view raw text
MA JOR DAINGERFIEIiD. "C. F. Draper bought the Handspring Mon Droit three-year-old Major Daingerfield, the winner; under the popular colors of Gen. F. C. McLewee of Brooklyn and James -Brady of this city, of the Tidal and Realization Stakes, the Brooklyn Derby and the Annual Champion race at the McLewee-Brady sale at Gravosend Saturday purely on the impulse of the moment," says Daily America of Monday. "He made the purchase because the early bidding indicatod that the big black three-j ear-old was likely to go at a sacrifice, and without any intention of training and racing him. Mr. Draper knew that the injury on the knee which the colt got in the running of the Annual Champion race was superficial, but realized it might prevent many horsemen who would have liked to own a sound Major Daingerfield from bidding. "Tho colt is accordingly for sale and Mr. Draper has received several offers, each of a considerable advance over the purchase price. He has not decided to accept any of these yet, because he believes by holding out a bit, he can get nearly, if not quite, twice as much as 0,100. "One of the offers, it is said, was from Matt Allen, the man who developed Major Daingerfield and trained him for his great races this year. If Mr. Allen buys the colt he will go to England with the Tennessee turfman. Mr. Allen has always thought a lot of Major Daingerfield and said several days before the sale that he might bid on him. Ho believes the big black to be the best three-year-old over a distance of ground the current season -has produced and thinks ho would prove particularly useful in England, where distance races, rather than sprints, are featured. "Louis "V. Bell, who has always been particularly fond of distance races, is said to be one of the other men who has offered to take Mr. Drapers purchase off his hands. Mr. Bell has already in Hermis and Colonel Bill two of tho best throo-year-olds Of the year, but he is not averse to strengthening his string. "As between Mr. Bell and Mr. Allen metropolitan turf patrons prefer Mr. Ball as Major Daingerflelda future owner, not that Mr. Allen is unpopular, but because if he got the colt we would lose him. "Mr. Bell has no ambition to shine on the British turf and would keep Major Daingerfield in this country to run next year in races like the Handicap and tho Advance, the Annual Champion and Century Stakes, tho Morris Park weight-for-age race and the Saratoga and Brighton cups. Major Dain-gerfiolds glossy black coat would look well under Mr. Bells cherry and orange jacket. "General McLewee said yesterday that there was absolutely no truth in the story that Mr. Draper had acted for him in the purchase of Major Daingerfield. If, said the General, I had wanted to got the colt I should have bid on him myself. It is not my way to have another man act for me. I did not know that Mr. Draper was going to attena the salo until I reached the track and found him there. I told him when Major Daingerfield waB knocked down that he had got a cheap horse and"he said he knew it. I asked him what his plans were and he said he hadnt any. He bought Major Daingerfield and Fair Rosalind, Gold Heels full sister, purely on speculation, I believe. He ought to get good prices for them both. Fair Rosalind is really a good filly, but has not shown anything this year bo-cause Mr. Allen has not hurried her. His experience with Gold Heels convinced him that tho sons and daughters of The Bard were bettor for not being hurried. She will make a great three-year-old. " I hear that Mr. Draper has had several flattering offers for Major Daingerfield, but I do not know whence they came. The Handspring colt ought to remain in Mr. Allens hands. I would like to see Mr. Allen buy him and take him to England, not because I want the colt out of this country, but because I believe that under Mr. Allens management ho would make as much of a reputation in England as he has here. There are few horses anywhere capable of staying longer than Major Daingerflold. " General McLewee reiterated his statement that he was out of racing. He said he might return to the game in the course of three or four years, but not sooner. "It would be better for tho racing game in these parts if Mr. Draper kept Major Daingerfield and Fair Rosalind himself and raced them, If Mr. Boll should get the colt he would have the four-year-old market of next season cornered. Metropolitan turf patrons would not have a fair chance of eeoing CONTINUED ON SECOND PAGE, MAJOR DAINGERFIELD. Continued from First Page. what he could do to the Hermenco and Wagner colts or what they could do to him. Mr. Draper is an occasional patron of the races in a casual way, but in no sense a regular. He affects the trotters and has owned several good ones. He is a banker and broker of prominence in Wall street and could well afford to own a racing stable. Perhaps Gen. ,McLowee, who knows Mr. Draper very well, may persuade him to keep the colt and race him. So long as he lives the Handspring colt will be eligible for the Century and Annual Champion races, and if he, should win either of them next year he would more than pay his cost price and tho expense of j maintenance."