view raw text
HIGH CLASS FEATS IN RACING EAST AND WEST OF THE NOTED SPRINTER AND MILER LEOCHARES Although the majority of thoroughbreds disappear from racing after from a year to three years of track service there arc exceptions This is well illustrated in present day racing by the con ¬ tinued prowess of such highclass and durable veterans as Roamer Borrow and Lcochares Of this illustrious trio Borrow is the oldest and according ¬ ly has shown in his racing this year that he is feeling the ravages of time Leochares on the other hand although pessibly not quite as good as he was in his best estate is not far from it and is still a formidable opponent to any highclass sprinter in the land still enormously speedy and especially able to carry high weight successfully Being now a member of a stable conducted on high class lines Ieocharcs is raced conservatively and is worthily rewarding considerate treatment He was not started this year until May 7 at the Pimlico spring meeting when in a dash of threequarters of a mile he ran unplaced to Jock Scot The Porter and Tumbler in 11 He was top weight with 120 pounds up and finished fifth and running fast May 14 he was beaten again at the same distance This time the track was heavy and with 120 pounds up he ran second to the speedy threeyear old Dr Johnson 103 pounds He was beaten a length in 114 with Jock Scot third Then with the other horses of the McLean Stable he was brought west for a campaign over the Kentucky tracks tracksIn In this essay his first start was in the Memorial Handicap at Douglas Park May 30 In this he wasgiren tia TxAuids mul was not viewed with favor being fifth choice in the mutuel betting Hon J N Canulens Solly had been doing great things in racing and despite bis heavy impost of 140 pounds was an even money favorite Leochares was well in the rear for the first half mile but he came through the homestretch with a resist ¬ less burst of supreme speed and won by a half length from Tacola with Fruit Cake third and Solly bringing up last of all A N Akin Prince of Couio St Augustine Boniface and Believe Me Bors were the other starters Leochares paid 1040 lo 100 in the mutuels and won in 111 June 4 he took up 132 pounds at the same distance in a purse nice and running threequarters in 111 won easily defeating Believe Me Boys Kight Angle and Opportunity Starting in the Pendennis Club Special June S at a mile he met his master in the splendid colt Eseoba However it was a great race and Leochares vas only beaten by a neck in the fast ¬ est mile ever run in Kentucky the time recorded being 130 Bradleys Choice was third Fruit Cake and Duke of Savoy running unplaced The race was run under a prescribed low scale of weight Escoba carrying 100 pounds to 110 on Leochares His next race was at Latonia June 15 in the Enquirer Handicap at threequarters of a mile This was won by the fast colt Boniface 100 pounds by a length and a half Then haads apart came Quietude Viva America Fruit Cake Lcoclmres A N Akin and Prince of Como Leochares was unlucky ia this race and with a reasonably clear course would have won In a purse race at a mile June 17 he carried 1123 pounds and easily de ¬ feated J J Murdock Freecutter and Midway in 138 s AN UNEXPECTED REVERSE REVERSEHis His next race brought up an unexpected re ¬ verse Starting in a purse race July 3 at three quarters of a mile with 132 pounds up he was a 3 to 5 favorite but ran unplaced to Boniface Grundy j and Buford in 111 Jle first three were heads apart and Leochares was fourth two lengths back but gaining fast under a faulty ride July 10 he made ample amends when he won the valuable Quickstep Handicap at the same distance For this the handicapper gave him 130 pounds and coming through the homestretch with wonderful speed he made short work of Boniface and won by four lengths in Boniface Violet Bonnie Viva America Quietude J J Murdock Bringhurst A X Akin and Basil finishing in the order named That was the last race of his western campaign Along with his stablemates he was taken east and is now at Saratoga awaiting new adventures in clashing with other nimble footed warriors of his kind kindEarly Early in the year 1012 John W Schorr purchased several good twoyearolds from H P Whitney It is probable that at the time Brawny was supposed to be the best of those bought but the flight of time revealed that Leocharcs was the real bargain and a rarely good one to boot bootAs As a twoyearold he was given time to mature and did not start in his first race until July 3 1912 at Fort Erie His debut was in a fiveeighths of a mile dash for maiden two yearolds This he wonfrom ten opponents and finished eight lengths in front of Miccosukee in 100 convincing evi ¬ dence of being gifted with speed of a high order In liis next race he was beaten by Horron over a heavy track and the same distance in 103 at Windsor July 13 Two days afterwards ho achieved his first victory In a stake racp when he defeated Lysander Confido Miss Edith and Loch Lomond in the Edenwold Stakes and ran its fiveeighths in 103 over a muddy track After this triumph he was beaten in six consecutive races and then oddly enough he turned iu ami wou seven iu a row 1 without an intervening defeat The first of this series was a purse race at Windsor August 20 iu which he ran fiveeighths in 100 and won easily from Volita Tankard and five more August 28 at the same track he won the Essex Handicap at five and a half furlongs and defeated such a cele ¬ brity as Rock View along with Ballyshe and Miss Edith but lie only had up 108 pounds to 120 on Rock View Hcvevcr he won easily in 109 over a niuddy track Rock View was a 3 to 5 favorite September 10 he won the Hochelaga Handicap at Blue Bonnets Montreal He carried 114 pounds to 121 on Calgary 107 each on Barnegat Flabber ¬ gast and Scallywag and 10S on Crinoline Calgary was a 7 to 10 favorite but Loothares beat him eas ¬ ily and ran the threequarters of the race in 114 Then to show that he stood in no need of any weight concessions from Calgary he took up 119 pounds to 118 on the latter and defeated him at five and a half furlongs in 100 IS on the last day of the Montreal meeting but it was a close thing aim he only won by a head In a purse race of threequarters of a mile at Toronto September 21 he again defeated Calgary and ran the distance in 112 but as before it was a tight fit and he was only first by a nose four others running September 28 he proved beyond controversy that he could stay well when he won the Grey Stakes at a mile in 140 and carrying 115 pounds gave considerable weight each to Flabbergast Tankard Oliver Lodge Afterglow and Flitterfoot This com ¬ pleted his campaign in Canada and from Toronto he was Taken to Laurel Md ltf In his first start there he comported himself with credit when he ran Rock View to a half length at threequarters in 112 for a purse Rock View carrying 118 pounds to his 115 Frederick L Coy Hester Prynne and Cadeau finished behind him In another purse nice at the same distance October 1C he was crowded out at the start and unplaced to Yankee Notions Frederick L and Tartar in 112 but on October 19 wca at the same distance and in the same time defeating His Majesty Barnegat Hobnob Striker Federal and Cadeau with great ease His racing as a twoyearold was brought to a conclusion at Pimlico November 11 when over five and a half furlongs he won from Briar Path Tarts and six more in 107 thus ending his campaign as it had began with a vic ¬ tory toryHIS HIS THREE YEAROLD RECORD RECORDWhen When a threeyearold Leocharcs further distin ¬ guished himself in racing but did not win so much money as he did the year before In respect to his speed it may be said that lie had made all the development to be hoped for being at the end of the year one of the joint holders of tlunew American record of 110 for threequarters of a mile He and Jefferson Livingstons great sprinter Iron Mask met twice in the course of the Douglas Park fall meeting with honors even as to the out ¬ come but Iron Mask was giving him much weight on both occasions The first of the two races was run on September 23 1913 The starters were Iron Mask 127 pounds Leochares 105 Helen Barbeo and Samuel It Meyer 108 each In the race Helen Barbee ran the first quarter in 22 Then Leocha ¬ res took up the running and covered the first half mile in the extraordinary time of 45 But not ¬ withstanding the excessive pace at which they were traveling Iron Mask was equal to the requirements of the occasion and joining Leochares in the home ¬ stretch defeated him by a head in the new record time for threequarters of a mile of 110 Their second meeting at the same distance took place October 3 and this time Iron Mask had up 132 pounds while Leochares had 109 Helois and Pan Zareta 108 each Helen Barbee 112 and Theresa Gill 95 This time the race was somewhat dif rently run the fractional reading 23 45 110 and Leochares wou by five lengths with Helois second and Iron Mask third Leochares was then as good as he could pessibly be and a few days pre ¬ viously had defeated Kleburne Morristown Prince Hermis and Sonada at a mile in 137 being the Douglas Park record for the distance these three races together giving a fair presentment of what Leochares is capable of doing in racing All of his victories as a tlireeyearold were achieved in purse races racesIn In 1914 Lcochares was a busy horse and won ten of his twenty four races Moreover hu raced with as much speed and dasli as in his previous years and included in his spoils of the track were the Memorial Handicap at Douglas Park and the Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs His campaign for the year began at Churchill Downs May 9 when he won a purse race at five and a half furlongs in which he readily defeated Grover Hughes Caugh Hill and Othello winning easily by three lengths in 100 This was the race immediately preceding Old Rosebuds Kentucky Derby At Douglas Park May 23 Grover Hughes carrying 111 pounds to his 120 defeated him for a purse at threequarters over a quite fast track in 111 Star Jasmine being third while Othello and Helios ran unplaced May 30 at the same track and distance he took up 120 pounds and won the Memorial Handicap in 111 Continued ou second page HIGHCLASS FEATS IN RACING EAST AND WEST OF LEOCHARES Continued from first page with Meridian 127 pounds second Casuarina 101 third and Hawthorn 115 The Norman 90 and Hoots and Saddle 110 unplaced Although knocked hack to last place directly after the start he made up his lost ground rapidly and coming through Hie homestretch with a remarkable burst of speed wound up by winning in a canter four lengths in advance of Meridian the latter being the favorite it 21 to 20 and a highclass horse in any company and at any distance Leochares was second choice at 13 to 5 Following this important success he was taken east and did not fare well there His first start was in the Toboggan Handicap of three quarters of a mile at Belmont Park June 11 in which carrying 115 pounds he ran sixth in a field af fifteen to Rock View 120 pounds Figinny 100 and Ten Point 128 Time 112 Next lie was unplaced in a purse race won by Roamer at Bel 1110111 Park June 20 At Aqueduct June 27 he was unplaced to Roamer Borrow and Flying Fairy in the Carter Handicap and on June 30 in a purse race won by Gainer with Adelaide T second and Yankee Notions third At Empire City July 10 lie did better when ho finished second to Ten Point in the Fleetwing Handicap at threequarters in 113 but Ten Point had up 125 pounds to his 111 gur prising was third and four other fast ones un ¬ placed Next he was unplaced in a purse race and n July 25 ran third to Surprising and Ton Point in the Mt Vcrnou Handicap at a mile in 140 over a slow track But he was not to leave New York tracks pointless for on July 29 at Em ¬ pire City ho won a purse from Isidora Mr Specs Altamaha and Adams Express and was then taken to Fort Erie ErieThere There lie resumed his winning ways by defeating Hack Bay Little Nephew Pan Xarota and some others at threequarters 1n 111 but was beaten in his next five races although second three times and third twice He did not win again until at Churchill Downs October 9 when he captured the Palls City Handicap at threequarters of a mile in 113 over a muddy track He carried m pounds and in a desperate finish won by a nose from Helen Barbee also at 110 pounds Grover Hughes 114 was a head back and another head iway was Prince Herinis 105 The AVidow Moon 103 anil Lady Panchita 100 also ran Then he won five of his next six races all for purses over the Louisville and Latonla tracks His last race of the year was at Latonia in a dasli of threequarters of a mile which he won by a nose from Bringhurst in 111 carrying 124 pounds to 120 on the latter Helen Barlxe 117 was third and three more unplaced Bringhurst had beaten him in 1 a short time previously and their clashing was one of the highly interesting features of the Kentucky fall campaign campaignLeochares Leochares began his 1915 campaign in whirlwind fashion winning the first three races in which hu started In his first race at Churchill Downs he met and defeated such highclass exponents of speed is Iron Mask High Noon Hodge Bars and Stars md Chalmers running the five and a half furlongs in 105 In his next race he picked up 121 pounds and beat High Noon carrying 112 at three Itiarters of a mile in 112 His third victory was asily achieved Leochares with 123 pounds in the saddle running away from thn lightlyweighted Chalmers which carried 107 pounds poundsWith With such an excellent start it appeared as if Leochares was in for a recordbreaking year How ¬ ever it was far from such He won but one moro race luring the year that an allaged handicap at Sara ¬ toga in which he finished ahead of Conning Tower Thornhill and six others The good handicap horse flodge proved a stumbling block for Leochares as he beat him on three different occasions in fast run races with Leochares a good second each time I W Schorr in whose colors he had run since i twoyearold then sold the fast sprinter to John lanford and he was sent to Charleston S C for i muchneeded rest restAfter After a winters respite from training and racing Leochares came back in 1910 witii all the dash ami rim of his younger days He was not started until the Saratoga meeting and won his first start there i y four lengths with a good band of fast horses finishing behind him Proceeding to Belmnnt Park lie easily accounted for the only races in which he started there and then again changed hands going o the stable of W P Orr who immediately shipped iim to Laurel Md where in the colors of his new nvner lie won the Laurel Handicap from Sir Edgar 1op o tli Morning and nine others Later at the same meeting he finished second to A N Akin in the Columbus Handicap but forced the winner to qual the track record for threequarters of a mile Jo beat him From Laurel he was sent to Pimlico where he experienced little trouble winning the Pimlico Fall Serial Handicap No 1 from good oppo ¬ sition In the running of the Serial Handicap No i the Frenchbred Chiclet took Leoehares measure ifter the latter was forced wide in the stretch Leochares wound up his racing for that year by a victory in the Terminal Purse at one mile at Bowie Altogether lie started in seven races that year von five and finished second on the other two oc asions asionsEARLY EARLY START LAST YEAR YEARLast Last year Leochares made an early start his first ace being at New Orleans on January 9th in tlio Sew Orleans Handicap in which he picked up 130 lonnds and won by ten lengths in 112 equalling the track record for threequarters of a mile A Tew weeks later Leochares witii 145 pounds in the addle finislied first in the Momus Ilighweight tlandicap ahead of J J Mnrdock 120 Fruit Cake 110 Squeeler 124 and Amazon 111 111Leochares Leochares was then reserved for eastern racing ind was shipped to Havre de Grace where on the opening dry of that meeting on April 10th he started in the Harford Handicap for which he was favorite Sand Marsli won the race easily with Leoehares second and II P Whitneys Pen ¬ nant third Leochares seeming to tire after gaining m the leader in the stretch stretchIn In the Philadelphia Handicap a few days later Leochares was second to Pennant after a fast and lanl fought finish Leochares was outpaced in the arly running but closed up with a sensational rush ind almost overhauled the winner The Siisiiiichanna vas a repetition of the Philadelphia Pennant again heating Leocharcs the latter not being able to withstand the final rush of the Whitney repre ¬ sentative sentativeLater Later at Pimlieo Leochares finished fourth to Pennant Crimper and Runes in the Pimlico Spring Handicap but appeared to be deficient in speed on that occasion From Pimlico Leocharcs was shipped o Jamaica where he finished third to Kewessa ind He Will in the Paumonok Handicap in a sen ¬ sational finish in which Leochares closed an im ¬ mense gap and was gaining on the leaders with every stride being beaten by less than a half length Later at Belmont Park Leochares was a starter in the Toboggan Handicap and finished fourth to Campfire Stromboli and Rickety after i rough race in the early running In the Queens County Handicap at Aqueduct Leochares was un ¬ placed Old Rosebud Itoamer Chiclet and The Finn finishing ahead of him himAVe AVe next find Leochares at Fort Erie where on Inly 4 Hi he finished third to Rancher and Liberty Loan in the Fourth of July Stakes He was then diipped to Empire City where in his first start iie was defeated by the speedy mare Pan Xareta ifter a sensational closing drive in which Leochares just failed to overtake the mare after displaying marvelous speed in overcoming a slow start and racing wide all the way A few days later at the same track he was again beaten by Pan Zareta md High Noon NoonRESTED RESTED DURING THE SUMMER SUMMERLeochares Leochares was not raced at Saratoga last summer but was rested until the Belmont Park meeting began in September His first race there found him third to St Isidore and Corn Tassel in au overnight handicap Later at Aqueduct he earned brackets in a dash of six and a half furlongs in which lie equalled the track record for the distance 118 At the same track a week later Leochares with 110 pounds in the saddle was only a short distance behind Ultimatum and Sharpshooter in a highwcight handicap at six and a half furlongs ami was gaining with every stride at the end despite his heavy impost Straight Forward then beat him by a nose in a race in which Leochares would have With the close of the metropolitan racing Leoeha res was shipiwd to Maryland where in the George ¬ town Handicap he started for the first time in the colors of E B McLean who purchased him at Aqueduct and was beaten by AAesty Hogan after another rough nice In the Prince George Handicap he finished third to Ticket and Naturalist on heavy track and was evidently handicapped by the going Leochares then defeated the great little twoyearold Tippity AVitchet after the latter had Vet the pace to the final eighth eighthGoing Going to Pimlico Leoclmres duplicated his suc ¬ cess of the year before in the Pimlieo Fall Serial Handicap No 1 winning by four lengths over good opposition A week later in the Pimlico Fall Serial Handicap No 2 he ran a grand race to beat Westy Hogan threequarters of a length at one mile in 13 13In In his last start of the year Leochares was beaten by Startling carrying 115 pounds to Leochares 131 lie ran a great nice under the weight and but for going wide on the far turn might have won wonHis His complete racing record is as follows Year Age Sts 1st 2d 3d Unp AAon 1912 2 23 11 4 5 3 i S U47 1913 3 23 S 5 519 1914 4 24 10 5 9375 1915 5 13 13ion 4 4 2 M5 ion t 7 5 I 4453 1917 7 22 22191S 191S 8 9 Totals 7 121 48 32 18 23 45701
