OConnell In Comfortable Retirement.: The Once Great Sprinter, Now Nineteen Years Old, Ending His Days at Harlem., Daily Racing Form, 1909-06-06

article


view raw text

OCONNELL IN COMFORTABLE RETIREMENT. The Onco Great Sprinter, Now Nineteen Years Old. Ending His Days at Harlem. Chicagoans will doubtless be surprised to learn that Council, a horse of brilliant speed, whose achievements won for him a loyal following among Chiccgo race goers during several seasons over a decade ago, is still alive. DConneHs racing career caiiic t lose in 1900 under dramatic circumstances and he has since been occupying, a stall at the liar Iciii rare track, a pensioner on the bounty of John Condon. Mr. Condon came Into possession of the I or o as a result of his well known aversion to any thing approaching cruelty where dumb beasts arc concerned. The last time that OConnell appeared under colors, .his underpinning "as " stch condition bat il was deemed necessary to etherize his legs ami feci. He made a gallant effort, but unit on account of his aching feet after leading his held into tin- stretch. He came out of the race in such apparent distress that Mi", t.oudon. moved to pity, forthwith decided to buy the home and give him honorable retirement. At the end of his racing career. OConnell was running In the colors of J. J. Barron and Co.. hut his leal owner was the track feed man. Costello. Mr. Condon, in buying the horse, upbraided owner and trainer severely for having submitted the old campaigner to the treatment which amused his indignation. Since theu OConnell has hail nothing to do but munch oats and hay to his hearts content at Harlem in company with several other horses that Mr. Condon has pensioned off after faithful service. OConnell is now nineteen years old and first raced as a three year old. winning his initial start at Hawthorne in IMS in the colors of the Kentucky Stable. In a race on October II of that same year, an attempt at a killing on him resulted disastrously. Tee Nuke beating him easily. As he won his sue ceding seven starts, there was abundant opportuuiti for recouping the lossi s Incidental to the betting coup that failed. As a four-year-old he failed in his first few starts on eastern tracks, but coining west earned a most meritorious record by winning ten races out of thirteen starts at Cincinnati and Baby. His victorious career was continued he succeeding year, in which he won thirteen out of eighteen stalls. As a six -yeui old lie Started only twice and finished second on both occasions. At seven, eight and nine years, his showing was remarkably good for a horse of his age. Not until his linul year of racing did the inlirmities of his increasing years materially affect his running Qualities and not ni.na Auicican horses have a better record than OConnell earned during his career of eight years in training. Out of a total of 120 starts, he has sixty victories to his credit and was unplaced only seventeen times. His winnings aggregated almost 5,000. Following is his record in detail: OConnell, b. K. 1890. by Harry 0Fallon— May Kennedy. Year. A. Sts. 1st. 2d. 3d. Unp. Won. MM : rj s 2 | ;; $ 2..i.r.ii isi»4 4 lti in l :s 2 :i.02S lVJo 5 IS U 4 0 1 T.S15 lstMi u 2 0 2 ■ o Ml IV.17 7 13 7 ;; :; 1 2.110 ikis b M 10 r I :: :;.":;."; ikoo !» 22 10 :; :i B.9M moo 10 s 2 2 1 3 Mi Totals 8 120 «0 25 U 17 4.32o


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1909060601/drf1909060601_1_9
Local Identifier: drf1909060601_1_9
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800