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PASSING OF A FAMOUS ESTABLISHMENT. Lexington, Ky., July 9. — "There goes the last of a building that has sheltered more turf celebrities, human and equine, than any other structure in America," remarked Garret D. Wilson as he watched the falling of the walls of the famous old "Horsemens Headquarters" Wednesday afternoon. The historic livery ami sale Stable, which since 1S79 had stood on Main street adjoining on the east side the Ihocnix Hotel, was demolished to make spare for the erection of an eight-story addition to the famous old hostelry. Mr. Wilson went on in a reminiscent mood : "Old Thomas Montague had a livery stable on that spot prior to the big lire of 1S79 which wiped out the old Ihocnix Hotel and everything on the south side of Main street from Liuic-stoue street to the old Central Christian Church, which stood where the Cnlon Station now i1;. After the tile the late Barney J. Treacy, who had made a fortune in horses, benight the Montague lot and we built a brick stable there — ihe one that those workmen have just torn down. Mr. Treacy had two-thirds and 1 one-third of the plant and business. We named it Horsemens Headquarters and we enjoyed a prosperous business. For several years nearly all of the important public sales of thoroughbreds and trotters of all ages were held in that stable. To those sales came annually hundreds of men famous on the turf of American and Europe. No celebrity came to Lexington without paying a visit to Horsemens Headquarters and using our livery. In conjunction with this stable we inaugurated a horse-shipping business, owning three especially equipped cars, in which we transported hundreds of racers — runners and trotters — to New York. Chicago and other poiata. "In the meanwhile Mr. Treacy had extended bis operations on the trotting and running turf, investing heavily of his profits in stallions and mares for his Ashland Park Stud. In the early nineties there came a panic in the trotting horse industry. The bottom virtually fell out of the business. Mr. Treacy was optimistic and would not sacrifice his horses. They literally ate him up and in 1S97 he was compelled to make an assignment. "I was determined to coutinuc the livery, sale and shipping business at Horsemens Headquarters. however, and I arranged with James B. Haggiu for the use of 0.0i to for ten years. With this money I bought the property and went ahead on my own hook . 1 hail good business and good link and in five years I had discharged my obligation to Mr. Ilaggin. and later along 1 had profits sufficient to enable me to join with Senator Joseph W. Bailey of Texas In the purchase of the Iroquois Stud of thoroughbreds now headed by the good stalllou Stalwart. "In 1907 the Phoenix Hotel Company made plans for building a new hotel, which necessitated the purchase of Horsemens Headquarters. I sold to them, bought the old Navarre Club property — the Mace on the north side of Main street made famous by the late Riley Grauuan and owned by the Montague estate — and there I put up my new Horse, mens Headquarters. in which I have lieen quite prosperous, but I am growing tired of busluess and some dav I shall sell out and put iu all my time on the farm."
