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: i i i , ; ; - ROAMER A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BEST BLOOD OF ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA While not quite at the top of the tree among our two-year-olds of last year, Roamer was prominent in the second grade and it is well within the range of possibilities that he may prove to be one of the stars of 1114. He is a grandson of Trenton and Trenton was one of the most famous race horses and probably the greatest sire ever produced in Australia. His tribe is not precocious, but usually of the steadily improving sort, so Roamer may inherit this trait and prove much better as a three-year-old than in his younger days. His sire. Knight Errant, is probably the only Trenton horse in the stud in this country and when in" training an some good races for his owners. He was brought to this country by James H. Keene, for whom, in I.mi:;, he won the Autumn Stakes at Sheepshead Bay. Mr. Keene sold hiin to Philip J. Dwyer and in the following year he won the Seagate Stakes, for three-year-olds, at Brighton Beach, in Mr. Dwyers ownership. It was in this race that the American Derby winner, Highball, broke a leg and was destroyed after the race was over. He ran third to Ort Wells and Broomstick in the Brighton Derby and was given second p.ace when Broomstick was disqualified for fouling. This was a capital race, the starters all carrying 120 pounds and Ort Wells covering its mile and n half in such fast time as tli.iS-,. Knight Errant won good aces for Mr. Dwyer as a four-year-old and altogether was considerable of a race horse himself. Roamers dam, Rose Tree J I., was picked up in England by Edward Corrigan while he was racing a stable there and was brought over by him when he returned. She was a mare of lino speed and won some fast races over Cuicago tracks. It will be observed that she is by Bona Vista, which is also the sire of the world-famous stallion, Cyllene. It follows that, while Roamer is American-bred, there is not a drop of American thoroughbred blood in his veins. That the knife was used on such a richly-bred young horse was simply an outrage against American breeding interests. Theoretically our breeders and owners are supposed to have tile improvement of the breed of horses fnrinnst in their minds, hut the fact that such splendid young horses a- Helios, Hawthorn, Old Rosebud, Little Xephew. Roamer, Bringhurst, Imperator and Bradleys Choice, among others, are geldings, seems to point as a widely different conclusion, at least so far as some of them are concerned. Roamers start in racing was as one of a field of eleven in a purse race at Lexington, May 1, 101.!, it being a sprint of four and a half furlongs over a fast track. Favorable reports concerning him had been afloat for some time and had the result of making him an odds-on favorite at 05 to 100 in the mutuels. Running the distance in T,7-,-, he justified the confidence reposed in him when he won in a canter by five lengths, with Destino second and Tiklok third. Six days later, at the same distance, he was beaten a neck ly Jmperator in 51:l.-.. with Bird Man a poor third. At Louisville, May i:i. he again ran second in a purse race at the same distance. This time his conqueror was T. 0. McDowells Xorman and the race was run in ."I, Old Ben finishing third. May 17 he once more took second money, finishing second to Old Rosebud at be same distance over a heavy track in 51, Brave Cunarder taking third place. At Douglas Park, June 4, lie ran third to OM Rosebud and Little Nephew, at five-eighths of a mile in ."8, but Was a poor third. Brigs Brother and Bandit were behind him and be only carried 100 pounds to 115 on Old Rosebud and 1 1S on Utile Xephew. At Latonia, June 11, he had no such stars to contend with and achieved his second victory. This was in another- purse race at live-eighths of a mile and, covering the distance in l:00Jf,, he won by six lengths, witli Candy Box second. OReilly third and five more unplaced. His consistent racing had not escaped observation and he was a hot favorite against such opposition at 55 to 100. June 19 he was for tl: lirst time unplaced in a race. This was in a dash of five and a half furlongs, for which be was joint Pivoritc with Bringhurst at 17 to 10, but ran a poor race for some reason, Bringhurst winning in 1:07, with Roots and Saddle second and Minda third. That was his last race at the Latonia spring meeting and he was then taken east for a campaign over the Xew York tracks. Then? his first start took place, at Belmont Park, July 15, in a straight track purse race at five and a l.aif furlongs, which he won by four lengths in 1:07. with Delft second and Oallop third, the latter being the favorite at .1 to 2, while he was second choice at to 1. That was his only start at Belmont Park and his next race was at Saratoga, August 0. This was also a purse race at the same distance and when it was finished Little Xephew, carrying 120 pounds, was first by a length in 1:00, with Roamer, 107 pounds, second, and Surprising, 115 hiuihIs. third. Black Toney, Spearhead, Harry L.. Uncle ?.Inn and Charlestoniaii were the unplaced ones. His next race brought about the principal success of his career as a two-year-old. This race was the Saratoga Special, worth 1914.sh,500 to the winner. The starters and weights were Roamer. Early Rose and Imperator, 11! pounds each; Gainer. Punch Bowl, Black Toney, Figiimy, Spearhead. King McDowell. Prairie. Golden Chimes and Mr. Sniggs, 122 each. Gainer. Eariv Rose and Imperator were joint favorites at to 1 each and Roamer went to the post at 7 to 1. Roamer had lieen purchased by Andrew Miller for a good price at Belmont Park and, of course, ran for him. Jetting away well, he was always first or second in the running and at the finish was first liv a length and a half in front of Gainer, the hitter defeating Blaek Toney by two lengths for second place! The race was at three-quarters of a mile and Roamers time was l:i:. This was a capital performance and his last victory. A triumph of such magnitude brings penalties and he coifd not surmount them. He was given 12.! pounds in a handicap at five and a half furlongs, August 15, and ran well, but finished unplaced in to Gracilla. 105 jioiiiids; Fncle Mini, 110, and Flittergold, 120. August 20. at three-quarters of a mile, forall ages, run in 1:12, he carried 105 pounds and ran a good second to the speedy four-year-old lillv, Isirose, with 100 pounds up. The live-year-old Sebago was third and Palanquin, Housemaid, Plate Glass and Spring Board r.:n unplaced. Ages and weights considered, this was probably Roamers best race and a good one it was. In the Adirondack Handicap, run August 27, he was gjven IIS pound and ran unplaced to Little Nephew, 125: Black Broom, 110, and Spearhead, 100. the track being heavy and the time for the three-quarters. 1 15 At Havre de Grace, Septemlter 10, he was beaten by Gainer in the Lafayette Handicap, at live and a half furlongs in 1:00. He was top weight at 12." pounds to 120 on Gainer, and Mr. Sniggs, 10S pounds, was a good third. Northerner, Addie M., Preston Lynn, Incle Mini, Canto and Cutaway wore unplaced. Then ho "ma three more times in the Maryland fail campaign without being placed and prohablv had I rained off somewhat. His record and his striking pedigree aie as follows: Year. Age. Sts. 1st. 2nd. :ird. Unp. Won. - 1" 1 0 1 0 ,4S0 P-kct j Toxopholite SXiain L f r SfSlian Goldsbrongh J Fireworks ....... s I I railty J j Svivia v Horn Melvor j Xew Warrior Knight Lrrant, 1 Io I aIol Flying,, f St. Simon chess 2 I St. Mildred... J S- An-"clil S0"1 - , , .... , Scottish Chief Lord or the Isles --s I- !"1-V I lz -nines . J Miss Ann 2 t Hawthorn Bloom. J Kettledrum g g 1 , Lady A. Hawthorn S Or """iter - fBona Vis.n... I Honse Rose I Vista S Macaroni.... j Sweetmeat I J King Tom Verdure . Rose Rose Tree .tree IT if.. -j May Woom ....... Lord Lyon J Stockwell f Minting J 1 Paradigm Mint Sauce i Young Melbourne V 1anny Relph.. 7 Sycee I Consternation j Blair Athol L Mini I Rosabel Eluiina J King of Tramps Ella