Judge Sam Scales knew them all and knew them well. That’s why he tried to talk his two fellow judges out of the run-off between Jersey Mike and Alabama Al. He agreed they were the top two dogs among the four that had gone down for two hours today, Monday. And he could have lived with giving the title to either of them and runner-up to the other. But one wanted to name Mike Champion and the other Al. Both were insisting on a run-off Tuesday morning.
Sam was a professional handler, had been many years. Knew Mike’s and Al’s handlers and owners well. Knew there was poison in their relationships with one another, that old grudges festered among them. His fellow judges knew them hardly at all.
“Boys, believe me, a run-off is a bad idea. I really do not want to tell you why, don’t want to speak ill of any involved. Just believe me, nothing good will come of a run-off and something bad is likely to.
“We agree these are the top two, and little separates their performances overall. I can live with either being Champion, the other Runner-Up. If you have to, flip a coin. Just don’t call them back for a run-off. The other handlers waiting to run in the Classic and Derby will lose a day and most will have to leave before it’s over for other commitments.”
Hard as he tried, Sam could not budge them. So that evening Sam visited four other handlers who were friends and asked them to ride for the run-off next morning, told them what he was asking them to do and why. They all grinned and agreed he had a good idea.
At the breakaway for the run-off Tuesday morning, the Chairperson spoke, announcing the initial time would be an hour, but if the judges were not agreed that hour had separated Mike’s and Al’s performances, they would stay down until ordered up by the judges. Then Sam Scales spoke.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the judges have appointed (he named the four pros he had spoken with last evening) to ride as extra marshals this morning. They are authorized to ride anywhere. Their job is not to return off-course dogs, but to be sure as far as possible none gets on a road and prevent unnecessary delay since we need all the time we can save for the Classic.”
In truth the jobs of the four was to be on the lookout for woods scouts which Sam knew both the handlers of the dogs down for the run-off would have waiting on horseback to help his dog or sabotage the race of its brace-mate. As a result of Sam’s announcement, four riders scheduled to be hidden in woods just off the course would instead be in the gallery.
When the hour was up, neither dog had scored on birds but both had credible ground work. Sam called for a huddle and the three judges rode ahead together and out of earshot of the gallery.
“Are you ready to flip a coin?” Sam asked. Both of his fellow judges nodded. “Pick ‘em up,” Sam yelled. Back at the stable where the judge’s horses were stalled, Sam flipped the coin. At the clubhouse a half-hour later the Chairperson announced, “Jersey Mike is Runner-Up, Alabama Al is this year’s Invitational Champion.”
The four riders who each expected to have earned $100 as woods scouts (they were not pro handlers) were disappointed.