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SMALL HORSE, BUT A REAL RACER. Copper Kirig Ranks High Among Canadian-bred Thoroughbreds — Did Little His First Year. Toronto. Ont.. January IS. — While some persons may quesUon the wisdom of paying 1917.sh,500 for the Canadian-tired Copper King, wliich manager T. J. I ird has just done for Lieut. J. K. L. Ross, there can be no question about the merit of that geldings recent racing. Among the Canadian-breds that raced on the Canadian Racing Associations courses last year Cappar King ranked well up on the list of money -winners. His success was one of the greatest surprises of the Canadian season. In fact, at the con- lusion of the Ontario Jockey Club autumn meeting lie was conceded to be the champion of his class over a long distance. As a two-year-old. Copper King was returned a winner on only three occasions. Mis first start was in May at limlico. when lie was unplaced. His first winning race was at Dorval Iark. Montre;il, on June 7, when ho beat Heclas Flame. Ran Shore, W. A. Wright. Rilly Frew anil Wishing Well. At Windsor on July 10 he won at five-eighths over a muddy track, beating Alecto. Miss Kay. Foxlot. Watertown aud Han Shore. On September 30 at Woodbine Iark he won his third and last vace as a two-year-old. when he beat Alecto, Heclas Flame, Old Pop, Miss Fay, Rau Shore and Good Shot. About as Big as a Pony. The son of Rowling Brook- Tarleton. I half-brother to Tartarean, the Plate winner of last j ear, was wintered in Maryland at trainer "apt. Presgraves farm. As he was a littl" larger than a good-size 1 pony Copper King was gelded. During the last spring meeting at Woodbine Park Copper King passed from the ownership of Lieut. J. K. L. Loss to Peter Gorman, of Ottawa, with the veteran Michael Gorman as trainer. He earned brackets for his now owner on May -9 at Dorval Park, beating Gartley, Old Pop, Irich Heart and several others. Four days later over the same track at one mile, be beat Froissart. Prince Philsthorpe. Gartley. Pepper Sauce. Irish Heart and Harry ltassett II. in 1:44 in the mad. On June 10 at Blue Bonnets he took down another purse, beating Prince Philsthorpe, Amphion, Billy Frew, Pepper Sauce, Sea Lord, Froissart and Beehive over a heavy track. His races up to this; stage had been with the apprentice raise in the saddle. At Hamilton on June ."0 Copper King was beaten a Back by Sea Beach at one mile with Baby Cal. llandfull. Gypsy Rlair and Souvenir finishing behind him. At Fort Erie on July 10. over a mile journey. Baby Cal beat him a nose in 1:41%. Merimee, an apprentice, was on Copper King, and a sixteenth from home, when leading by a comfortable margin, he began looking around to view the race behind him. As a result Copper King was beaten a "snout" jnd Merimee rode no more for Michael. During the second Fort Erie meeting, on August 12. Copper King finished third to Prince Philsthorpe and Corn Broom, witli Kathleen H. and Fair Montague running out of the money. The mile and a sixteenth was run in 1:47, the early puce being fast. Won at Longer Route. At Blue Bonnets on September »i. Copper King won at a mile and an eighth, when he took the measure of Amphion, Hampton Dame, Pepper Sauce, Old Pop, Gartley and Sea Lord. Two days later he won the Blue Bonnets Breeders Stak ■ for three-year-olds foaled in Canada, at 1 1-2 miles, and ,570 went into the Gorman coffers. He won with speed in reserve hi 1:41% over a heavy track. The ponys third winning race at Montreal this fall came with the running of a handicap for Canadian-breds, at Dorval, September 13, at one mile and sevens- yards, in which Moss Fox. Hampton Dame, Kathleen H., Armiue, and Auster finished oehind him. Trainer "Mike" thinks Copper Kings best performance, although he gathered only third money, was on Wednesday, September 27, at Woodbine. Monocacy . a six-year-old. with 112 pounds up and Urst Star, with only 95 pounds, beat him after a grueling contest at 1 1-2 miles. The pony carried lOti pounds, and was the only three-year-old in the race. He was, therefore, giving away chunks of weight to his opposition. Three days later, however, he won the Durham Cup at 1 3-4 miles, and took down for his owner .17." besides the cup which is valued at 00. In tiiis race Bearta of Oak, Which had been racing through the field all season and had run in a steeplechase earlier at the Woodbine meeting, was the public choice, mainly on account of jockey Frank Robinson having the mount and partly on account of his light impost, 110 pounds, while Copper King, a throe-year-old, carried 114 pounds. There was practically nothing to this race but Copper King, as Ted Rice, who was up on him, just tin-canned out in front after the first quarter was run, and the others, which included, besides Hearts of Oak. the Millar pair, Tartarean Kings Plate winner, 1913, and Fair Montague, Prince Philsthorpe, Miss Fay and Ranjo, could not keep time to the tune he set in the race. The fractional time of this race was much faster than that of the Ontaria Jockey Club Cup race, run the same day at only a half mile farther. Capper King galloped in front the first half 51, three-quarters 1:18, mile 1:44%, mile and a quarter, 2:11%, mile and a half 2:37, and full distance 3:03. The time of the other big race, which was won by Fair Mac a nose in front of Pif Jr., was half FS%, thm -quarters 1:20%, mile 1 :4S. one and one-quarter miles 2:15. one and one-half miles 2:42%, M aud three-quarter miles 3:07.
