treatment and I am pleased with the way he finished." Dr. Bernays, the eminent surgeon, who | resides in St. Louis, was up to see his namesake perform and closely inspected him about saddling time. Charles T. Boots comment on the Derby was "It is too bad Irish Lad didnt start., He js. a gpod; colt, and I wish the people here. •, could have; seen him run. His presence would have made the race so much more interesting." Edward Corrigan, who won the first Derby run at Washington Park, in 1884, says he is over sixty years of age, and will take 50 to 1 for ,000 that he will win another before he dies. His opinion of yesterdays race was: "I had a good view of the race. I watched it from the timers stand. The winner is quite a racehorse. He led all the way, was never troubled because no other horse got near enough to trouble him, and he won easily." "Senator" Bell, John A. Drakes colored commissioner, was grievously disappointed, but not discouraged, by the result of the Derby. Speaking of Savable, he feelingly remarked: "They beat him, but I think more of him than ever before. Folks said he couldnt go a mile and a half, but I now know he can. The gap he closed in the last three-eighths shows he can." John Rodegap, who trained Spokane, the Derby winner of 1899, was a fixture in the paddock. "Its a good track, a fine day, the greatest crowd I ever saw at a racetrack, j and Im here to stay because I cant get out and go anywhere else on the grounds," was his introductory announcement. After the Derby had been run he said: "There is a horse that ran to his work right up to the notch. Some people say work is not worthy of consideration. I say it Is. I want horses to work for me. When I have them; fit and they cant show good trials I know they are of no account." It was paddock gossip that Joe Teager had; won largely on the Derby. He was said to have, backed; The Picket in the OLeary and Weller books and backed him all over the ring at post odds. T. J. Gallagher.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1903062101/drf1903062101_1_1
Local Identifier: drf1903062101_1_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800