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KEESE STABLE SUCCESSES. GRANDSIRE, SIRE AND SON A WONDERFUL TRIO OF INDIVIDUALS. Domino, Commando and Colin the Modern Tools Used by the Grand Old Sportsman How Domino Was Acquired. Now in the autumn of liis life. James R. Keenc, for thirty years prominent in turf affairs in three countries America, England and France has been vouchsafed his most sueessful year in point of prestige achieved and money won by horses bred at his Castleton Stud, in Kentucky. Many who have from time to time noted the steady increases of the stables earnings have asked from what came such success, writes Joseph E. Burke in the New York Herald. It may not bo too much to say that the greatest contributing cause was the foundation laid fifteen years ago in the almost accidental purchase of the little black whirlwind, Domino, whom other shrewd men, possibly on account of the lack or size in the horse, passed up. There lay the founding of that wonderful trio of wonderful individuals, Domino, Commando and Colin grandsire, sire and son, the like of which has never before been seen on the American turf. But of this purchase and the Interesting details as to how it all came about more later. True, before and after that Mr. Keenc replenished his stud with the best blood to be had in English mares, and he had the great good fortune of having in his stud management the invaluable services of F. A. Daingcrlield, his brother-in-law. Again, about seven years, ago, Mr. Keene engaged James Howe to train his horses. This last was, in all probability, as wise a move as the great turfman ever made, for, .looking over the whole field of professional horsemen, it is indeed difficult to find one in whom so many desirable requisites are combined. Millions have been won by Mr. Keene on the turf in the thirty years of his connection with it, but even so, he cannot be said to have profited largely after his expenses are considered. A commission of 00,000 to W. L. Powers to replenish his stud Avith English mares, seven years ago, resulted in the purchase, among others, of Pastor-ella, the beautiful mother of the renowned Colin. Year after year, beginning as far back as 1S70, Mr. Keene has been a persistent buyer of the best. He bought Spendthrift in 1S7S for 5,000, turned him over to Colonel Puryear, in New Jersey, and then won the Belmont Stakes of 1S79 with this son of Australian, which could have won the Withers but for the fact that Mr. Keene preferred to win that race "with Dan Sparling, his stable companion. Mr. Keene bought many yearlings at the Kentucky sales, outbidding the Dwyers and others, and among others he got Foxiiall, a son of King Alfonso, for ?C50, and entered him iu many English stakes and the Grand Prix at Paris. He won the latter race in 1SS1, after having run second to the great Bend Or in the City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom. Unfortunately for Mr. Keene, Foxhall was not entered in the Derby, which was won by Mr. Lorillards Iroquois. He achieved two notable victories in the fall of his three-year-old career When he won the Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire Handicaps, in the latter carrying 12G pounds, including a fourteen-pound penalty, and his feat has never been equalled. Thus, as far back as 1SS1, an unfortunate omission of Foxhall from the Derby prevented the possibility of his achieving the distinction of winning the great race, a task that for more than 100 years the family of Lord Derby, after whom the great race was named, has tried to achieve. The stake was won by Lord Derby in 17SS, but with the adoption of a change of colors black jacket and white cap the various successors to the title of Lord Derby have failed to win the race. So anxious was the present Lord Derby to win it last year that "Danny" Mahcr, the American jockey, who rode for the English nobleman, said with feeling that he would almost give one of his arms to win the Derby for his employer. Maher had already won the great race three times for other turfmen. In 1SS3 -the first Great Eastern Handicap was run at Sheepshead Bay, and James R. Keenes Dutch Roller won It, ridden by Edward Garrison. That is the only time the classic has fallen to the "white, blue spots" of Mr. Keene. But nearly all the other great prizes of the Amcripan turf have gone to him. The Suburban is a notable race not yet won by him, however. The Withers has been won for Mr. Keene by Dan Darling, Domino and Delhi. The Belmbnt by Spendthrift, Commando and Delhi; the Great Republic by Delhi, Sysonby and Ballot; Great American by Domino, Dalesman and Colin; the Great Trial by Domino, Commando and Colin grandsire, sire and son; the Century by Sysonby and Ballot; the Futurity by Domino, Chacornac and Colin; the Flatbush by Colin; the Eclipse by Domino and Colin; the Annual Champion by Sysonby; the Brighton Handicap by Toddy and Peter Pan; the Brooklyn Derby by Petruchio and Peter Pan; the Brooklyn Handicap four times, with Hornpipe, Conroy, Delhi and Superman; the Junior Champion by Commando and Sysonby; the Juvenile by Doublet and Tommy Atkins; the Realization by Sysonby; tha Matron by Agitator and Ballot; the Metropolitan Continued on second page. KEENE STABLE SUCCESSES. Continued from first page. Handicap by Voter, and Sysonby ran a dead heat vith Race King; the Saratoga Special by Sysonby and Colin; the Spinaway by Court Dress;" the Tidal by Sysonby and Peter Pan; the Twin City Handicap by Wild Mint, and the White Plains by Votur and Conroy. On June C, 1S92, came a day to Mr. Kcene which will always live in his memory. On that day the Dixiana yearlings, bred annually by Rnrak G. Thomas, in Kentucky, were sold in New York city at TatlcrsaHs Seventh avenue and Fifty-fifth street. Mr. Kccnc sent for William Easton ami asked him to look over the yearlings, as his own time was too valuable. Mr. Easton complied with Mr. Keenes request, and particularly called his attention to the brown colt by llimyar, out of Maimio Gray. This was a full brother to Correction, a filly raced by .Messrs. Morris, and which had established a great record for speed, having in one race run half a mile in 401 seconds. Mr. Keene and his son Foxhall spent a long time in careful examination of this colt. When, on the evening of Monday, June 5, 1892, the Dixiana yearlings were offered, the first on the list, the brother; to Correction elicited only two bids. One was ,000, made by David T. Pulsirer, owner of Teiiny, the. horse which nt that time almost dominated the turf,, as his great rival, Salvator, had been retired, and only Longstreet was left to do battle with Tenny; for premier honors. Foxhall Keene offered the sec-, ond bid, ,000, and the colt was knocked down to Iris bid for his father and himself. Because of lack or competition for this colt, the! Messrs. Keene could not understand why they got Uim so cheaply, and asked Major Thomas if there: were any hidden defects. "I am not in the habit of selling yearlings without calling attention to their defects, if they have any," said the veteran i breeder. "Von need not take him; 1 will keep the colt if you do not want him. "No, no," answered both the Messrs. Keene, "your word is quite sufficient." Thus was laid the foundation of the greatest racing stable in America, for without Domino there would have been no Disguise, no Cap and Dolls and no Commando; and without Commando there, would have been no Colin, Peter Pan, Superman or Colt. There would have been no Court Dress, Pope Juan, Veil and others, daughters or Disguise, a son" of Domino, which won in England one of the 0,000 stakes there, and ran third in the Derby of 1900, won by Diamond Jubilee. Cap and Dells won the Oaks for Mr. Keene.
