Lawrence Realization is Revived: Some Points in Its History with Suggestions About Its next Running, Daily Racing Form, 1916-09-09

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LAWRENCE REALIZATION IS REVIVED. Some Points in Its History with Suggestions About Its Next Running. B. C. J. Fitz Gerald. New York, September 8. Turfmen everywhere were delighted when the announcement was made recently that the Westchester Racing Association had been given permission by the Coney Island Jockey Club to. perpetuate the Lawrence Realization Stakes, one of the few distance races remaining 011 the rosters of the associations owing allegiance to the Jockey Club. The popularity of races which call for stamina as well as speed has never been questioned, and those who saw the battle for the Saratoga Cup a week ago will bear evidence that no event contested during the meeting at the Spa brought out more spontaneous evidences of enthusiasm. Then; were but three starters, but Friar Rock, Roamer and The Finn each had a following and, as the race progressed, the great gathering was moved by emotions that no mere sprint ever called into play. The applause for Friar Rock when he trotted back to the stand was a sincere tribute to a stouthearted thoroughbred. The revived race, which will be the feature of next Saturdays card, was first run at Sheepsheail Bay in 1859 and was won by that mighty race horse Salvator, with James McLaughlin in the saddle. It was originally known as the Realization and it was a testimonial to the memory of the mau who framed the conditions of the event when it afterwards became known as the Lawrence Realization. For many years it was one of the tests applied by breeders and it has been won by many good horses as well as some that were fortunate to have been out at a time when they had little to Iwat. It was accepted generally by turfmen as a conclusive test of three-year-old form. The race was originally at a distance of one mile and five-eighths, but the renewal, which will be run for the first time in two years, will be at one mile and a half. It is the intention ultimately to increase the distance to the original route, which should be ample for all purposes. The value of these tests at distances which the sprinter finds beyond his powers is of the greatest benefit to future generations of the liorse world. The announcement that the French government, through its minister of agriculture, had determined to grant permission for a series of short meetings on the courses at Caen, Moulins and Mont-de-Marson chiefly for three and four-year-olds and over distances that average one mile and three-quarters is illustrative of the policy which has made that nation one of the most progressive in the liorse-breeditig industry. With the entire nation torn by the war these meetings, which will be private and held in the mornings, with none but breeders, representatives of the government and the accredited members of the press present, will be tests to determine what material is fit to go into their studs when peace has come again. Xew Yorkers have had two or three examples of what stagnation will do for the thorughbred in the performance of Frizzle, Nylon and Mont dOr II. three French-bred animals that were interned in France for nearly two years and have started recently at Saratoga and Belmont Park. None Of them, according to men who saw tltcnt race abroad, are within many pounds of their form on European courses. They may come back, but its going to be a more or less slow process. There are some who say that the change of climate has affected these horses, all of which are royally bred and fine individuals which should leave their impress in the stud, but the lack of racing has nu-doubtedly had the greater part in their decadence. The breeders of the country should uphold the hands of those organizations whose aim it is to stage such contests as the Lawrence Realization. The public should encourage by their patronage the creation of other racers along similar lines, and periiaps in a few years we shall have a series of trials that will measure up with the best of other 1 days.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1916090901/drf1916090901_1_6
Local Identifier: drf1916090901_1_6
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800