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RETURN OF JOHN A. DRAKE TO THE TURF. Horses in Training at Louisville Which Will Race for Him This Year. By Charles A. Rergin. Louisville. Ky.. March 24. — The colors of John A. Drake, the New York financier and sportsman, long renowned on the American and European tracks and made famous by Ort Wells. Wyeth. Royal Flush and other racers of high degree, are again to take their place alongside those of other wealthy and influential patrons of the sport of racing in this country. After an absence of ten or more years from the turf. Mr. Drake has decided to again become an active participant in the sport, and possibly one of its leading lights. He will return fully equipped to uphold the former prestige of the stable and bring further distinction to its colors. Under the assistance of Phil T. Chinn he has assembled a most promising stable and the horses composing it are now in active train ing at Douglas Park, in this dtp, under Chiiins watchful eye. In the work of rehabilitation Mr. Drake has drawn largely upon foreign markets, most of the horses of his new establishment having been brought over here from England. These consist of fifteen horses in training and twenty one yearlings, the latter quartered at J. S. Bar-bee** farm, near Lexington, having been brought here from England by Mr. Chinn in the early part of Inst January. Chinn went over to England last November purposely to purchase these yearlings for Mr. Drake. He got them at the Tattcrsall December sales and had to pay good prices for nearly all of them. He says they are a choice collection and of the best of English thoroughbred stock, being by such stallions as Mushroom. Adam Rede. Matchmaker. Greenback. Cantilever. Ionawand. Llangwm anil Light Brigade. The latter is now in this country and cost his owner. Senator J. N. Camden, 5.110. Stable in Training Embraces Fifteen Head. That part of the stable now in training embraces fifteen head, including the seven -year -old gelding Night Stick, the four-year-old Recna. six three-year-olds and seven two-year-olds. Included in the three-year-old division are Torchbenrer and Golden Fox. Kentucky Derby candidates, which were raced in this country last year in the name of the- Kentucky Stable: Courtship. Swoon. Starkey and Minto. Of these, the two latter are most fancied by the stable. Starkey is by Sunstar. and was imported by Oscar Kewisohn. from whom he was purchased by Mr. Drake. Minto is a Suiulridge eatt and was bought at the Delbert Reiff sale in Saratoga last summer. The two-year-olds are a chestnut gelding by Peter Quince — Pamela: bay filly by Al.irta Santa — Miss Present: bay colt by Extinguisher — Malta: bay colt by Fitzherbert — Mrs. Mabiprop; bay colt by Sir John Johnson — Melee: bay gelding by Fitz Herbert — Marise: and a brown colt by Transvaal — Queen of the Royals, that has been named King of the Royals. The stable is going to make a strong bid for this years Kentucky Derby and the two oligibles. Torchbearer and Golden Fox, are now being pointed for the rich stake. Both colts have wintered in the best possible condition and since coming here, about five weeks ago, they have been training to the utmost satisfaction of Mr. Chinn. Torchbearer is a brown colt by Radium — Hackles Pride, while Golden Fox is a chestnut gelding by Baatry — Symington Toll. Both were brought to this country as yearlings, having been purchased by Joseph Butters on advices from Phil Chinn. They are bath rugged, sturdy and big boned and appear to be colts that could traverse a long distance of ground comfortably. Chinn Pays Particular Attention to Derby Colts. Phil Chinn. who is one of the best known of Kentuckys horsemen is paying particular attention to the training of his Derby colts. This is not the first time he has prepared a candidate for the Derby. In 1912 he saddled Sonoda in the race, but with little success, for the Celt which was owned by Catesby Woodford finished out of the money. The China family, however, was more- successful in 1SS3. when Leonatus. scored a triumph in the Derby for his owners, Chinu and Morgan. The senior member of tiie firm was Co]. Jack Chinn. father of Phil, and who is still living, although he has long since ceased to be identified with the sport. The- ether member of the firm. George W. Morgan is also living, and during the racing season in Kentucky, is employed in the pari-mutuel department. Up to the time of his retirement from racing John A. Drake was a notable figure on the Annri can and European tracks. He was intimately a. so dated with the late John W. Gates, and the betting operations of the two mem were the talk of the country. Their most sensational betting coup was pulled off in England the day that Royal Flush, owned by Drake, and ridden by Lester Reiff won the Goodwood Stewards Cup. The horse had received a careful preparation for the race by Enoch Wish-ard, who was training for Drake, and a month prior to the race Drake and Gates who were- then in England backed the horse for a large amount, get ting 100 to 1 for their money. They also wagered heavily the day si the race, but had to take greatly reduced odds. When the 1 orse wen they cleaned up close te- a million dollars. Wi.-bard lias since re Hied from racing and is In ing on a farm he purchased in Indiana. Lester Reiff has also severed his connection with he turf and is now a prosperous real estate- dealer in Oak land. Cal. One of the most notable achievements of the Drake stable in this country, was the winning of the American I. rbp by Wyeth. The Drake colors were aso many times in rent in many of the important stakes decided on the Eastern tracks.
