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THOROUGHBRED BARGAINS AND FAILURES. I Notable Examples of Transactions of Both Sorts in I American Racing. . Romances of the turf, happenings that brought ; joy to many and deepest gloom to others that filled : one day with sunshine and the next with darkness almost abysmal are practically numberless. But with the stoicism which is begotten in individuals by the buffets of fortune, there are few records of ; failures aud still fewer of successes. No man cares to speak of his disappointments and but a limited number exploit their triumphs. Now and then there may be stories of vast stakes won and at times a hint of losses that would cut deeply into fortunes. But the record always is incomplete, and at best only approximately correct. There is one branch of the romance of the turf, however, that yields to absolute proof, and that is the prices paid for thoroughbreds at public auction and their subsequent success or failure as measured either by the stakes in which they triumnhed or lic actual wagers won on them by their owners. Not always does the owner win when the horse does. Many a time within the personal experience of the writer has he known owners not to have a cent wagered on their horse, while some professional bettor and sometimes the public had backed the horse and believed him a certainty. Not a romance this to the owner certainly. But, then, as if to balance this, there scarcely Is an owner who has not at some time had in his barn a horse that pleasantly surprised him. Some persons will insist that the buying of a thoroughbred yearling is a lottery. Nothing of the sort. Now and again men with small capital will get at public auction a stake colt at a selling platers price, but in almost every Instance it will be found that the yearling is quite as well bred as is that bought by the man with millions. Indeed, It frequently happens that extremely high prices arc the result of bidding between millionaires, whose personal pride or personal jealousies will not permit them to surrender uutil the figures have gone far out of reason. Perhaps this is the more readily illustrated when It is recognized that it was not until within the last dozen years or so, when millionaires were made almost overnight, that prices soared into live figures and at times reached sK figures the latter, however, only in the case of horses needed for the stud and not for racing. A glance at some of the prices paid for horses and their subsequent careers may be interesting. Virgil, for example, for many years was a hurdle racer of no distinguished merit, and it was through good fortune that an opportunity in the stud was afforded him. There he begot Tremont, the great "Black Whirlwind" that the Dwyers purchased for a very small sum, and with which as a two-year-old they won more than 9,000 a big figure in those days. Virgil also was the sire of Hindoo, one of he greatest race horses in the world. Hindoo begot Hanover, which the Dwyers bought for Sl.GOO, and with which they won 1S,S72. After a brilliant career he went to the stud, and in time he begot Hamburg. John E. Madden paid ,200 for Hamburg as a yearling, practically swept the turf with him as a two-year-old. and as a three-year-old sold him to Marcus Daly for 0,000. Mr. Daly retired him after he won the Brighton Cup. and at the sale conducted by the executors of his estate William C. Whitney bought Hamburg for ,000. Only a few years later, when the executors of the estate of Mr. Whitney put up the horse at auction, he was bought by Harry Payne Whitney for 0,000. Hamburg meanwhile had begot the great Artful, winner of the Futurity and of the 5,000 Brighton Handicap, and according to so good a judge as the late John W. Rogers, the best mare this country eve? saw. High praise this was from the man that had trained probably more great horses than any other man in America. It was this potent line that won for the Dwyer brothers then a tremendously strong racing confederacy their supremacy. Of course, they had many horses of other strains of blood such, for example, as Luke Blackburn, which Michael F. Dwyer always insisted was the best horse he ever owned, notwithstanding that in the Coney Island Cup of ISSl he lost on him one of his biggest wagers. He had bought Luke Blackburn as a two-year-old for ,500, and. as Dwyer then was in his heyday as a plunger, won tremendous wagers on him. In the Cup it was conceded by almost everybody that the horse would have a walk-over. Winter books were made in New York in those years on big events, and Kelley and Bliss, as usual, had the biggest one. They were making a 00,000 book. Only a few days before the race they got word that Luke Blackburn was not at his best that he was on the verge of breaking down. Kelly and Bliss sent word to William Jennings that if he would start Glenmore, a horso that had cost only 50, he would be "on," ,000 to nothing. In other words, they would make him a present of ,000 simply for starting. Jennings accepted the offer, started his horse aud won. On their winter book, after deducting the ,000 they had given Jennings, Kelly said the balance in their favor was close to G,000. James 11. Keeue has been singularly fortunate with his purchases. For Foxhall, the winner of the Grand Prix de Paris, Ccsarewitch, and Cambridgeshire in 18S1. he paid as a yearling only 50. It was conceded in England that year that had Foxhall been in the Derby he would not have been worse than second to Iroquois, and might have beaten the wearer of the cherry and black. But his most fortunate purchase was made on the night of June 0, 1S92, when Domino, the son of Hlmyar and Mannlo Gray, fell to his bid for ,000. Mr. Keene had anticH-tcd the yearling would go at least 0,000, and he was astounded when he found himself the purchaser at a third what he bad expected to pay for the colt. Domino the very next year won 70,890. But better than all, ho laid the foundation of the Cas-tleton Stud, the most successful breeding farm In the world. It was from his loins that sprang Cap and Bells, the only American winner of the Oaks in England, Disguise, which was third in the Epsom Derby, aud which latter won one of the "ten-thou saud-poundcrs" at Newmarket; Commando, Peter Pan, and many others that have made hlsto on the turf. When Domino died bis son Commando took his place and became the sire of Colin undoubtedly the best horse that has raced in this country within the present generation. From that ,000 yearling have come champions without parallel in the history of the thoroughbred world. Raceland "Old Bones" as he was called familiarly brought 87 at auction as a yearling. He was bought by Joe Ullman, the lookmaker. Lator the first August Belmont paid 0,000 for him a then record price for a gelding and won with him a Suburban. Raceland won more than seventy races and 10,391. Morello, a Futurity winner and a horse of superlative worth, brought only 25 as a yearling, aud Tenny, whose duels with Salvator and with Firenze, made the season of 1S90 a glorious one, cost only 10. He won ,025. But the sue cess of this 10 yearling subsequently was the cause of the dwindling of the fortune of his owner. Dave Pulslfer. Mr. Pulsifer became a cynic on the merit of the blood lines, and scouted the notion that one colt might be as good as another. He filled his barns with a cheap, nondescript lot, and they almost literally ate up the fortune that the sway-backed son of Rayon dOr and Belle of Maywood had brought to him. On the other hand, there are instances almost as numerous wherein horses that were bought for large sums were withering disappointments. For example, when the Ifainey brothers Roy and Paul A. went on the turf they sought for the best, but they measured the best by the price that was asked. At the time a colt called Horace E was racing at Ascot Park, Los Angeles. Ho seemed a smart colt, and was bought by Roy for 5,000 and shipped to New York. A short time after the East was stirred with stories of the marvelous speed of a colt called De Mund, in the stable of Newton Bennington. It was said he was the fastest two-year-old that ever was saddled. At that time Mr. Bennington had a credit account with James B. Haggin, the breeder, which went to 1911.sh0,000. De Mund was one of the yearlings that had brought a fair, though not an unreasonable price, and for which Mr. Bennington was, in part. Indebted. Mr. Rainey, after some negotiation, of Icred Mr. Bennington 5,000 a split between the 0,000 that Rainev had first offered, and the 0,000 that Bennington demanded. Shrewd business man that he was, Mr. Haggin, when he had read in the morning papers of the negotiations in progress sent for Bennington, and insisted on his selling. Ben nington did so, and it was the best sale he ever made. De Mund won some races, but he was fro quently a disappointment. Tlih horse now is in France In training for steeplechases and Paul Rainey Is practically out of the sport In this country. Horace E.. the colt for which Roy Rainey paid 5,000, made his most recent appearance in a selling race at a minor track and then did not win. Mr. Rainey sold him for the proverbial song and he", like his brother Paul, has no longer any substantial interest in racing here. They owned other horses, notably the French mare Ginette. that won many races, but the failures of De" Mund and of Horace E. caused their withdrawal. It wasnt monev they wished for. but they wanted victories and it hurt their pride that the two bisrgest priced two-year-olds of the season should have degenerated into such rank counterfeits. After the death of William L. Scott, the turfman and politician of Pennsylvania, Phil Dwyer paid 5,000 for Bolero, then a two-year-old. Ho was the most dismal of failures, and later Mr. Dwyer passed him over to W. C. Daly, who won some cheap races with him over the New Jersey tracks. Oaklawn, bought by August Belmont from William Shields, was another disappointment. He had won I a few races in the early year at Washington and Aqueduct and had gained a reputation far beyond UIs merits, for Uc had ben ton nothing with Pre I I . ; : ; tentions to good class. He simply was a precocious youngster in the hands of a shrewd horseman. Shields announced he would reserve the colt for the Saratoga Special, an exclusively sporting affair the owners running for the subscriptions -Jus a gold cup of the value of ,500 added by the association. The subscriptions were ,000 each. Mr. Belmonts two-year-olds were on the ailing list and he wanted his colors carried in the race. Shields was the only man with a horse in the market that was eligible, and Belmont paid him 0,000 .for the colt and accepted the obligation of the ,000 starting fee, thus making the purchase price actually 1,000. The colt ran an abomlnally bad race and afterwards continued to race atroclouslv. Mr. Belmont turned him over, as a four-year-old, to Harry S. Page, the gentleman rider, who tried to fit him for the field, but he was as bad in performances across country as on the fiat. Nasturtium, for which William C. Whltnov paid 0,000 to A. L. Aste, the Italian who has the boot-blacking privileges on nil the ferries in New York and in most of the big buildings, never anywhere near compensated his purchaser. After an unsuccessful career he was sent to England, and there his wind became affected. It was Mr. Whitneys Intention to send the horse to Colorado for special lung or throat treatment, but the death of Mr. Whit ney put an end to what might have been a most interesting experiment. Tournament well, one may scarcely apply a measure to him. He won the Realization in the orange and green colors of Senator George Hearst and may. therefore, bo considered a horse that was successful. At the dispersal of the stable, after the death of Mr. Hearst, Mr. Keene bought him for 3,500, and he raced without success so much so that he was deemed unfit to carry the white, blue polka dots, and was retired. This was the first horso to break the almost ever present fortune of Mr. Keene In the making of purchases. But it wasnt the only one. There was one other, and about this one no person who regards the good will of Mr. Keene ever makes mention in his presence. It was a purchase that had its ludicrous side, and the great old bear of Wnll street isnt given to humor when it is directed against himself. It was in 1S93, Keene at that time had his stable divided into two sets. One that included the matchless Domino was trained by William Lakeland. The other was In charge of Albert Cooper, an illiterate but shrewd negro. Cooper, besides the Keene horses, had a big chestnut colt two years old called Hyderabad that belonged to himself. This colt had done some fast trials, and Cooper decided tu soil him. He was an eligible for the Futurity and Cooper fastened upon Mr. Keene as the most probable purchaser. Mr. Keene was eager to win the Futurity and believed Domino would capture the ricli prize, but Cooper told him such stories of Hyderabad that the Wall street manipulator became doubtful. It would be the deepest of humiliation if a colt owned by his second trainer and a negro at that should defeat his pet Domino. He resolved to purchase Hyderabad. Cooper asked 0,000 for him, but Mr. Keene balked at the price until the day before the race, when he bought him. Mr. Keene sent to Cooper a certified check by his secretary, but the negro would have none of thai. He always professed a horror of any paper that he could not recognize as a bank note. He told a story of a time when he had trained for "Lucky" Baldwin, and when he was informed, after being presented with some reams of accounts, that he was in debt to Baldwin. "An then I says," said he, "I says to myself no mob. of the writin thing for me. I jes says t Lucky: I sholy know yer correct, its A naught for a naught Aud a figgcr for a figger. Everything for the white man And nothin for the nigger. "So you sees I jes am natcherly shy bout dem papah things. Guess dat little old chestnut colt hes got to go out and make a trail for dat dere black Domino tomorrow. I shore am sorry for Mistah Keene." Finally currency was obtained for the check and Albert saw it tucked away in the safe of the Coney Island Jockey Club, and Hyderabad ran the next day with Domino in the Futurity. Domino won, with Galilee, carrying the bourgeois colors of "Doc" Strcett, splitting him and Dobbins. Hyderabad met with an accident and was nowhere, nor was it ever safe to ask Mr. Keene where the colt subsequently went. It was even money that night as to which was the happier Mr. Keene, who had won the race, or liis negro second trainer, that had carried off his 0,000. The oft-told story of King Thomas, for which Senator Hearst paid nearly 0,000, is worth but a mention. The colt was the rankest of counterfeits, ne was a maiden until his fourth year, when he won a race at Brighton in poor company. Of horses that brought reasonably big prices and that made good, as the phrase goes, the list is led by the great nermis. for which Edward R. Thomas paid 1911.sh0,000. Mr. Thomas was at the time a newcomer on the turf and there were many of the old-timers who smiled when they heard of the price and wondered how long it would be before Ilermis would tire his owner out. But Hermis didnt. Ho measured up magnificently to every anticipation. He won the Suburban and the Brighton Cup and many other great races, and, in view of his achievements and the prestige which came from his victories, was really the cheapest horse purchased in the last eight years. Dobbins, bought for 0,200 as a yearling at the Ehret sale by Richard Croker. also more than repaid the purchaser. Ho won the price paid for him twice over, and, besides, had the distinguished honor of running a dead heat with Domino in the famous match race that was the sequel to the sensational Futurity of 1S93. For Longstreet Mr. Croker paid to Michaol F. Dwyer 5,000, only to have him break down before ho had won a race with him, but it was very well understood at the time that the reason for the purchase was the desire of Mr. Croker to place him at the head of a breeding farm in the produce of which he had bought a one-fourth Interest. The horses mentioned are only a small fraction of those that have made and unmade men and fortunes on the turf. There could be recounted Reclare, a filly that made famous a man named Warnkc, who had been a flagman on a Long Island railroad, and gave him a competence large enough to go down through more than one generation. Frank Gill, that for ,100 recouped the fortunes of a Brooklyn speculator, and Roseben, that for ,100 more than once lifted Davy Johnson, the plunger, out of bankruptcy. Watcrboy didnt elicit a bid at the yearling sale at which he was put up at auction. He was thrown back on the bands of his breeder and later was one of the greatest horses the country ever saw. Alcedo. a Suburban winner, over the victory of which his owner, Louis V. Bell, won more than 00,000, was a low-priced horse, and so, too, wns Advance Guard, which was claimed out of a selling race in Toronto for ,000, and became one of the great long distance horses of the country, with a win- ning record of ,3S7. And so the story might go almost endlessly a story that has its bright sides as well as its shadows the sort of history that makes optimists of turfmen, whether thev be but hi moderate circumstances or have the wealth that, un der ordinary conditions of life and in almost anv other sport, would compel success. New York Press.
