view raw text
GOSSIP OF THE TURF. While at Memphis last Thursday, looking over his local thoroughbreds, Capt. S. S. Brown remarked to a friend: "If my sight into the future is not terribly mistaken. I will win three western Derbys next season." Captain Brown did not name the races he imagined were already his, but he has instructed his trainer, Robert Tucker, to get Proceeds, Auditor, Audience and Conjurer ready for early racing. Captain Brown has his heart set on winning the Kentucky Derby. His colors have never finished in front for that event, although he did own a part interset in the colt Buchanan, when that horse won for Cottrell in 1S84. Captain Browns famous racer Blue "Wing, was beaten by Ben Ali, with J. B. Haggins colors aboard, in the Kentucky Derby renewal of 1S86, arid that was the nearest the "brown and cherry cap" has come to victory. In Proceeds, Captain Brown is represented by one of the greatest mud lovers ever seen on the western turf. In Auditor he owns a high-class colt that wen nine races and over ,000 during the past season, and only finished outside the money but three times during nineteen starts. In Conjurer, which won the second half of the Double Event in the east, Captain Brown is also represented by a stake winner, and in Audience horsemen agree that he is ably represented by a filly that will probably win her hare of western stakes offered exclusively for tirrf misses. "W. F. Schulte, ex-president of the New Louisville Jockey Club, is going to make a supreme effort to win the Kentucky Derby next spring," says the Louisville Courier Journal of Dec. 18. "Mr. Schulte has had considerable experience in Louisville turf matters, sufficient, in fact, to take the sentiment out of him. At least, this is what his friends claim, but regardless of this he, like nearly all the other turfmen in this section wants to put a Kentucky Derby victory to his credit. The colt with which Mr. Schulte expects to win the Kentucky classic is Batts,. now two-year-old, which ran a number of good races in the east during the past season. He is a handsome looking bay colt by Florist Fannie Willoughby, and is now in winter quarters at Churchill Downs, where ex-President 3chulte has a large string of horses which will be put in training after January 1. I would rather win the Kentucky Derby than any race on the American turf, said Mr. Schulte yesterday afternoon. This is said with the knowledge that the Worlds Fair Handicap at St. Louis next year will be worth 0,000; that the American Derby at Chicago next June will be worth 5,000 or more, and that there are such races as the Brooklyn and Suburban Handicaps. Why this is so I do not know, but, like all other turfmen, I want to win the Kentucky Derby, and my colt Batts will be especially pointed for this race, which will be run May 2. The colt has grown considerably since last spring and I think he will be one of the best three-year-olds in the country next year. He is tall, strong and rangy, with remarkable muscular development, and as he showed an abundance of speed during the season which has just ended, I see no reason why he should not be heard from in 1904. At any rate, he will be especially prepared for the Kentucky Derby. " "Sixteen thoroughbreds belonging to Barney Schreibers stable arrived at Ascot Park x yesterday afternoon, having left Ingleside track, San Francisco, Sunday night," says the Los Angeles Express of Dec. 15. "The horses are in good shape, and are now quartered in the stables on the west side of those occupied by Boots Durnells speedy racers. Schreiber is particular when it comes to transporting his thoroughbreds from one track to another. He has a scheme of his own in the matter of stock cars. A baggage car is used, and this is arranged according to the most comfortable methods, and Schreibers horses always arrive fresh and in good shape because of the care given them. Trainer Dick Williams is in charge of the string, and it is reported that Schreiber will have at least two books at Ascot Park during the racing. Williams says there will be a big shipment of horses from Ingleside track after the close of the meeting there. This meeting continues only fifteen days, then the scene shifts to Oakland again, and many of the owners will find it more satisfactory to come here than to cross the bay. Manager Brooks has sent word to horse owners at Ingleside that those intending to ship here should apply for stalls in advance. The demand for these is so great that in the north it is thought to denote a banner meeting." Pat Dunne lost a highly prized horse last week when Toah died at Ascot Park. This little chestnut gelding was a son of Basset-law Modesty, the latter being the first American Derby winner. Toah has been a consistent winner since his two-year-old form and has won at all distances from five furlongs to a mile and one-sixteenth, having several stake victories to his credit. In 1900 he started his racing career at Tanforan as a two-year-old, and since then has won at Memphis, Louisville and many times around Chicago. As a four-year-old his earnings were in excess of 0,000, and the total to the time of his death is placed at about 8,000. Ed Corrigan, uncle of Mr. Dunne, bred the horse in Sacramento county, California. Jockey Higgins, fresh from St. Louis, is now at New Orleans. Higgins is in first-class shape and ready to accept mounts. Archie Zimmer was to have managed Higgins this winter. Jockey Fuller, who is under contract to Zimmer, is due at New Orleans today, and this may mean that Higgins will have to secure another manager. Profiting by the experience with Advance Guard, it is assured that Hermis will receive light exercise all througn the cold weather. Advance Guard was turned out in the fall of 1902, and it was not until the following spring that he was taken up and seriously prepared for the races. The good son of Great Tom had filled up greatly in his idleness and proved unequal to the severe drilling that was necessary in the spring. The result was that he broke down, and was never brought to the post during the season that is just closed. Hermis was a late horse this year, but if the plan outlined is carried out it is promised that he will not be so late when the season of 1904 rolls around. Ed. A. Tipton, manager of the Fasig-Tipton Sales Company, of New York, has made arrangements to establish offices in Lexington to carry on the sales of thoroughbred horses annually in Kentucky. Stewart Hunter, secretary and treasurer of the company, will go to Lexington shortly after the first of the year to take charge of the office there.
