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ft! " .iii IN QUARTERS AT MEMPHIS. Down at Memphis the other day Sam Hildreth and George C. Bennett are reported to have made the first wager recorded on the American Derby of 1904. It was a "hoss agin hoss" affair for 00, Hildreth backing Proceeds against Highball. All of which indicates that as much activity as could be expected at this time of the year characterizes the colony camping for the winter at that track. Concerning this colony, men and horses, a recent Memphis letter to the Louisville Courier-Journal says: "The extensive string of J. "W. Schorr again outnumbers anything at the local track. More than forty head of horses are being looked after by Joe Hawkins, a well-known Kentuckian, who has succeeded George Walker in charge of the Schorr string. There are twenty-seven yearlings in Hawkins care, which is .the complete number Schorr has retained after his wholesale purchase of yearling stock in the Kentucky bluegrass region. A filly by Jim Gore has worked well, and there are other good-looking members of the baby brigade which are being watched for good results. "The string of G. C. Bennett contains thirty-eight horses. Abe Frank, the Tennessee Derby winner of 1902 and American Derby favorite in the ante-post betting on that event, has been retired for stud duty at the Bennett farm after Henry McDaniel, the successful Bennett trainer, had advised this course. Bennett has not been successful in his chase after purses and stakes this year, but what has been lacking in purses he has tripled" in profits from his bookmaking. "There will be nothing but home-bred stock seen among the two-year-olds racing in Bennetts green and white diamonds this season. Experiencing such bad luck with his purchases from up-country. Bennett has decided to race nothing but the produce of his small but select band of broodmares at his farm near Memphis. Their sires are Lucky Dog and Kings Counsel, horses that will be remembered by racegoers as successful in competition. Seventeen head of colts and fillies represent the juvenile band of Bennett, which has been augmented by the older horses from St. Louis and Chicago. A filly by Kings Counsel recently stepepd a quarter in better than 24 seconds. "C. R. Ellison must have had a prosperous season with his many plungings at Chicago tracks, for lie has again spent lavishly in an effort to get young racers that look like they should win. Ellison made purchases at eastern and western sales. He has more than a dozen of good-looking youngsters. A bay colt by Esher Ellengowan, therefore a half-brother to Henry McDaniel, is attracting attention by his looks and action on the track. A chestnut filly by Goodrich, a bay filly by Dr. Hasbrouck, bay colt by Ben Strome and others appear to be built on the right principles for racing. The colt by King Eric Princess Revenue, for which Ellison paid ,000 after spirited bidding with John Fay and Pat Dunne is a member of the brigade in charge of James Brazier. The King Eric colt is a half-brother to Mrs. Frank Foster. "James Arthur has a few of his older horses and several yearlings at the track. The owner of Bondage owns a yearling son of Charade Honeymoon, a bay colt by Carlsbad Loire and several others. t "In the string of George Gardner, the pugilist, who will make his bow as an owner, is the aged sprinter, St. Cuthbert, and three juveniles which were bought by John Bright, Gardners partner and trainer. Should he win his fight with Fitzsimmons at Frisco this month, Bright states that Gardner will invest three-fourths of the winnings in more thoroughbred stock, with an idea of dabbling in next seasons campaign on a grander scale than any Queensberry boxer ever dabbled before. "Will Wallace, of The Commoner-High Jinks The Merchant fame, is training several head belonging to H. C. Loeb and Co., a firm composed of wealthy Memphians who prefer to remain in the background and allow their colors to be carried by their horses running in other peoples names. There are several head in the Loeb string, and Wallace thinks he has one colt at least that is a future stake winner. "W. H. May, Jr., is located at the local track with several fashionable young misses and colts. They have not been asked for their best trials yet, and May is pursuing the same policy with them as he did with Highball, the champion two-year-old of the year. Highball is also an inmate of the May barn. The son of Ben Strome has returned to his same quarters occupied last season. He seems . to Memphians the same size and same colt all over, but May expressed himself as believing that Highball will add height and breadth during the long rest he will be given from now till 1904 saddle bell time. "M. H. Tichenor and Co. have a string of more than twenty, in charge of Doc Riddle, who will be seen again in 1904 in charge of the Tichenor string. "S. C. Hildreth will ship fifteen of his horses from here to New Orleans. This will leave abftut ten head to rest here, which includes a couple of yearlings. Hildreth has not changed his plans for the future in a training way, and will start next season with as few members of the younger division as he can. His policy is to allow the other fellow to develop them. "The string of E. R. Bradley, the well-known bookmaker, is the latest arrival. It embraces fourteen head, mostly yearlings, which were picked up at Lexington after their preliminary trials. "B. J. Cunningham, another bookmaker, has five head in charge of trainer Williams. The list includes Gilfain, a three-year-old that started in the American Derby, and a horse that Cunningham is said to have refused 5,000 for before the season started."
