TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS 233 



Duke achieved was a puzzle which agitated the Turf world 

 during the whole of the 1900 season. All sorts of stories 

 were in circulation, one to the effect that electrical appliances 

 were used by the jockeys, another that the horses were given 

 a hypodermic injection before they ran, and a third that a 

 dose of some invigorating stuff was administered internally 

 some time before the race. As regards the electric appliances 

 we may at once dismiss the idea, which was never seriously 

 entertained by any race-goer of ordinary common sense. 

 About the injections, or " doping," as it is called in America, 

 the evidence is not so clear. It is a fact that injections have 

 been given to horses before they ran by English veterinary 

 surgeons, but the cases I really know of took place some 

 years ago, and long before the arrival of the American 

 trainers in this country. That Wishard and Duke adopted 

 the hypodermic system there is no evidence whatever to 

 show, at least as far as I have heard, and I am given to 

 understand that both trainers deny the accusation. As 

 regards stimulants given internally before the race, I need 

 hardly write that the custom is as old as the hills, and that 

 for generations whisky and port wine have been given 

 without stint to horses of roguish proclivities. If, instead 

 of wine or spirits, the American trainers have administered 

 other stimulants which have a better effect, I need only say 

 that this shows their cleverness, but is hardly an offence. 

 " Doping " has been no doubt very common in America, 

 because the authorities in that country have found it 

 necessary to make it illegal, but there never was any law 

 against dosing a horse before he runs, and though the 

 practice is not one which I admire, I must admit that 

 probably it does little or no harm. In all likelihood the 

 truth of the matter is that the American trainers allow 

 nature to have more play than do their ^English brethren. 

 Rule of thumb is rigidly enforced in some stables, but the 

 American trainer gives his horse any amount of liberty, 

 keeps him much more lightly clothed, and studies the 

 peculiarities of each of his charges. It has probably been 

 noticed that all the American trainers (including Huggins, 

 Wishard, and Duke) have much greater success during the 



