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GREAT OFFER FOR THIRTY YEARLINGS J. O. Keene Refuses Proffer of 5,000 for His Youngsters to Be Sold at Saratoga. Lexington, Ky., August 4. About a month ago a wealthy man, who resides in a northern city, and who is contemplating a first-class racing establishment for 1918 and thereafter, asked J. O. Keene if he would sell him the thirty yearlings lie now has at Saratoga to be sold next Thursday. Keene replied that he would if they could agree upon a price and terms. The gentleman came back with an offer of 5,000, one-third cash and the remainder in six and twelve months. Keene declined to take the notes for the reason that he has partnership interests in all of the youngsters. Messrs. George J. Long, millionaire ironmaster of Louisville and owner of Bashford Manor Stud, and John W. Schorr, wealthy Memphis brewer and turfman, are part owners of the twenty-six foreign-bred yearlings and Mr. Schorr has a half interest in the four that were bred at Keeneland Stud. The day the yearlings were shipped to Saratoga, one of Keenes friends, who knew of the offer and its refusal, asked him if he expects to average ,500 cash for his colts and fillies at the Spa. I will be much disappointed if I do not average better than that," said he. "I personally selected these imported colts and I bred the other four. I have been constantly with them ever since they came to Keeneland Stud, and I have observed their growth and studied them carefully. I know what they are and what they promise. I know that they are much above the average of horses we have in this country and I know that others know it also. Just a few days ago I declined to let a good friend of mine take his pick of six of the English colts for ,000 each. I doubt if he could have picked the six best, but I did not want to put the slightest damper on my sale. I am just as anxious as anyone to know the true state of the market for imported yearlings, brought over as weanlings and properly acclimated in Kentucky, such as I have, for I am intending to go over again next fall and Invest about 00,000 in the best blood and individuality I can find in England and Ireland." Keene counts the beautifully made chestnut colt by Santoi Trossau, by Love Wisely, as the star of his English yearlings and he believes that he is a 0,000 yearling if there is one worth that price on the market. There are others that are quite near him in appearance and the prospects are that it will be a big sale.
