view raw text
CHARLIES HEED TO RETIRE. "Im 72 years and 5 months old, Ive got all the money I want and Im going to sell every pound of horseflesh I own and quit the business. With these words Charles Reed, one of tho most picturesque characters ever identified with American racing, announced his retirement from the turf on the porch of the Grand Union Hotel," says the New York Sun of Wednesday. "It was announced at the close of the sale of the Mackay and Bennington horses that the sale of the Fairview yearlings, bred by Mr. Reed, would take place in the racetrack paddock at Saratoga on Saturday afternoon. There was announcement, also, some months ago, that Mr. Reed might decide to sell most of the stock at Fairview this autumn, but it was not until tonight that Mr. Reed let it be known tnat ho had decided to retire, for good and all, from both the breeding and racing of horses. " Ive raced some of the greatest horsts that ever looked through bridles, continued Mr. Reed, and Ive bred more money-winners than any breeder in the United States. Ive worked hard and I want to quit. Besides, I cant live forever, and I want to get my estate in shape before I die. My wife, who is also my partner, will be my executor and she wont be bothered with giving bonds, or any of that truck. Shell take what I leave and do as she likes; but I want to save her all tho trouble I can, so Im setting my house in order when Im able. "Mr. Reed has been a gambler and a turfman for fifty years, He came north from New Orleans, got acquainted with John Morrissey and finally became his partner in the Saratoga Club. "At Morrisseys death, Reed succeeded to the proprietorship of the club, his partner being Albert Spencer. Later he took the lease of the Saratoga racetrack and ran it many years. "In those days he had a largo racing stable, his string of jumpers being the most formidable in this country. The late James Lee was his trainer, Billy Donohue was his first jockey for flat races and the great Irish rider, Pat Meany, piloted his horses over the jumps. Among his flat racers were the famous mares Susan Ann, Thora and Henlopen and the colt Timothy, while his jumpers included Trouble, still referred to as the greatest horse that ever went through a field or over the jumps, Disturbance, Waller and Day Star. "Something like twenty-five years ago Mr. Reed started his first breeding establishment on the western shore of Saratoga Lake and spent a small fortune in equipping it. He imported the English stallions Highlander and Fechter and installed them at the farm. The climate here was found to be too rugged for the breeding of thormighbreds, and so Mr. Reed sold the property and bought the Fairview Farm, four and a half miles from Gallatin, Tenn. The farm consists of 1,958 acres and is regarded as one of the best equipped breeding establishments in the country. The system of waterworks alone cost 0,000. In each field or paddock is a cypress tub holding enough water for the number of horses intended for that paddock, and these tubs are always kept filled with fresh water pumped from springs on the place. "This property, together with 124 brood mares, all in foal, and eleven stallions, will be sold to the highest bidder this fall. "The horses will be sold either at Sheepshead Bay or Morris Park. Among the sires to be sold are Knight of tho Thistle, St. Blaise, Cheviot, Rey del Rey, Possara, Phoenix, Sam Weller, Exile and Bouncer, a young sire by Miser Rebonnd. Some of the mares are : Active, Algar, Belle Dame, Coventry, Diana, Fedora II., Genevieve. Gretna, Medallion, Kola, Miss Dance, Period, Pretenso, Seaweed, Selina, Seraphine and Siberia. "After Mr. Reed had announced his retirement as a breeder, ho was asked if he would also dispose t;f his club at 5 West Twenty-fourth street, New York city, which he has conducted so long. " No, was his answer, I guess Ill stick to that as long as I live. It has been running for half a csntury and in the old days used to be the New York branch of tho Saratoga club. I wouldnt know what to do with myself if I had nothing to do, so Ill stick to tho old place. " Mr. Reed looks much more like a man of 50 than of 72. He is as active as ever and every morning he goes to tho baths for an hours swim in the cool pool. He has two sons and a daughter."
