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A a SOMETHING OF A NEW RECRUIT TO THE EASTERN TURF AND HIS HORSES IN TRAINING By ED. COLE. J New York, November 1. If things run along with average luck, Andy Blakeley, one-time jockey and now a prominent trainer, will introduce a string of two-year-olds in 1917 to racing followers which promise to cut quite a figure in the sport. At the same time Blakeley will introduce the colors of A. A. Ifeilly to the present generation of race-goers. In Wall street Mr. Beilly is well known, having advanced himself from a brokers office boy, telegraph operator, curb broker and so on up the Wall street ladder until he is now president of the. Victoria Oil Co., with palatial offices and a plethoric bank account. There is quite a human interest story in connection with the association of Blakeley and Mr. Beilly. Itj was many years ago, between twenty-five and thirty, that Andy Blakeley came to this country I from the North of Ireland. Not only was he a rider ! in those days, but he was an exceedingly good judge of horses. This lie proved when he cast longing eyes on this country and came to the conclusion he would come here, but he also knew he would have to bring a few good horses with him. The progeny of his selections have since done well in this country, as he brought over the original John Barleycorn, Pirate of Penzance and Florist, all of which proved worthy sires. Blakeley had not been in this country long when he became acquainted with A. A. Reillys father, who lived in Brooklyn. "The boy at that time was in his knee breeches," says Blakeley, in speaking of the origin of their acquaintance. "He used to follow me around as if I was his big brother and from his early youth was devoted to horses and racing stables, lie was my mascot, as it were, and I like to have him with me as much as he liked to be. His father once suggested that I take him in hand and teach him the business, but I advised him differently, believing it was for the lads better interest. "Shortly after this conversation I went to Saratoga and the boy followed me. Then I went to Chicago leaving young Beilly in Brooklyn. I had not been in Chicago more than a week when the youngster appeared at the track at five oclock in the morning, having run away from home. I was pleased to see him, but my duty was to send him back, so I telegraphed his father and gave the boy a first-class ticket back to Brooklyn. A few days later I went to California. No, the boy did not follow me there, but when I came back to Chicago a few months later there was young. Beilly. lie had run away from home again and was exercising horses for Jerry Downey and had ridden some racers at about ninety pounds. He put in a long, cold winter at the Boby track, doing the work necessary in a racing stable notwithstanding his father was a well-to-do man. A few months later his father died and that event caused the little chap to return home. It was then he broke into Wall Street as an office boy, but he never gave up his love for a horse, and as soon as he could afford it, made a purchase. Today he is just as devoted to the saddle and loves to ride the stable pony around the track and at times will get up and work a horse or two. "Mr. Beilly no sooner began to make money than he looked me up and lie and I have picked out and bought fourteen yearlings which are now being educated at Gravescnd. Of course there is considcr- able luck in buying yearlings, but those I have in hand are promising. Two of them, a fillv bv Helmet Bachelor Girl, and a colt by Ballot Clara J., have both worked phenomenally well. The filly went a quarter bettor than 23 seconds with 135 pounds up and the colt the same distance, carrying the same weight, in 23 seconds. The remainder are hardly as speedy, but are a healthy-looking band. It is probable I shall take them to New Orleans, as I am going there with a string of horses, four of which I already have, and Mr. Beilly is going to buy four or five others as soon as I can pick up just what I want. I only hope for a little bit of good luck, for then I know Mr. Beilly will go into racing extensively and he will be quite an addition to the turf." Trainer Blakeley has been at Laurel and will be at Pimlico looking out for a chance to make purchases. He is conceded to be an excellent judge of young horses, many owners having asked his advice on such matters, and his opinion sought by such experts as John E. Madden, Thomas AVelsii and Pat Dunne. He expects to have at least twenty horses to start the season of 1917. A number of horsemen are somewhat bewildered over the conditions of the claiming races in the Pimlico book. They are simply claiming races in which the amount of the winners share of the purse is added to the entered price in case the winner of a race is claimed. The conditions had to be so specifically written in order to comply with the rules of racing. The question lias been asked why the amount of the purse should be added to the entered selling price? It is argued that it would save calculation and at times confusion if horses could be claimed for the amount specified on the program without any allusion to purse. All owners would have to do in such cases would be to add 00 or 00 to the price originally intended under the existing rules to comply with the requirement. Such a change, however, would have to be passed upon by the Jockey Club and like governing organizations, before this could be done. The rules now specifically require "plus the purse" in claiming a horse from a selling race. That Tijuana will eventually become one of the fashionable winter racing resorts is shown by the fact that some of the better stables and foremost jockeys will be there this winter, notwithstanding the institution is not yet out of its swaddling clothes. Already some of the proiqinent club members of the New York racing associations are contemplating a trip to Tijuana after the holidays. This fact has much significance regarding the future of this Mexican course. Its success also means much to the breeding industry of California, which has been on the decline since 1911 when racing ceased in that state. Already breeders are contemplating a revival of their establishments. Notwithstanding that the outlook at Juarez is questioned by some horsemen. Manager Matthew J. Winn is optimistic on the subject and as he has not made an error in his calculations for many years, it can be depended upon he knows what he is doing. In a few days official announcement will be made in Daily Racing Form concerning the beginning, and length of the meeting at Juarez and the amount to be distributed in purses. Horsemen contemplating a winter campaign will undoubtedly be interested in what Mr. Winn has to say about Juarez.
