296 RACEALONG 



before the horse was purchased. When he arrived 

 at Worcester, he was re-shipped to Hills Grove. An 

 attack of distemper was all that prevented a clean- 

 up at the Rhode Island track. 



When the identity of Jack London was estab- 

 lished, Roberts refunded his winnings and offered to 

 return the $5,000 if Barnum would give him the 

 horse. He claimed that Richardson purchased the 

 horse and sent him on as one without a record. 

 Richardson admitted this but afterwards denied it. 



Murphy decided to keep Jack London and try him 

 on the mile tracks. He did not do very well. He 

 could not make him eat during the hot weather. In 

 October when the nights were cool Jack London won 

 a postponed race at Lexington in 2 :07i/4- He was then 

 passed on to the auctions. 



By ringing this horse, Richardson lost a chance of 

 bringing out a Grand Circuit performer. The form 

 which the horse showed on the half-mile tracks in 

 1912 would have carried him to the front on the 

 larger ovals in 2:05 or better. The turn to the left 

 made him a turf outlaw. A turn to the right would 

 have made him a leading reinsman as well as a man 

 whose skill in balancing a horse would have placed 

 him on easy street for the balance of his career. 



Edna L. 



Turf buccaneers rarely make anything by their dis- 

 reputable transactions. When they do get a few 

 dollars, they are unable to keep them. The hold-up 

 man meets them at every turn. The tide turns against 



