view raw text
ORESTES MAY PROVE VALUABLE ASSET Son of Great Tracery Discovered by John Sanford Develops Into Promising Colt. New York. April 17. — Orestes, the Tracery— Kil-dnnan colt which created such a favorable impression at Havana last winter and. predicted by niany as destined to be one of the crack three-year-olds of BUS. is another of the long list of thoroughbreds that have been thrown into the discard aftiT failing to show early promise. John Sanford bred Orestes, and in this connection there is :1 more than ordinarily interesting story. Mr. Sanford seat Kildonan. the colts dam. to England to lie bred to Tracerv. and Orestes was the result of this mating. Despite his royal breeding, the colt failed to show early development and Mr. San-foid. believing him of iittle or no account, ordered him disposed of. George B. Foley got hold of Orestes and. along with other horses. took him to Havana last fall for a campaign at the Oriental Park track. Entered in a cheap maiden race. Orestes finally earned brackets on December SO. and from that time he began ta show the development that earned for him the distinction of luiiig the star three-year-old at the Cuban track. During the winter meeting at Oriental Park Orestes won live races and finished second upon two occasions. One of his seconds was iu heavy going, which indicates that he can rnu on any kind of a track. After his second victory. A. H. Diaz, a Cuban enthusiast, purchased the colt from Foley, and it is in the Diaz colors that he will make his bid for honors at eastern tracks during the racing of 1918. "It is the same old story." said Preston Biirch. Mr. Sanfords trainer, in recalling Orestes when he was iu his charge. "He has just come to himself like some horses do. As a two-year-old we tried him out thoroughly and he showed nothing. It did not look as if he "would ever win a race. It is my impression that Mr. Folev paid 75 for the colt, and he looked to lie well sold. He had neither size nor substance. What probably was deceiving to me when I had him was the fact that he was a June foal, consequently did not come to himself until late. SOME OTHER GIFT HORSES. "That. I think, is the secret of Orestes late development, coupled with the invigorating climate of Havana. Jr.mes Rowe let Tippity Witehet go for the proverbial song, and Emden also. All trainers are deceived in horses at times. "Elizabeth M. was a gift horse, yet W. C. Whitney gave 5,000 for her as a two-year-old. Once in a while trainers and owners make mistakes, but not often." Christopher Fitz Gerald is much impressed with Orestes. He watched his Havana career closely. "It would not surprise me in the least to see him a S30.000 colt." said Judge Fitz Gerald at the Jockey Club office recently. "He is a horse that wont do anything until he is made to do it. At the barrier be stands like an old cow and moves away as if any old time would do to get home. He just loafs along until he is made to realize the situation. When he is asked to catch a leading horse in a race 1 feel certain he can go an eighth in 11 seconds, and surely a quarter in 23. "In conformation Orestes looks much like Lamplighter. He stands possibly 15.3 hands, but is round and solid. When he takes a long breath, however, lie shows up well, every rib being observable. Of course, the crack three-year-olds may beat him. but there is no question about his being a good horse." One of the good races recorded to Orestes was when he made J. J. Mnrdock break the Havana track record to beat him a head in a milc-and-fifty-yards race. In a three-quarters race, won by Raf-ferty in 1:12. Orestes was beaten possibly through interference in the homestretch, according to rejiort. These two races show he has both speed and staying qualities. It is probable he will lie seen on the Maryland tracks shortly, as sooii as he recovers from his lengthy trip from Cuba.
