view raw text
; AUGUST BELMONT REFUSES PRINCELY OFFER FOR HIS GREAT HORSE, TRACERY August Belmont has received and refused an offer of 00,000 for his splendid colt. Tracery, which is expected to win Hie 0,000 Jockey Ciub Stakes at Newmarket today. Aside, from the probability that Tracery is not for sale at aiiy price, Mr. Belmont is justified in refusing the offer made from the strictly commercial point of view that, as prices for great horses now go. Tracery is wortli more money than the reported sum offered. The three-year-old Craganour was sold for 50,000 directly he had boon disqualified after finishing first in this years Epsom Derby. Between Tracery and Craganour as race horses there is smply no comparison. His only real rival. Prince Palaiine, was bought by J. B. Joel last July for 45,000 guineas, the greatest price ever paid for a horse. Hut that sum was subject to reduction under certain stipulated contingencies, which became operative when Prince Palatine was beaten in tlie Goodwood Cup so that ills actual cost price was 00,000 instead of 35,000. Now, in England it would readily be conceded that if Prince Palatine is wortli 35,000 Tracery is certainly worth as much or more. It appears then that an offer of 00,000 was below his selling value. It is worth noting iu that connection that wi-cn Hayardo was in Ills prime three years hack his owner, Mr. Fairie, refused a genuine offer of 50,000 p.iineas for him, equivalent to 111,200. Tracery is not a horse- that lias lieen raced much, but his career has been of the most brilliant description. Some trouble with his ankles prevented his being raced when a two-year-old and his debut in racing was in the Epsom Derby of iast year. He was at. the time decidedly backward in condition, but ran well litiogh to finish third to Tagalie anil Jaeger, with seventeen competitors behind him. His second essay was in the St. James Palace Stakes at Ascot. Tlie two Thousand Guineas winner, Sweeper II.. was favorite at 11 to 10, hut Tracery defeated liini by four lengths. At Goodwood he won the Sussex Stakes easily and again it was Sweeper II. Hint finished next to him. Then he confirmed his high class by winning the Doncaster St. Leger, leading every yard of tlie way and Winning in a canter by live lengths! with Maiden Erlegh second. Hector third and Fantasio, White Star, Tagalie. Lomond, Aleppo, Catmint, Absolute, Pinta-dtau, St. Edgar, Sweeper II. and Charmian unplaced. Thus as a three-year-old he ran in four races, of which he won three and was third in one. Ills earnings lieing 9,2:13. This year lie has starfetl in three races and won two. His first race as a four-year-old was at the Newmarket Second Spring Meeting in tlie mile and a half Burwell Plate, which he won easily from Jackdaw, Stedfast and five more good ones, Stedfast being the favorite at 5 to 4 and Tracery second choice at 2 to 1. This was conclusive evidence that he had gone on in tlie right way through the winter and spring. His second start of the year was in the world-famous Ascot Gold Cup, for which he was opposed by Prince Palatine. Stedfast, Aleppo, Predicateur, Jackdaw and Fitz Richard. In this Tracery had rushed into the lead anil was six lengths in advance of Irince Palatine, with every prospect of winning, when, at what would be called in this country the head of the stretch, a crank darted out into the track and. snatching his bridle reins, brought him to the ground with a crash, leaving Irince Palatine to go on and win from Stedfast and A.epiK. Tracery was bruised and shocked but, being a robust horse, soon recovered and was none the worse for his strange experience when next brought to the post. Tills was for tlie 50.000 Eclipse Stakes, at Sandown Park. July IS. He carried 140 imuntls and had for opponents Louvols. 12S: Bachelors AVedding, 125; Hoseworthy, 125: Lomond, 137; Hector, 137. and Oiseau Bleu, 137. He won in a canter by four lengths and was at 1 to 2 in the betting. The race netted tlie winner .1,675. Louvols finishing second and Bachelors Wedding third. Since then he has been in reserve for the Jockey Club Slakes and at last reports was a grand horse in grand condition to contest todays ricli race. Here is Ids racing record and his pedigree: Year. Age. Sts. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Unp. Won. 1!12 3 4 3 0 1 0 0.2.15 iOl.1 -1 2 0 0 , .1 v - 15.S50 " Totals" 2 ..-f4. :-:r.rr?. . -r 5 0 1 1 ?!5,0S5 " Springfield St. Albans. . J Stockwell. I r J j Bribery. r Sainfoin J 1 Viridis j Marsvas I - M. of Palmyra. I . Wenlock... Lord Clif den. I Sanda 1 j Mineral. , . r, j . I I Siintl-il niUl J Stockwell. f Hock Sand.... Lady Evelyn. " . Galopin e,1-ette, rQt. St. Simon a. J , g , f Flying Duchess. a . St. Aivela ul-LlJ King Tom. 3 I Roquehruno... J Adeline. a ! Newminster. ti,-,if -j g L St. Marguerite ";rit 1 Seclusion. SlM Devotion UVcesiis"- 2 .. . j Doncaster. . r Ormonde. 15enrt 0r j Rouge Hose. I - Macaroni. "3 S f Orme.. . I t Lily -i Agnes Polly Agnes. .Angelica.. f Galopin FiyhWhess. Tory . St- - 1 Adeflnc?"1 fPl; Chattanooga. j Orlando Ijf fidliugtonia j Ambrose.1 i I Plaisanterie..;!r Araucaria... Pocahontas. poetess 5 1 , i. . The Ranger. I La Dpvette Mon Etoile.
