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THINKS WELL OF CASTLETON-BREDS. New York. Bepteaaher 13. — When Henry Spencer rode for James R. Keene and ether prominent east era horsemen in the golden days of Commando and Cap and Bells. Voter and Conroy. he was popularly known as "the ice man." Mr. Keene is said to have though! as well of Spencer as he ever thought of a jockey, but there was a long coolness between the vice-chairman of the Jockey Club and "the iceman" after the defeat of Commando by Bean Gallant in the Matron Stakes of 1900 at Morris Park. Commando had not known defeat up to the running of the Matron, and Mr. Keene had set his heart on having aim go into winter Quarters an unbeaten two-year-old. Mr. Keene attributed Commandos defeat to Silencers lethargic finish and for the jockeys apparent carelessness the vice-chairman of the Jockey Club could not account. He angrily declined to accept Spencers explanation that Commando had bolted across the track at the start, which was pulled off at the ten of the Eclipse course, out of sight of those in the grandstand and on the clubhouse lawn. It was in vain that Spencer told the irate horseman that Elisabeth M. had gained a lead of fifty yards before hi succeeded in righting Commando, and that the drive lie mat been under to close tliis gap had taken so much «mt of him he had 110 energy left wherewith To stall off Bean Gallants determined challenge in the last nun rter. Mr. Keene put Spencer down for the ensuing winter and it was with the greatest reluctance that he yielded to the persuasion of James Bowe and permitted bim to ride Commando in tin Belmont and Con ray in the Jockey Clan Weight-foi-Ago Race of MM. The vice-chairman of lie Jockey Club never regretted letting Spencer ride these horses, for both won Spencer followed the example of Sloan and Maher mid went abroad after he became too heavy to ride al home, gad be had some success for several seasons in France anil Germany. Increasing weight compelled him to return bonne a couple of seasons back, ami now be has some notion of trying to get in line for service as a starter. Spencer, as an owner and trainer, won some races in Germany with 11 couple of I !aat le ton-bred horses liofore his return home, and Mid the horses well. If he Had leu! the price he would bare purchased four or five horses a! the recent Keene sale al Saratoga and taken them t" Germany and Austria. "They do not." Spencer says, "have horses of the kind Mr. Keene breed* in continental Europe every year. I could take half a dozen of these cast-offs across the Atlantic this winter and win S2."i. NKl with them in Germany and Ana 1 1 hi next year, provided they had no had luck. 1 do not know whether Americans appreciate the fact or not. but it is so. just the same, that mj Old banfl breeds the best race horses in the world. I would like nothing better than to see the strongest stable Castleton could muster campaign one season in England under the management of a man like James Rowe. 1! the two ami three-year olds were well engaged in the best produce races and in events of the Futurity order. IM bet my lid sneh a table won Id lead ail rivals in the competition for purses."
