One of J. R. Keenes Pensioners, Daily Racing Form, 1911-04-20

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ONE OF J. R. KEENE S PENSIONERS. Old-timers, horsemen who raced thoroughbreds back in the days of tiie Civil War. will be interested in a recent charitable movement of James R. Keene. "Uncle" Sam Walker, nn interesting character of the old school of the negro race, has been pensioned by Mr. Keene. The faithful old darky, now seventy-five years old. served under Major Dain-gerlield at the Castleton Stud at Lexington for many years, and dcsiiite his age yearns to be back at his work of handling juvenile racers. He points with pride to a picture of the mighty Salvator hanging on his wall, and recalls the day he led the handsome chestnut son of Prince Charlie forth in li-i5 and won the blue ribbon at the fair when t he colt was a suckling. He proudly tells of Salvators many achievements on the turf, especially the mile record of 1:.!51 accomplished at Monmouth, N. J., more than twenty years ago. Back in those days the old man cared for Firenze, the queen of the turf: Dry Monopole, Monitor, Tremont, Ben Ali and other famous horses. The fact that Mr. Keene retired him makes the old man happy, and in shaking of it he said: "I sure did take good care of them colts and fillies, aiul no one was happier than mo when Majah Daingerliehl would say. Sam. we won another race iu New York yesterday. You see, son, I helped to raiso St. Cloud, Disguise, Cap and Bells. Delhi. Sysonby. Colin, Conroy, Celt, Ballot, Peter Pan and many others, but I am done now. "I never thought I would over live to see racing dead in New York, but city folk like Governor Hughes dont appreciate a good horse, a mans best friend. Yes. sonny, Im gong to see the races on the opening day at the old Lexington track, and say for me Mistait Keene is a line man."


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1911042001/drf1911042001_1_8
Local Identifier: drf1911042001_1_8
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800