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GOVERNOR GRAY CREMATED WINNER OF TWO DERBYS MEETS DEPLORABLE FATE ON KENTUCKY FARM. Burns to Death, Together with County Tax, While-Capt. J. T, Williams Looks Helplessly On Insurance of 0,000 Carried on Gelding, t Lexington, Ky., November 27. Governor Gray, one of the best American three-year-olds of the present season, a hay gelding by Garry Herrmann Salama, by Himyar, was cremated in a barn that was burned on the farm of Capt. James T. Williams, at Spring Station.. Woodford County, shortly before noon yesterday. County Tax, another three-year-old hay gelding, by Garry Herrmann Tactful, met a similar fate. Captain Williams was alone in the house, the remainder of his family having gone to church, and he was too 111 to go out when he discovered the barn in flames. He stood at the window of his room and saw the two horses, which had been running in their paddocks all morning, rush through open doors into their stalls to be consumed by the flames that were raging within. Captain Williams is of the opinion that the fire originated from sparks dropped from the pipe of a tramp who is reported to have spent the night in the barn. Governor Gray was insured for 0,000. Captain Williams said that he had refused 7,000 for the horse. County Tax was insured for ,000. Governor Gray wag one of the greatest three-year-olds of this year. His winnings for 1911 total 5,051 and are exceeded by those of only one thoroughbred on the American running turf this season, Worth being credited with 0,045. He ran all his races in the name of R. N. Smith and Co., Captain Williams, acting for Mr. Smith, his son-in-law, and for Mrs. Wrllliams. who was the company in the firm, bought Governor Gray as a wealning at the disposal sale of Capt. W. Harry Browns thoroughbreds in November, 190S, for 75. His first stako success was the Cincinnati Trophy, at Latonia, July 2, 1910. This year he began by winning the American Derby at Jacksonville, setting a new record for the course. He won the Blue Grass Stakes at Lexington from Meridian, creating another new track record. In the Kentucky Derby at Louisville, he finished second to Meridian, but forced him to run the mile and a quarter in 2:05, which was record time for the race. Then he won the Latonia Derby, running the mile-and a half in 2:30jr, with 124 pounds up, another new track record, and within a fraction of the American record. Whist and Meridian finished in front of him in the Hamilton Derby, and Zeus nosed him out of the Canadian Derby, but behind him in the Latonia Derby was Messenger Boy, winner of the four-mile Kentucky Endurance Stakes. Besides the mile and a half record above referred to, he holds the Latonia track records for five-eighths of a mile, and for one mile and three-sixteenths. He was named out of compliment to a lieutenant-governor of Alabama and was the third great race horse that Captain Williams has had in recent years. Rams Horn, the property of the veteran turfman, died suddenly in the cast after winning the Brighton Handicap of 1900, when he looked to have other big stako events at his mercy. Phil Finch was another iorse that won many races for Captain Williams. Governor Gray showed an especial ability to finish courageously in long-distance contests. He needed fast track conditions to show his best form and his raciug record is embraced in the following tabulation: Governor Gray, b. g. 1908, by Garry Herrmann Salama. Year.. Age. Sts. 1st. 2d. 3d. Unp. Won. 1910 2 17 C 3 3 5 S 4,112 1911 3 24 7 9 3 5 15,051 Totals 2 41 13 12 C 10 9,163
