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AN OJL.D TIMEE. James E. Kelly, whose racing career as bookmaker, horse owner and track proprietor covers more than a score of years of American turf history, arrived from Europe on the St. Paul last week after a prolonged absence abroad. While in Paris he met most of the Americans under the ban of the French police, and thinks that the latter have "bitten off more than they can chew." Speaking further on the matter, the returned bookmaker said: "The French will have hard work to make a case against Johnny Reiff and Milton Henry, in whom their employers express the utmost confidence. In addition to this, both jockeys have a legion of friends over there. As for R.L. Rose and J. P. Korn, Ambassador Choate will see that they get none the worst of it. The whole matter looks to be due to the jealously of the French jockeys over their Yankee competitors." Along in the seventies Jimmy Kellys bookmaking operations on futures were on quite a large scale, as A. H. Cridge opened next door to his place and competition became more brisk. The season of 1875 saw him pay some solid wagers, Mark Littell winning from him a wager of 5,000 to ,000 on Littells horses Wildidle double success for the Fordham and Jockey Club Handicaps at Jerome Park. The fall of the year that Wildidle won these two Jerome events saw Jimmy Kelly, Al Smith, J. E. Brewster, A. S. Gage, Mark Littell and other eastern men, together with jockeys William Lakeland, George Barbee, Hennessey, Palmer, etc., start for San Francisco. A purse of 0,000 iu gold, four mile heats, was to be run for Thanksgiving day at the Golden Gate city, and a number of eastern horses had been sent on, among them Katie Pease, Hubbard, Springbok, Wildidle, Grinstead and Rutherford. The New Yorkers reached Frisco in September, but the race was thrice postponed, first from the rains and afterward from the breakiug down of Springbok, Grin-stead and Wildidle. This caused a final postponement until February 22, 1876, when the race was set for decision over the old Bay District track. Captain T. G. Moore mean while had sent up to Oregon and got his old eight-year-old horse, Foster, by Lexington Verona, to represent Mark Littells interests in the race. Foster had been at the stud two years and been ridden by ladies and children. In six weeks T. Moore and W. Lakeland prepared the old racer at Sacramento for the arduous struggle at four mile heats. Few of the eastern men, except the Mooro-Littell-Lakeland party, knew how good Foster was, except James Kelly, and the latter, the night before the race, bonght every pool sold on Foster. Rutherford was the choice, and as much as 5 and 6 to 1 against Foster ruled in tho earlier odds. At the track next day Kelly continued to back Foster, and at the end of the selling the latter was nearfy as good a favorite as Rutherford. Foster, ridden by Lakeland, beat Rutherford a neck in the first heat in 7:38, and the second heat, for which only the two started, in a gallop, in 7:53 for the four miles. The Kelly-Littell party won some 0,000, outside of the first money in the purse, which amounted to only 8,000, aB the conditions called for second money of ,000. third ,000 and fourth ,000. As all but two horses were distanced, the club, by a clause to that effect, only paid out first and second moneys. Along in tho early 90s L. O. Appleby and James E. Kelly built the beautiful race couree at Linden Park, which shortly afterward had to be closed in compliance with fanatical legislation. Mr. Kelly was also a large owner of the property that comprised old Jerome Park, since appropriated by the city for reservoir purposes.
