view raw text
, . ■ . , i • i - i ■ 1 I s || "WHO KNOWS ANYTHING99] ABOUT THEM? = I The Uncertainty of Racing— Mistakes of the Wisest Men— The Same of Breeding — The Theorists — How Horses Sometimes Mislead Trainers — Ed Garrison and Thelma E.— Walter Jennings and Sombre — " Pittsburgh PhiV and Howard Mann— James Rowe and Cudgel— Mr. Widener and Naturalist— McLewees Luck — The Case of Reclare — Luck in Brood Mares -- The Lost Dam of F it z Herbert — By W, S. VOSBURGH Horso racing and the brooding of race horses is one subject upon which men nro givon tho credit of knowing a great deal, but it has been my experience that there is no subji ct upon which men geiicrnlly know less. The mistakes of horsemen, whether owners, trainers or breeders, would fill many bulky volumes if anybody eared to undertake an enunn ration of them. It is nnlv fair to suppose that a trainer, being constantly associated with horses, is in a better position to speak of the chances of a horsy for a race than anybody else. Vet. not tafreqaeatly 1 have heard it said, "A trainers tips would break a bank." And so it is in the held of breeding. Tho late Mr. Dudley, a breeder of national reputation, was wed. led to Bay wood as a stallion. In the spring of ls71 Haywood was taken ill and instead tho poor, despised Virgil, used as a teaser on the farm, was bred to the Preakaeaa mare* as a makeshift. The result wis that Virgil sired four great rater* ii: agr.ini. Virginias. Vera Crux ami Vigil, and a few tears liter e got Hindoo. Hnynuml. tin t ..- oTtier hand, nerer sired i horso ahm* the grade of ,i plater. Mr. nokson. one of the most successful breeders in England, sold Buccaneer while the horse was only beginning his stud career, as ho thought the brood ifon-stayers. The horse went to Austria. He had scarcely hft England when his sons. 1iiul Jones .mil See Saw. and his daughters. Formosa and Brigantine. appeared and placed Buccaneer at the head of the •winning sires." That was in lSlis. and eight years later Buccaneers Austrian -bred son. Kiftber, cime over to Knglaml and won the I erby. After the appearance of Fornios.i Mr. Cookson sent to Austria and tried to repurchase the old horse, but it was like Priams sale to the Americans after Crtlcilix and Miss I.etty appeared — he was not for sale. That men should be so often mistaken is not strange Bacing and brooding are too involvod — too complex. Owners .ind trainers in tlioir admiration for their own horses become "stable blind." or blind to Hie excellence of other horses. Breeders aHow themselves to become the rankest kind of theorists. They ignore the fact that "a horse is a hofso." and build their operations upon his ancestors or some ridiculous theory like the so-called "Figure System." which is mi admirable medium for the Bate of horses, but as a medium for the production of superior race horses js the merest humbug. The question then is "Who knows anything about race horsesV" Some know more than others, but if anybody knows anything he knows hnw little there is known. Instances of this nro often quite amusing, and out of the many that could be quoted I propose to offer a few. In September, during the Aqueduct mooting. Thelma F... a tilly belonging to Mr. Motifort Jones was handicapped ID! pounds for the B ldaine Handicap, for two-year-old fillies. Thelma K. was trained bv the once famous jockey Ed Harrison, who. upon the publication of the weights, nenrlv collapsed. Meeting the handicapper. he remarked: "I dont want you to think I am a kicker. but my tilly cant win at the weights." Bat to his fellow trainer* ho was rather more emphatic Andrew Blakeley. the trainer, mooting tho handicapper. observed. "Garriaoas awfully cut up about his tillys weight, and has been going around looking for sympathy. I told him run you might win after all. " •Win:" echoed Gaillaaa. "She couldnt win with DM pounds up. and here she is with 116 pounds. Just think of it she gets only four pounds from Truly Bural. a tilly that can give her twenty pounds. Worse still, she has to give four pounds to Flying Flower, and you saw last week what Flviiig Flower can do." "Well." remarked Blakeley. "you can scratch." "Theres the trouble." replied Carrisoii. "Mr. J s wants to see her run and has ordered mo to start her, _ no matter what weight." Harrisons attitude sent the lilly back in the betting until she started at ."i to 1 and. coming fast at the end of a half mile, she won her race in good style. A half hour later the handicapper happened to pass Garriaoa seated on a bench, with Mr. Jones on one side of him and Mr. Madden on the other, the three of them in a wild state of delight. "I take off my hat." exclaimed "the Snapper." "You had it right. 1 was all wrong. Vottll never again hear me give an opinion about weights: but Id never have started her but for Mr. Jones here." "Oh: I thought shed win." exclaimed Mr. Jones, bubbling over with enthusiasm. "Well." responded Garrison, "the more a man thinks he knows the less he knows— about horses anyway." Walter Jennings, the trainer, is one of the most agreeable men in the world— when off duty. But when he is training a stable of lace horses he is one of the most fretful — and ho admits it. He oiiee told me that when he lost a race he had expected to win he lost all control « himself. A few years since, at lirevesend. he started a tilly called Sombre in a race for two year-olds. As he saddled the Oily the handicapper happened to pass, ami remarked her improved appearance. "She n Is to improve." answered Jennings. "Shes a daughter of the great Miss Woodford, but thats all. She has about as much chance as Id have to heat these lillies." "There isnt much class to them. observed the handicapper. "Theres a great deal less to her." replied Jennings. "1 know you must think well of her. for you gave her 111 pounds for the Croat Santera Han. Heap, and Im Btartiag her as much as anything else to show you she couldnt have won with ! 0 pound* on her bach against Black Veapa with only 113 pounds or Btheahert with 113 pounds." That is another matter: today she certainly has a winning rhaace with such tillies as these." "Well. now. Ill tell you what Ill do." exclaimed Jennings, with some asperity and growing irritated "If she wins. Ill eat her." Sombre won the race by three lengths. Jennings was with the tilly after the race when the handi capper was passing through the paddock. Propriety suggested that be should say nothing, but the temptation was too great to resist. "Oh:" he observed, carelessly. "Ive merely come to see you eat Sombre." Jennings burst out laughing. "1 wouldnt have believed it possible" he aaM. "Of course. I cant eat the Tilly, but Ill confess Im down and out — yea, Ill take the count." During the Saratoga meeting of 1897 the late Mr. ; ge B. Smith, better known as "Bittsburgh Phil " nominated the horae Howard Mann for a handicap. The horse hail won the Brooklyn Handicap that year over a heavy track, but his owner claimed he was "never anything but a inud horse." When the weights for the Saratoga race appeared Howard Mann had llli pounds and "Ihil" threw up his hands in amazement. Bushing to the secretarys office, he asked Mr. Chilion: "Is the weight on my horse correct." •Vis; lLti pounds." replied Mr. c. "I thought it must be a mistake. Sir Walter is isked to carry only Il1 pounds, and ho won the Brooklyn Handicap last year." "He did: but Howard Mann won it this year." chimed in John Hyland. who was standing near. •V-e-s." stammered "Ihil." aaprepared for the reminder, "but he bad up only km; pounds. He cant beat Sir Walter not if he had Dili pounds. lint never mind— Ill start my bone, just to show the handi capper hes dead wrong. My horse hasnt a cliaiic.- in the world. Hell run loose I shant back him." Howard Mann went to the post at 13 to 1. "Ihil" had told every one he met. "No rhaace Im only starting him to show the handicapper he cannot do it." But. nevertheless. Howard Mann galloped home a winner "on the bit." as "Ihil" used to nay, ami for weeks after "Ihil" had to stand no end of chatting about "starting horses to show the handicapper." .lames Bowe is considered the most successful of American trainers. But he is only human. Like all of us. he makes mistakes He did when he allowed Tippity Witclet and Cudgel to go oat of his hands. "How did you happen to let Cudgel go.-" we asked him shortly after that splendid racer won the Brookl] n llaiidieap. "Oh. I dont know; ask Albert." he retained . "It was a mistake. Von see. when he was a yearling he seemed to be partially paralysed bekiad, and as lie bad a brother that showed the s.ime trouble. I feared it was in the family and never expected much of him. Mr. Boots ,,f Califoraia came to our puce and wanted to buy a son of Broomatick. I told him of Cudgel hi ing the only one 1 could sell, but he wouldnt take him." "He wanted him for stud service." "Yes; 1 believe he did." renamed Bowe. "so wiiin we trained him as a two-year old we didnt expect hed do much. At tin Fmpire City meeting he began to snow some imprm paseat and we sold him to Mr Schorr for ."U ..". »0." "And now In- could beat any horse you hae." "I know yoa think so -so do most people," said Bowe. laughing. "On public form he is the big borne this year, but bow would yon weight a race between him and .lohren.-" "You make the race and llun yon can talk weights. I sappoae yon would atari .lohren Bfalaal him at weight for ago.-" "I think are would." In- replied, and then we knew that while Bow. felt he had made a mistake in selliai Cudgel. In- thought he had a better hois,, in his stable. , — I Continued on secoud page. "Who Knows Anything" About Them? Continued from first page. When Naturalist was allotted 122 pounds for the Bxcetsior Handicap last year his owner. Mr. Wid-ener. and his trainer. Mr. Welch, gave up all holies of winning, but concluded to start Mm, on the principle. I suppose, that he WUM never be relieved of weight bj running into the stable. So little did Mr. Widener regard his chance that In- did not see the race, but instead attended the steeplechases at Behaout Terminal, l.ate in the day. an hour or more after the race, he motored over to Jamaica. Meeting s, .unstable boys, he Inquired: "Who won the Fxcelsior Handicap" "Naturalist, in a walk." replied on.- of the boys. "Look here, young man." responded Mr. Widener. "I dont want any Jskbaj " "No jokiif " answered the buy, "Naturalist won with S to 1 against him made all the running Star Master iinished second." And Mr. Widener. when he tells the story, adds: "I wouldnt believe it even then, and not until 1 found Tom Welch, who assured me it was a fact, could 1 realise it." Selection of yearlings is largely a matter of luck, although some men have been given credit for rare judgment when those tiny selected proved successful racers. B«t the bad bargains they made ;ne far-gotten. A curious case of blind luck was that of the late Gen. F. C. Mi I.ewee. This gentleman eras, as a boy. mi next door neighbor. He knew nothing about race horses. Yet in 18M he formed a partnership with Mr. F.hret and went into the ring at Mr. Reeds sale and selected Hie siace famous Vorkville Belle. lie was utterly igaoraat of the points of a burse: he knew nothing of pedigrees; yet hi- collected a stable composed of Dobbins. Don AloUSO, Sir I. amis, powers. Key del Rev. San Juan and Runyon among others. At the sale of the stable in 1VJ the] brought the great sum of K22S.8SO— Don Alonzo SviO.OOO. Dobbins. K2t.aW, Sir Francis sifi.ooo and Vorkville Belle S24. M0. Some years since Mr. Warlike, a poor switchman on the railway running to Coney Island, attended a sale of horses. He knew littl nothing of race horses except that he had attended races at Brighton. Rut there was a rather good looking Illy going cheap, so he made a bid. Nobody seemed to want her. and she was knocked down to him. That til I v was Rcclarc. by Reform- Clara. She proved a Veritable gold mine to the former SWithsnaa for. as ■ two and three-;, ear old. she won no fewer than twenty two races, including the Relics. Dash. Equinoctial, Willow and Proa pet! Stakes, meeting and beating some of the best in training. In some of these races she was ridden by Mr. Warlike-, son instead of an experienced jockey. Recm re was the great granddain of Eternal, winner of the Rrooklyn Handicap of P.tlil. The noted English brood mare. Ellen Heine, affords a curious ease of link. Gen. Pearson owner of Achievement » wanted a buck for his wife and. for that purpose, purchased Ellen Heme for only eighteen guineas. Instead, she was bred. She produced Paradigm, Defender. Rouge Rose. Secret and Tragedy. Now. Paradigm and Rouge Rose were two of the greatest brood males ,.f England. Paradigm foaled Lord Byron Derby IBM, Achievement St. Leger 18B7, Man at Arms. Mantle. Panoply. Chevi-saunce. Cognisance and Paratlin. the last named being the fi.innli r of Lord Rosoborys success. Rouge Rose iiroiluced Rend Or: Secret produced Rcdmiustcr and I.adv Audloy dam of Pcllegrino and Pilgrimage I. From these mares, in direct line, have descended Jannette. pretence, Chevron. Illuminata. Ladus, Pageant. Kiusky. Cicero. Prince Palatine. I.isliia. Flair. Footlights. Neil Cow. Chelandry and Clare. Oshoines Agues by Clarion, fomider of the "Agnes family." s,, called, sold with her foal, cost old Mr. John Osborne twenty guineas. Her granddaughter, Polly Agnes. ;i-. ;l yearling was so small and weedy that her breeder. Sir Tattoii Sykes. gave her to his .stud groom. Mr. Snarry. She produced Lilly Agues, which, when offend a- a yearling, could not get a bid. Vet she won twenty-one races, including the Doncaster Cup. Admiral Rous made her concede weight to Atlantic iwinnor of the Two Thousand, and in the stud she produced Ormonde, Farewell and ornament nam of Sceptre. The celebrated Queen Mary was purchased as a yearling at Doncaster for Slot. She failed as a racer, lint as a brood mare she produced Blink Bsany. Ronnie Scotland. Ralrowiiie. I*,r nielaw. Hlinkiioolie. etc. Mr. Charles Reed i- said to have paid 00,000 for St. Blaise, and he never bred a burse of good ela-s after he bought him. Several years since seme breeders in Kentucky considered that too many yearlings were lieing bred for the good of the business of sales. Tin loinied a company and bought up all the cheap brood snares they could lind and sold them to SOU -racing people for breeding males, or anything to get them out of the way. Shortly after the noted colt Carry Herrmann appeared. Then there was a scramble to lind his dam. It appears she had been one of the ej.ndi inned mares sent into exile. A similar case was that of Fitz Herbert. After he had made a ii hoc king example of all the best race horses in the country there was a hunt for his dam. Rut she had disappeared like Carry Herrmanns dam anil mo trace of her could lie obtained. The wiseacres had Condemned her and she had been sold into obscurity. Thus, after all. the wisest know but little when the subject concerns racing and breeding. And therein lies its charm. The veriest tyro is often able to stumble upon success which is denied the expert. Could it he otherwise, could a man capitalize this knowledge and by iis means command tncCCSS he would soon have the field to himself and interest in racing would speedily die.
