After the Kentucky Derby: George J. Long Establishes Record in Trying for Famous Race, Daily Racing Form, 1918-04-14

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AFTER THE KENTUCKY DERBY George J. Long Establishes Record In Trying for Famous Race. » Oilier Turfman Han So Lone and t onslKteutly Sought After Coveted Price. I.«misvillc. K.v.. A|iril 13. — There is mi patron of tiie turf aiKi has so consistently ;in ! so eontinu-..usly sought after the Kentucky Derby as George J. Long, one of Louisvilles foremost citizens. For twenty -six year*, just three years short of the whole b-ngtli of his carper as a turfman, he has had one « r more colts entered for the Derby and he has the ~~oincwli.it unique distinction of having -.von at his first attempt. Thar was with Azra in 1S9J. He li.id t wait fourteen years to repeat, which lie did in 190j with Sir Huou. If fourteen years is Mr. Longs established interval he is du* to win in 1920. Of -ourse. there is no reason, and there certainly ■ill lie uo complaint, if he should manage to break into the winning class before that, and there are good judges who esteem iiis chances for this year, win n he has Freocultcr entered. He shares with Uajll ltros. tie- first jHisitiou among Kentucky Derby winners, both having two brackets to their credit. He has also run second twice, with Sir Clegcs and Plutus. and third once with Sigurd. In ..Insist every instance his entries throughout this more than quarter of a century have been of his own breeding. In addition to winning tiie coveted stakes with cults bred by himself. Mr. Kong would have added another victory to his credit had he retained Manuel. which won in 1MJ9. carrying the colors of A. IK and IV II. Morris. Mr. Kong bred this colt and sold him ;-s a two .-.ear-old. little thinking that he would prove to be a Derby winner. The record of Mr. longs endeavors is like so many pages taken from the history of the Derby for the past f.xeny-six years. His first attempt in the year lsp-j produced the duel lietween his Azra. ridden by Ixuiuic Ilaytoii, and Huron. guided by Tom itrittou. This race has frequently Im-mi recounted as one of the most stirring contests in the history of the event. Huron, coupled with Ihil Dwyer. the only other starter, was an odds-on favcrite. but Azra l»eat him by a few inches. The next year Plutus carried the King colors and was beaten by Lookout, trained by Will McDaniel. and ridden by Kuiize It iuudless was beaten a head for second place by Ilutus. Lookout and Boundless v.-re coupled as the tushiug and Orth entry, and were favorites. Chant carried the colors of Eugene Leigh and «;corge Lose to victory in 1S0L Chant was ridden !i ; .o-l;tl - and was a strong favorite. He led all llic way. Icarl Song was second and Mr. lyings Siguard third. Four years later Mr. Long missed an opiKirtunity to scon- again when Manuel, bred at the Long establishment, wou in the colors of A. H. and D. II. Morris. SIR HUON WINS FOR HIM IN 1906. The seven succeeding years were unproductive for the King stable, but in 1906 his efforts were rewarded when Sir Huon. bred and owned by Mr. 1/ong. saddled by Pete Coyne and ridden by Koscoo Troxler. scored a hard-earned victory over Charles Kllisous pair. I-ady Navarre and .lames Roddick, which finished second and third res|ioetively. The winner was a strong favorite. The same year Sir Huon won the Kitonia D-rby. The following year Mr. Kings Arcite, ante-post favorite right up to the day of the race, was not a starter. b°ing withdrawn lx-cause the track was heavy from the rain that fell the night before and the day of the contest. In 19 M the stable started Sir Clegcs in the hojie of pulling down the rich prize, but the colt finished si-cord liehind Stone Street. This race was a big upset for those who backed Sir "leges. Four years later the stable was again disappointed when Free Lance ran unplaced, due. no doubt, to the fact that he was not partial to the heavy track conditions that prevailed the day of the rai-e. The winner turned up in Worth, carrying the colors, of II. C. Hallenbeck. A short time after Free Lance made amends by lieatiug Worth. Sprite aud The Manager in the Latouia Derby, run over a fast track. In 1!U3 the stable had no candidate, but the following year Kalpli was selected as the standard haw. He was training in tood style until two weeks prior to the race, when lie developed a plugged artery, which put him out of the running. It; 1915 Freeman was nominated, but did not start. A year later the stable was without representation. Kist year Kenward was selected, but did not show enough form in his training to warrant his boinc uamed as a starter. This year Freecutter. a son of Free Lance and Cutter, will lie depended upon to uphold the stables traditions and start provided nothing goes amiss bo-tw i now aud the afternoon of the race. The colt has been working in a most satisfactory manner und. r the keen tutelage of Iete Covne. and is showing improvement that is gratifying to the stables host of admirers. In-. •cutters chief victory as a two-rear-old was in the in. -i.-iiiati Trophy at Latonia. in which he .ed home :l j-l0 band of youngsters. He won one other rice and was four times second. His total earnings nniouuted to ..1*64. LOOKED UPON AS PILLAR OF TTTBF. Ceo.-gc K.ng js looked upon as one of the pillars " of the turf in Kentucky. His influence has been always for the Itetteiuieut of the sport, and the • om-cting of many evils. He is unobtrusive, and one of the gamest men who ever owned a horse. During the time that John H. Morris trained for him. there was a period extending over two years when the stable did not win a race. Mr. Morris felt this run of ill-luck keenly, and suggested to his employer that he engage another traiuer. To this Mr. I»ng turned a deaf ear and told Morris to keep on trying until the stables luck changed. Mr. Kmg is interested in breeding aud racing for tie- pleasure derived from the pastime. Itacing and Weeding horses is a rather expensive luxury with I. mi. but he would rather spend his spare time on the race course than engage in any other pastime. He has been thus engaged for twenty-nine years and lie expects to keep it up as long as he lives. He says he could not devote his time to any other fina of outdoor amusement and obtain the same beneficial results. He says he enjoys lacing and is willing to pay for the great pleasure which his participation in the sport affords. His loyalty to the turf iu this state has made him famous. " and lie is one of the red-blooded Americans who are making a determined fight to keep tiie breeding industry alive not only in Kentucky, but throughout ill- laud. In IVte Coyne Mr. King has a most capable trainer, aud undoubtedly on- of the liest iu Ken tucky. Coyne has been with the stable since the year 1900 succeeding John II. Morris, who had been with the establishment since its founding in 1SS». Mr. Long has his own kitchen at Churchill Downs, v.h. re he feeds all of his stable hands, and this establishment has been presided over by Henry Jon-s for twenty-four years. This is probably a record in this particular line.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1918041401/drf1918041401_6_1
Local Identifier: drf1918041401_6_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800