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THE LATE JOHN HUNTER. W. S. Vosburgh writes as follows concerning the death of the late John Hunter, former president of the Jockey Club: "Mr. John Hunter, formerly chairman of the Joe-key Club and the oldest of eastern turfmen, died January :!. and it is a curious co-incidence that his death occurred, to a day, exactly a year following that of his friend. Mr. James H. Kecnc. Mr. Hunters connection with racing extended over a period :f sixty years. He belonged to one of the oldest sporting families of Westchester County, among which tlie Hunters, the Morrises, the Hathgates and the Todds were most noted. The famous Cub mare from which most of our racers descend belonged to Colonel Delaney of Westchester County. Here, too, Medoc was bred. Mango, the Doncaster St. Leger winner, stood at the Hathgate farm in Morrisania, and Halrownie. sun of Queen Mary, at Fordhani, while later imported Lclipsc stood at Mr. Morris place at Tiiroggs Neck. "With such suiTomiiiings it is natural that Mr. Hunter, born in lis!-!, early took to racing, when he had barely attained Ids majority. Hefore the Civil War he raced the famous gelding Nicholas the First, by Glencoe, and formed a stud close to that of his neighbor, the late Francis Morris. Among the horses racing in Mr. Hunters colors from liSOO to LS00 were West Hoxbury, Captain Moore, Sunshine, John .Morgan. Copeck, etc. In ISO.l he purchased the famous Kentucky from Mr. J. M. Clay, a horse that dominated the turf of the east for three seasons, winning the inaugural Travers Stakes and being twice winner of tin; Saratoga Cup. Among the other bearers of his orange with crimson sash were Oliata. Saratoga, Areola, Ulrica. Fadette. Flora Mclvor, Nemesis, Canny Hairn and Intrigue. In 1S07 he, with Mr. Helinont, Mr. Travers. Mr. Osgood and others, formed the Annieswood Stable named for his stud at Westchester with mauve colors. He sold Kentucky to .Mr. Jerome for 0,000, the highest price paid for a race horse to that date. ".Meantime Mr. Hunter had installed the stallion Censor at the head of his stud and the late 11. W. Cameron having imported Leamington, they made a match for ,000. .Mr. Cameron naming Miss Alice, Mr. Hiiuter a colt by Censor The Gloaming, by Glencoe, the filly winning, owing to Mr. Hunters colt halting at tin; start. Mr. Hunter made many similar sporting matches that season with Mr. Cameron, Mr. Helmout, etc., at Jerome Park and Saratoga. "Censor was not a success and Mr. Hunter bred his mares to his neighlwrs Mr. F. Morris Eclipse anil one of the first fruits was tin; celebrated Alarm from Maud, by Stockwell. the fastest horse of his day at a mile. Alarm defeated Kingfisher at a time when the latter was hailed a champion and subsequently Alarm became noted as a sire, his son Himyar, in turn, having sired Domino and Plaudit, and thus founded the great family of Commando. Cap and Hells, Peter Pan, Colin, etc. "In 1S71 Mr. Hunter leased the famous Leamington to stand at his stud in Westchester, and here it was he got Aristides. Olitipa, Hyder All, Ithadaman-thus. Bob Wooley. Katie Pearce and others. Olitipa was the crack two-year-old of her year and Hhadamanthiis began a career of great achievements over short courses. Mr. Hunter also purchased Sultana and this filly likewise was one of the princinal winners of 1K75 and 187H. It was about this time that Mr. Hunters favorite trainer. Mr. Minor, died, and Mr. Hunter sold Hhadamanthus. Olitipa and Sultana to Mr. Helmout. In 1S71 lie imiwrted Huclc-deii. bv Lord Clifden, a good race horse and a noted sire, also Strachino, a black son of Parmesan, which raced with success in his colors. "Mr Hunter was not active in racing after lSio until lS.M, when he returned to the turf, purchasing vearlings, and for the next few years had considerable success with Dagonet. Lovelace, Chicago and others. When the Hoard of Control was formed in 1S01 ho became an active member and upon the death of Mr. Withers he became chairman. In 1804. upon the organization of the Jockey Club. Mr. Hunter, with Mr. Keene. Mr. Belmont, Dr. Knapp and Colonel Thompson, took an active part and Mr. Hunter lecame chairman, a jwsition he held until late in 1S95. "In many respects Mr. minter played a part in racing the importance of which few can remember. He was among that coterie of men Mr. Belmont, Mr. Jerome, Mr. Travers, Mr. Constable. Mr. L. G. Morris, Mr. Cameron, etc. who founded the American Jockey Club, opened Jerome Park in 1800 and thus revived racing In the north. It was Mr. Ilunter who was the leading spirit in founding rac ing at Saratoga In 1S0J5. Thus as a promoter, an owner and a breeder he had taken a leading part. "When Mr. Hunter returned to racing in 1SJJ0 he became invaluable as a member of the goveri"nz ImkI.v. His ripe experience and knowledge of racing matters were of great value in council, while as a steward of meetings he was most efficient. He was firm, but just: he never punished people on mere suspicion, nor sought to gain a reputation for official activity" at the expense of some ioor creature wi.j was without power or inlluence. Many of the rules in the present racing code are his suggestion. Tak ii all in all, Mr. Hunter was a gentleman in whom the true sporting spirit dominated, and that is a spirit which gives health and vitality to racing, as opposed to the hysteria and sensationalism with which some would invest it."
