view raw text
- • * . + PRICE Mc KINNEY AND JAMES CORRIGAN DETERMINED TO SUCCEED IN THEIR AMBITIOUS TURF VENTURE By Ed Cole ■ « . -T. I . | j . | . ; New York. November 22. — Price McKinney was here recently after a visit to the Kingston farm in Kentucky to look over the racing stock owned by himself and his partner. James Corrigan. S|ieak-ing of the horses that they have bought and raised. Mr. McKinney wished it distinctly understood that the prevailing impression that he owned the horses alone was an error. "They belong to Jimmy and me," said he. "and he should Is- given the credit as well as myself. Jimmy is my partner in everything. We are fifty-fifty, and whatever the result of our enterprise it is share and share alike. My being the prominent figure in the purchasing of the horses led many to lielieve I am alone in the enterprise, but 1 am not. Mr. Corrigan and myself are partners, tlie horses will lie raced in the interests of Corrigan and McKinney, and I should like Mr. Corrigan to Ik* given an equal share of the credit for doing what little we can in the interest of the thoroughbred and the turf generally." No better illustration of tlie disposition of Mr. McKinney can be offered than the foregoing request. "Fifty-fifty" is bis motto in all things, which means a fair and square deal no matter whether it is in a horse or in business. Some of his associates say he brings back memories of that old drama. "My Iart-ner." in which the senior minor of the firm, when the division of spoils came, threw the lions share of the nuggets into the rack of the man who had beta his pal for so many years. If there is one subject upon which Mr. McKinuey likes to talk it is Kingston Farm in Kentucky and the horses tliere.ii. "They are just beautiful to look upon." says lie. "Only thus* who have had the exiK-rience can appreciate the pleasure there is in looking over a lot of thoroughbreds on a breeding farm. There are the long legged, lanky sucklings and weanlings, the yearlings that are just beginning to look like race horses, then come their mothers and the majestic «ircs. I tell yoi;. it is inspiring to watch tbein and make predictions as to their future. I suppose all breeders think they have a Futurity winner when they watch the youngsters playing around the padd«K-ks. We may not have I Futurity winner at Kingston Farm, but there are twenty-six coming two-year-olds that will carry our colors next season, and If the predictions of Miss Iaingerliold. who has charge of them, are not awry, there are a few that will hold their own in any company. If yearling trials are any criterion, her deductions will not go far astray. "I cannot designate whuh are the best of the lot. though tliere are two or three which have shown exceptionally good trials," continued Mr. McKinney, "at the same time there are some which have not yet done anything remarkable. It is safe to say. however, that as a whole the stock so far bred at Kingston Farm exceeds expectations, and I only hope that we shall have something approaching the great horses that were bred there in years past by the late James R. Keene. It is a high ambition, but there is nobody who can aim higher than Jimmy Corrigan and myself, when we are in the aiming business." In answer to a question as to the sire of the mist promising colt or filly. Mr. .McKinney said he could imt answer that at this time, us good results had lieen shown by every stallion on the farm, and it" was hard to tell which was the most promising youngster. All the horses will be prepared for the spring meeting in Kentucky, except one or two that he has decided to send to Juarez. After being tried out in Kentucky those destined to take part in the eastern stakes will be shipped here. "You will have to meet quite a number of selected horses from abroad in tlie two-year-old stakes next season." said Phil Dwyer, who was entertaining Mr. McKinney. "I dont care how many tliey bring over here, the more anil better they are the greater the glory if we can beat them with our American stock. I shall take a crack at them, and if they heat me next year. I shall try again next year and the next if it is necessary. Jimmy Corrigan and I have decided to get the liest horses procurable, and if we fail it will not lie for lack of effort." President Field of the Pittsburgh Coal Company was a guest at the table in the Waldorf with Messrs. McKinney. Ihvycr and others and. seeing the picture of the horse Roam or on a whisky bottle, asked the reason. Ipon being told the whisky had been named after the little champion, he became more concerned, and while he is net a horseman he listened attentively to the conversation. He became interested when Mr. Pwyer told him that he once owned Knight FZrrant. the sire of Roamer. and gave him to WiKHlford Clay. "Another story of a gift horse." said Mr. Field. "Yes, replied .Mr. Ilwyer. "one never can tell what a race horse will do at times. I knew Knight Errant was a fair sort of horse, but bad anyone predicted he w. uld beget as stout a little horse as Roamer it would have been hard to agree with such a prediction. I have been in the racing business for about forty years, and I never saw a horse the equal of Roamer, considering his size and conformation. There have been lietter horses, but never was tliere one looking like him that was as good, you call bet on that."
