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COSTLY FA LUKES. Tha histoty of the turf is fall of easas of high prices paid f r young horses, nealy always j because of close relationship to celebrated per- ; formers, that failed to repay a tithe of their I first cost Equally true is it that many of the j greatest racehorses were bought for a trifling sum as yearlings. A reminiscent writer for a New York newspaper cites the following as instances in the list of those that failed when brouuht to the stern test of the track. Some bought as yearlings and some that had already earned a maasure of fame that was quickly obliterated aitar passing to near ownors: "Freddy Gebhards turf memories are not all pleasant. Ila paid 3,030 for Canvass, a royaliy bred yearling, and aboat all ha got for bis. money was ih9 pedigree of his purcbase. Ha did win some cheap races, bat never spread his sail before a good field. "The Dwyers have often paid good pricas fcr untried yearlings, but when they paid 0 000 for Houston simply because he was a full brotlur to the great Hanover they capped the climax. Houston was tho prodignl Eon of the family and cau-ed intoaso mortification to his distinguished relative. Tbe,000 investment proved rnythiog bu: a racehorse, and Lis history farther i lustrataa the fact that a maais not always wiso to invest in a horse siinplj b -1 cause he has the blool of some already known j great performer. "At the tale of Congressman Scotts stable the Dwyers paid a large sum for Bolero. He lost his speed upon the chauga of ownership, and Father Bid Daly finally obtained him for 00. Marcus Daly, tha copper King, paid S10,-000 for Cong-ess as a yearling. Congress immediately adjourned and has not convened since. King Thomas was oae of the greatest disappointments of them all. He was by King Ban Maid Hampton and was considered the fast-est yearling over foalod in this country. Matt Allen, wno was training for 8eaator Hearst, thought King Thomas should be in tho ir stable, and he was purcaa sod for a sum of money said to ba 8,000. "Tne famj attached to tli3 colt probably retarded his spaad, for it was miny days bafore ha won his maidanraca. Aftarhahid achieved that event he was coatent to rest on his laurels and did not win again and was finally sold for a mere bigatelte a hundred or two. m "Charles L. Fairs first ventare upon the turf proved so successful that he decided to fill a stable with hUh-piicei pnrse-winnors. His first pair was Qibion and Princess, both of wh.ch won good races and caused the transfer of some thousands of dollars from the book-mak rs bank rolls to the millionaires pockets. Mr. Fair was so elated with his success on the turf that he was eager to win the Amarioan Derby. "Tneodore Winters had a yearling called Yo El Rey, out of the noted mara Marion, dam of Emperor of Norfolk El Rio Boy, The Czar and YoTambien. Mr. Fair joari.eJ for this blue-blooded yearling, anj as a millionaire usually gets what he wants if ha is persistent, Mr. ! Winters was finally induced to sell Yo El Bey to Fair for 0,000. "That aristocratic yearling came down from Winters ranch in Novada, aud of all the gold brick j that ever djcoived a truetinn novice on tha turf, Fairs u,00i purchase was abaolutsly the ttOiSD. He won a maiden race at the old Bay D.stiict track at Frioco and has won nothing since. Tha hortO was a fino looking animal, had a petirte as loug as a Turns, was perfectly sound, but was tho sulkiejt brute ever foaled. "W. OB. MacDrmoughs investments on tho j turf gained him fame, but the element of chance has been somewhat against him as far as his purchases are concerned. Tho extent to which ha went into the business may be apprpciatod by tboknolf dge of the fact that he paid 50,000 for Ormonda, tha world-famous stallion. "Burns and Waterhonse have also hd unpleasant experiences with eoidp of their high-priced horseflesh. Thy paid ,000 for Wernberg. He won a purse over a lot of selling platers and then bowod a tendon and was sold for 60. "James R. Keene has also had some bitter experience in this lino. Pome time after tho California-bred horse. Tournament, won the Realization Stakes, Mr. Kanne bought him from Senat? r Hearst for 2 000. Tournament won only two races for Mr. Keana. hen Handsome ran his good two-year-old, Leo Luke, to a head in tha Jensation Stakes at Latonia, Mr. Corrigan at once made overtures toHandsomes owner, the noted c loied trainor, Brov.n Dick, for the purchase of tho youngs-tor, which ha filially obtained for 0,000 and ,s09 more if the colt won the Hyue Park S akas at Wa hington Park tho following weak. Handscme w n the stake and a few other races, but than lost form and bjcama no batter than a t-ellii g plater. "Veterinarians discovered that Handsomo had a weak bacit, and so Mr. Corrigan dacided to dispose of him, which be did to Zeke Abrahams, a w 11-kuow turfman of San Francisco, ; whosa fad was tho collection of equine bric-a-brac. The 0,000 b maty sold forSlOO Handsome lost even his good looks after that, and Abrahams soon gave him away. The last heard of him he wa3 an ordinary tramp hone up in Oregon. "The same season Mr. Corrigan paid 0,000 for Due it at the disposal sale of tbe stable of Leigh and R030. Tha horse had made a mile record at Shsepsh ad Bay, which ttill stands, ju t a short time before the sale, He won few races after the change of ownership, however. Peter tna Great again illustrates that racehorses are just like women jon can never place them. Charlej Boots bred him on his Elmwood I Stock Farm at Milpitas, and Peter won every race in which he started at the Buy District Conrse. At Chicago he made Domino let out every link to beat him, and the horse from Mil-pitas gained great fame. Albert Couper paid 5,000 for Peter, but the horse never showed in front again. "J. J. McCafferty, one of the shrewdest turfmen in tha country, has also picked up some bad ones in his dealings with ov.nors of world baaters. McCafferty was anxious to put a large crimp in the rolls of the bookmakers all at one fell owoop. He chosa Aloha for the medium, paying 0 GOO for him. The great kill ng was made according to schedule, but McCafferty and Aloha were among the slain. Aloha was i sold off for ,200. I "McCafferty also paid ,700 for Fatality at MacDonoughs sale in St. Louis. Tue mare won oae purse and then broka down, j "Eveiy prom nant horromen in the country can teil stoiies of hopes built on yearlings that never realized. When Salvator s first gbt wore sold in New York they avera.ed ,0U0 for tha .lot Sallie Woodford, by Salvator, lUtofMUs j Woodford, the quetn of iho turf, brought 0,0.0 at the sale. Green B. Morris exchanging that amount of gold for her. She provtd a failure, as did most of ihe others."
