HANDICAPPING AMERICANS 



stable together. Tlie first animal, Escurio, tliey 

 bought out of a selling race and put in a handicap. 

 He was given top weight which of course came as a 

 big surprise. It was a question of handicapping the 

 owner, trainer, and the jockey — Lester Reiff. Tlie 

 English officials were mad about the dope question at 

 the time, yet Escurio despite his top weight started 

 at 7 to 4 on in a good field and won it. It has been 

 stated so many times that Drake and Gates won 

 £100,000 over Royal Flush in the Stewards' Cup that 

 I was glad to have an opportunity in this year of 1915 

 of asking Mr Drake about it. He said that a hundred 

 thousand represented about the exact figure. There 

 was a great purchase for you. Royal Flush, if you like ! 

 They bought him privately for £400 and his record in 

 1900 was a real good one, showing the wonderful im- 

 provement which could be made in a horse by up-to- 

 date methods. Let me add that when Eager won the 

 celebrated match against Royal Flush Drake and Gates 

 did not have a penny on their horse, for he was 

 absolutely no good in the going. 



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