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! ■ ! ! ! j J * . , ] | 1 i I I . I s ■ i v I ITEMS ABOUT TRACERYS GOOD TRAINER. One of the best known of what may ha termed | the modern school of trainers is John Watson. Those interested in racing will not need to be informed that Watson presides over Palace House stables, which shelter the horses of Mr. Leo|K ld de Rothschild and Mr. August Belmont. It will, however, come as news to many when it is stated that t in his earlier days Watson attained some success i as a rider. Indeed, he can claim what few more I famous jockeys can — to have won the first race in which he competed. This triumph was achieved at Newcastle on a horse named Sir John, owned by his father, who trained at Richmond, in Yorkshire. Vouug Watsons riding career was not of long f duration, and twenty-seven years ago he left the county of broad acres for Newmarket, to assist Alfred Hayhoe in the management of the Palace House establishment. Five years later he started on his own account, taking over Exeter House and I having charge of several of Mr. Rothschilds horses. It was not long liefore he made his mark. He ] seemed to ] ossoss a i»eculiar fondness for the first t two-year-old nice of the season of any importance, the Brocklesby. the winner of which he saddled on a half dozen occasions within the space of a few-years. A notable handicap triumph of the late nineties was that of Jaquemart, which Watson prepared for the Royal Hunt Cup, which the son of Martagou won from Feston. lie also trained Radium, which was one of Spear- j mints contemporaries, and ran fourth to Major . I.oders colt in the Derby. Radium later developed j into one of our best long-distance performers, winning the Goodwood. Doncaster and Jockey Club « Cups as a five-year-old. He had also won the last- J named trophy a year earlier, defeating The White t Knight — n which odds were laid — by a length. The White Knight was also in the field on the y second occasion, being again favorite, but failing c to reach the first three. Watson also trained another good stayer in Santo Strato, which won j the Chester Cup. . In 190K he scored his first classic victory through Norman III., the Two Thousand winner, which he j trained for Mr. August Belmont. The best animal s he- has had tinder his care, however, was Tracery, likewise the property of the American sportsman. Tru-erv did not run as a two-year-old, and was l.ackward when he took part in the Derby of 1912, in which, starting at K6 to 1 against, he nevertheless ran third to Tagalie and Jaeger. By Doncaster a time he was a totally different horse, and had no s difficulty in cantering away with the St. Leger, the j Epsom winner lieing well down the course. The t son of Back Sand won the Eclipse Stakes and other events as a four-year-old. Since Hayhops retirement Watson has had charge of practicallv the whole of Mr. Rothschilds horses. — Loudon Sporting Life.
