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j c i 11 i i j 1 , s i i ; ; , ; ; : ; i ; i i i : I . : NOTABLE BITS OF FUTURITY HISTORY. James R. Kccne Its Winner Five Times, the 3 Whitneys Four and David Gideon Three. P.y C. J. Fitz Gerald. New York, August 20. The Futurity Stakes l keystone to the thoroughbred breeding industry l of the United States will be decided over the Rel- j mont Park track on Saturday next and. estimating the probable starters at fifteen, it will have a gross value of upwards of 5,000, of which ,750 will 1 go to the breeders of the three placed horses. That it will be viewed by a monster crowd is certain, as this race litis an appeal till its own. It is a ; classic of the classics, and it has usually been the occasion for a reunion of society. Newport, Nar- , ragansett and Itar Harbor salute Saratoga, and for 1 that particular day the thoroughbred is king. James G. K. Lawrence framed the event with a view to stimulating the breeding of thoroughbreds, and the race will always be a monument to this official and to The Coney Island Jockey Club, of which he was secretary. When the directors of the Coney Island Jockey Club abandoned their course a few years ago the Futurity and the Suburban were not permitted to die. The Futurity i was run in 1010 and 1013 at Saratoga. There was no racing in 1011 and 1012, but last, season August Belmont, on behalf- of the Westchester Raring As- social ion, made an arrangement by which the Futurity and Suburban were taken over, and the former classic was run at Belmont Park and won by Thunderer in the colors of L. S. Thompson, though the colt was the property of his friend, Harry Payne Whitney, who raced no horses in his own name because of a period of mourning. There were sixteen starters and the value of the race was 0,500. It is a far cry from the 0,500 of 1015 to the 1916.sh7,075 of 1800, when August Itelmont was first and second with Potomac and Masher respectively colts of his own breeding but it is signilicnut that the value of the nice has increased materially since last year, and with the turf growing in popularity daily the value of the race a decade ago will be equalled or surpassed shortly. There were about four thousand yearling registrations with the Jockey Club when Electioneer won the race in P.MMi. value 4,070. as against less than two thousand when -the Futurity of 1010 closed. It is cause for congratulation that so many mares were saved to keep the breed alive. With the thoroughbred making friends in every state In the Union the future seems brighter and nobody has responded more quickly than the breeders to whose faces smiles have come ns a result of the yearling sales during the past twelve months. The racing of thoroughbreds has a world-wide popularity. These trials of speed will stir the blood as long tis the joy of contest endures, and that being elemental will not pass. If the on-looker has his thrill what must be the compensation which comes to the owner, and beyond that the breeder of the colt or lilly which has the qualities which make them faster than their fellows? If the owner lias seen the conqueror from the day he took his lirst uncertain step by the side; of his dam, the degrees of pleasure must be intense. It has warmed the hearts of men whom the world termed cold and it has stirred the emotions of the high ami the lowly alike. The fact that a certain amount of the prize money was set aside for the breeder litis carried ti mighty appeal and this feature undoubtedly has had a brearing on the large entry list. AVith a chance of getting ,000. 00 or 50, if he were fortunate enough to name the dam of the first, second or third contestant, a majority wen; willing to take a chance. One great fascination of the breeding industry is the knowledge that nobody has ti corner on speed. That element is in the "same category as brains in the human family and so the small breeder, with a few mares, has always lived in hope of breeding a winner. The race is studded with sentimentality. Proctor Knott, winner of the inaugural in l.SSS, was ti bald-faced gelding that cost a few hundred dollars as a yearling and made Sam Bryant, his lanky Kentucky owner, comfortable for life; Morollo, the victor in 1S02, was a hundred-dollar yearling; Og-den. the conqueror in 1S01, came from Montana, and was the means of a great betting coup on the part of his owner, Marcus Daly. Martimas, the victor . in 1R9S, got his early lessons amid the snows of Canada, and Rallyhoo Roy. winner in 1000, gave William C. Whitney his first substantial triumph on the turf. Fortune smiled frequently on James R. Kccne when the Futurity was the prize, this turfman winning it five times, with Domino. 1803; Chacornac, JN0O; Colin. .1007: Maskette, 100S, and Sweep in 3000. David Gideon won it three times with His Highness. lS.ll; The Butterflies, 1804 Gideon and Daly, and Requital. 1805. Tin; AVhitney family has had its share of good luck. too. the names of Ballyhoo Bey, Artful, Pennant and Thunderer appearing on the roster of winners. Mr. Whitney also owned a half interest in Yankee, the winner in 1001. While the elder Belmont was the only owner to run first and second in the race, the Jockey Clubs chairman has not been able to win it, though he was second with Lady Violet in 1S92. Braiidywinc in 1S01, Brigadier in 1800, and Lord of the Vale in 1002. His champion Hourless is not eligible to run Saturday, but he has. a strong hand 1 in Deer Trap and Woodtrap, sons of Trap Rock. Richard T. Wilson with Camiifire probably has the rosiest chance of any to bag the trophy. This ; colt is hailed by many as the best of his age. He and Deer Trap will have to carry a penalty, but they both carry weight well. The AVhitney stable ; looks powerful on paper, their eligible comprising the winners Tumbler. Hard Cash, Bellringer and Hwfti. The former must shoulder a penalty. Ho is an uncertain performer and has more temper " than a good race horse should possess. The Oneck Stable has a promising pair in The Knocker and I Tragedy, while A. K. Macomber will be represented by Star Master or Star Gazer perhaps both. James Butler will start Ivory Black, a good winner in the early spring, and a colt of good class. Andrew Millers Ticket, another candidate, was a one time s considered a factor in the two-year-old field and I America. Thomas C. McDowells handsome filly, may return to the form she displayed when she : beat Harry Kelly in the west. The other eligibles that have a chance of going to the post are Gilford A. Cochrans Philippic and I Burlesque the hitter being regarded as a filly of good class by competent judges. There may be a few dark ones whose owners have endeavored to i cover their capabilities, but in these days of dockers the public knows the caliber of practically every thoroughbred in training, and the winner wiil i no doubt be found among those named above. At any rate it will be a great race and it will be worth going a long distance to see the crowd alone. Belmont Park will be at its very best in its early autumnal dress and no matter who wins, the throng will have a chance to cheer to its hearts content. Perhaps the breeders share will go to millionaires, hut there is always the chance that the wires will carry the news to a man in the country whose heart may beat a little faster on Saturday. September 2, because of the fact that it is Futurity Day.
