Famous Turfman is Dead: James K. Keene Dies at New York after a Surgical Operation., Daily Racing Form, 1913-01-04

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FAMOUS TU11FMAN IS DEAD JAMLS K. KELNE DIES AT NEW YORK AFTER A SURGICAL OPERATION. Achieved Phenomenal Success as Breeder and Owner of Racing Thoroughbreds, as Well as in Matters of Finance — His Fame World-Wide. James R. Keen.- has BOM the ultimate way of all things animal.-, baring died yesterday naming in ■ New Vorfc sanitarium following an operation rot abdominal trouble, and in his taking mvav deatb has removed one who at one time was the leading turfnn i iii«- world. Mr was by birth an English man. I. in. being brought lo this country by his »= ■■ " - When .1 lad •! fourteen, grew up In he an American hi In- maimer ol thought and the lines • ■I In- many undertakings, lie was bora in London in 1838, Hi.- aoa of a London merchant and received Ins c.uiy education in a Lincoln-hire school primarily and afterwarda in a Dublin school. Mis parents cniic to thlM eoantry in 1832 and finally settled in northern alili.mii. or active mind and speculative inclinations, be engaged in various enterprises as he advanced t" manhood .in I. among other things, m "in- time published a country newspaper. il became Interested in Nevada mining affaire and. ilu-n going to San Francisco. ■ rod the mining stock market and sneedil acquired a fortune. Becoming a member of tie- stock Exchange he was elected its president ami on the occasion . f a memorable panic was one ol lour men who contributed a million dollar- lo a guarantee fund that saved the Bank of California from bankruptcy Abandoning California. In- went to New- York m ls.i and quickly made his influence fell in Wall street by some daring stack operatfona that brought him hug. profits. New York ha- been his home ver since. Throughout his long residence there he was one of tin- master minds of Wall street and. while now and then meeting reverses in Us financial convulsions, always recouped hi- toeaes and died tlie possessor or ,-, great fortune. While a voung man in California he marled Mis- Sara Daingerfleld ■laughter of Col. Leroy Dalngerfield of Virginia, and i kb living children surviving, hi- son. Fox hall P., am! daughter Jessie, the latter now the divorced I •rife of T. -1. Taylor. Mr. Keen - first year of prominence in racing was in 1878. Previously he had been known as a daring " .•mil successful speculator in mine-, -took- and grain Hi- advent "ii the turf was attended with a display ; of the sagacious understanding of its requirement* . thai In- had- shown in other holds of activity. He had acquired possession of ., magnificent three-year-old in the chestnut «oii. Spendthrift, by Australian , Aerolite, and with him won that year the Belmont t stake-. Lorillard Stakes. Jersey Derby and Champion Slakes, and ran second in the Withers Slakes. Trav-or- stak -. Kenuer stake- and Jemase Stakes It . »h- a year of grand race hois.-, and at the outset i w.i- tin general opinion that George LoriUards . Leamington colt, Harold, would prove the elu.mploa •d the year. 11. was. indeed, a tine spedmeel of the high-class thoroughbred, but Spendthrift soon proved • hi nisei I incontestanly hi- master. Spendthrifts first race was ait led with scandal that did not dlaap- I ■•■•• I" a Ion- time afterward-. This was in the . Wither- Slake- ai .ler • Park. Harold was a hot favorite at 2 to :,. Spendthrift was at 3 lo 1 aid in- -til. I. mate. Dan Sparling, was Mt 5 to l. I he betting, and il was heavy betting in those old days, was mainly on Harold and Spendthrift. Bar old was lelt at Un post in a hud start ami al the finish spon. liln it ua- pull.. I up to lot l»an Sparling "in. the outcry wax something fearful. Ii was alleged that the Keeite connection- had quletl la.-kcd Ii. oi Snarling an. I won a hum- sum. and there were not lacking II — who were ready to allege iha. Harolds i-ing left at the post was only a pari of ■ a deep laid plot lo despoil the public. Sol lavs later Spendthrift disposed of a pail "I the foolish talk thai followed tie- Withers mis chances by defeating George Lorillarda great pair, Monitor and Harold, so decisively in the Belmont Stakes that hi- -up-rioi it became at once a matter not to P.- questioned. Kill later on in the season a cii came out of the west fully aide to vanquish ev.-n the mighty Spendthrift. This was I W. Hum Reynolds great Knuuircr colt. Falsetto. His first meeting with Spendthrift was in Hie Travers Stakes ;■ i Saratoga. Wi. *Keeii - supposed invincible was au odds on favorite, but, with l-aae llnrpfay in the Middle, falsetto defeated loin by two lengths in a i - ot Indescribable excitement. Later on at the •mi- meeting Falsetto again defeated Spendthrift with a- significant ease in tin- Kenner stake-, at two miles, and Pierre Lorillard gave 0,000 for him Mid took him io England There he broke down before being raced, bat not before being tried on! lu •• iweutv eight i mis better than Parole. Be wa- returned lo tin- country to beeom le of Its no.-! -ii- .— -1 ui -ii.-. s„ ndiiiriit also wa- afterward* -o successful in the -tiel a- to have two son-. Kingston and Hastings, wine], headed the American sire ii-i when iii their tarn Kent to the stud. Il wa- near this time thai Mr. Keene did hi- first mi-Ins abroad. II. sent two yearlings over to Bag land Foxhall and Don Pulano, and in 1881, wkeg Foxball w i- a Hire, year-old, won with him ilu Grand link.- Michael siakcs. Cesarewltch, Select staki an i i sinbridgeshirc In England, and I he i, rami Pris de Paris in trance With Iroquois win ions re Newmarket Stakes. Burwell Stakes, Epsom Ieii., Prince of Wales Stakes al Ascot, St. James Pala.-i stakes Doncaster si Leger and Newmarket Peilo for Pierre Lorillard thai same year, it was an Interim n Invasion that cam. close to nil hag the roost in England and dwarfs the "invasion** of the present lime. Hon Iulaiio and Foxhall Were hoth hy Kins Alfonso ami as the former wa- from the dam of Harry Bassett, he was expected to prove I, -t iii racing, bul it tur I out tl ther way. Don Iulaiio w.i- oulj fairly useful, won the New Nursery Stake- ai ii,. Newmarket Houghton meeting when ii two-yeai old. was iliii.l to Peregrine and Iroquois in tin Two Thousand Guineas, unplaced in the Derby and ran second to Foxhall in the Grand Duke Michael Stakes, mVi.I that was all. nn the other band i ixhall ua- a grand race horse and hi- feat ol whining the tesarewitch with II" pounds up and then taking mi I26 ami taking the Cambridgeshire in •■ field i rbirtj two starters made him onl to be a»iii the greatest handicap horse of all tnrf Ins lorj I nlnekilj ii- iice..— in the -iml was not i omoiensurate with bis fame ss a racer. tin- tir- period a Mr. Keenea experience as a tnrfman wa- interrupted in Wall street revere th made ii ueceKsary for him to devote hi- time nid talents to.- -.in, years to financial fence mend i"- But he had developed a f loess for racing Hint wa- not to be quenched and. when rea.lv. re turned to active participation again. Hi- second period might be appropriately termed t h. period of Domino. With Ibis magnificent two-year-old h- swept the boards in 1803 and won with him that M the surpassing total of 70,800 This son of llimv ar was the keystone of Mr. Keenea subse-•iiioiii phenomenal sine.-- as a turfman ami breeder Scki to the sand earlj be died when still a quite young horse, bul not until he had begotten a number of splendid racers for in- owner, with one of which Cap and Bells, Mr. Keen, won tie- Epaom Oaks in 1901 and with another. Disguise, ran third in the Epsom Derby of llMAi und with fee tauic good colt I " ; . , t . . • . ■ , won tin 130,000 .loekcy Club Stakes of the same* year at Newmarket, about the same time another steal son of Domino. Commando, was supreme in this country. It was while Domino was still on the turf that Mr. Keene won his first Brooklyn Hand! cap. his horse. Hornpipe, hy Mr. Iiekwiok Round Dane in 1803, defeating Lazzarono. Sir Walter. Counter Tenor. Rej el Santa Anita. Dr. Rice and other cracks .quite unexpectedly to all hut a -elect coterie. Hornpipe was bred by Charles Reed at Iair view Stud in Tennessee. Mr. Keenea next triumph in Hie Brooklyn Handicap was achieved six years later with a colt of his own breeding when ciinrov won ii for him ami ups-t the tradition that a tlir.-e-. year-old could not win a Brooklyn ar Suiuuiian. Conioy was i -on of his -tallion St. Leonards. which horse ran second to Boundless in the .000 Worlds Iair Derby at Washington Park in 1808. In consultation with his accomplished brother in law. r. a. Dalngerfield, Mr. Keene considered, develop.-d and adopted the theory that the road to success in breeding was through mating select English I. nil mares -with native American stallions and it is on these lines thai the marvelous results attained at Castle-ton were based. His purchases of inares in England were regardless of cost and when the dispersal sale or Marcus Dalys broodmares look place, subsequent to Ihe death of that Montana breeder and turfman. Mr. Kc paid high price- for several. Among those then bought was Optlsae and Mr. Keenea re ward in tiii- case wa- the grand colt, Sysoaby. He bought the Castl.-fon Kami in 1s:i:t and. while Bator-ally partial to the Domino family, did not fail to give other lilies of de-cent a -hare in his breeding enterprise and with Kingston, Voter, Ben Brush ami other sires, sacceeded admirably and reaped a re turn that left no room for regret. Of the trio named Kingston died last year, but Voter and Ben Brush are still young enoagh to send others like Ballot and Broomstick to the mimic warfare of the race track, or late years he had us.-.i ka bis stud such younger horses of his own breeding; as Peter Pan. Hlppodronie ami Disguise with excellent results. Major Darngerfieid was always m command at Onstletoa and his judgment wa- the controlling force when the matter of mating to secure the lies results came np for consideration annually. As a domestic breeding farm. Ca-tlelon wa- without a rival, since from it in its years came sue, magnificent race horses as Colin Ballot, Cap and Bells, Disguise. Peter Pan. Celt. Maskelte. Sysmiby. Israelite, Delhi Commando, Conrey, Superman. Noonday, Gretna Green, Melisande, Hilarious. Court Dress, Peter Qninee, Wild Mint, Philander, Restigouche. Sweep. V.ii. Transvaal, Von Iron, p. Graamere, Meggs Hill. Injunction. Castletoa, Lahore, Runny nude and a host of others ol great speed and fame. 1 1 wa- with these tiiasiiili.ent hor-es of his own breeding that Mr. Keene achieved his greatest sue cesses on the turf and in hi- year of most memorable triumph achieved the proud distinction, in 11*17. .-f winning the greatest sum ever to the credit of any turfman in the world. Previously to that year Ihe Duke of -Portland had ii.id the worlds record for the greatesl snm In -lalde earnings for a year, but in 1!M»7 Mr. Keen* displaced him by over 3,000, the bones which w.n tor him that .Mar and their records heibg: Hoi-c. ,sc Sis l-t. -.M.:;.!. Lnp. Wo,,. c.-liu 12 12 » i » 31,Off7 Peter Pan :: ti 1; 2 o 1 96.790 Balh-i :-. 12 s 2 2 » Ki,.V0 Superman :: 7 2 2 0 :: lss,;,, Megga Hill 2 • :: 1 ■ :; n.si-o 1 • Irette 2 :» 4 1 :: 1 9,093 Restigouche 2 d 1 2 .1 :; S sr,n Suffrage 4 14 6 :: 1 I 7,:|50 I nnbesi :; .» :: 1 1 1 7 2su Celt 2 2 1 1 0 o B.423 Calstchon :: 13 2 2 1 s 5.923 Transvaal 2 ii 2 " ] n .". HO Curl Dress . 7 1 1 2 :: 5 445 Phiiainler :; 13 :; :: 1 1; r..:;2.-| Gn ma Green . ... •"■ 12 1 4 K 1 t.:." n Ci imaldi :; s :; 1 it •_■ ajn Masque 2 12 1 2 I s 2.723 Masquerade 2 ." 2 I 11 2 2545 Sepoy 2 II :; 1 n 7 l.vo Veil x I 2 11 5 - J,, Masks and faces . 2 !•• 1 :; 2 t 1,630 Karls Coin t 2 lo I 2 7 L240 Sandal 2 2 I 0 l 1 710 Citiaen 2 ; 1 t» 0 S 7 hi Incognito 2 .". 1 n 1 :: n.-.o Summer loud .... .; :; 11 2 0 1 :;2."« Red Bonnet 2 4 0 2 n 2 200 Besom 2 2 0 1 « 1 2n » Peter Quince 2 1 it 1 O 0 L«MI Total 21.7 7» III 24 S7 «397,.Tt2 Natnrally Mr. Keenea fame as ■ turfnian and He der wa- known to all in this eoiiiitry and Cuiope intereated in the affairs of racing. His Intimate connection with the government of racing is not sj well known, hut his services, in bringing about Intparranri reforms in the sport were great and • i the highest value. Kariy in the nineties racing 111 the cast was governed by an organization known a- the Hoard -- Control. Ks methods were lax and inefficient and practices of a scandalous nature grew up 111 connection with racing, with which if seemed unable to cope. Perceiving that racing could not survive unle— a remedy was provided. Mr. Keene set about the la-k of interesting other men of influence in the establishment of a ImmJv equal to the requirements of the situation. The result was the formation of Hie Jockey club, or which he served as vice chairman and was such at the time of bis death. The Jockey Club has always ruled the sport since it took charge with firmness, jii-tiee and sagacity. The abuses referred to were suppressed quickly and. under the authority of the Jockey Club, racing became an Immensely popular diversion iii the east and flourished exceedingly until Now Yorks badly advised legislation caused its temporary abandonment. Lexington. Ky.. January ::. — News of the death of James K. Keene was received hen- todav with nianv Pxpresslous of regret. Maj. Ioxhall A. Daing.-r ti.-ld. his brother-in-law ami manager Of his thoroughbred horses, who is seriously ill at St. Josephs Hospital, was not told of the death. Mr. KeeoeM horse holdings here are all at Kingston Kami and consist of the stallions Disguise. Ben Brush, Celt. Iltiiuii-. Delhi. Hippodrome and Sweep, forty-five mar.- and thirty-six ye.-.-rlings. In addition to the horse- here. Mr. Keene left several. Including Ballot. Colin and Peter Pan. in Europe. The first-named two are in Kngland. Peter Pan i- in Frame, whither he was recently taken bv Phil T. China Of this city, along with the seven mares. Maskeii.-. Court Dr.—. Pope Joan. Karlv ami Often. Meggs Hill. Stepping Stone and Mosquito sold to William K. Vanderbllt. Shortly before the sale of those mares. Mr. Keene sold live to his friend. George Jay Could, thev heing Deity. Swift foot. Curiosity, Bitnrica and Fairy Supper and they wen- t ikeii to Franee. It is not known here what, if any. provision Mr. Keene has made concerning his horses.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1913010401/drf1913010401_1_2
Local Identifier: drf1913010401_1_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800