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WINNER OF FIRST FUTURITY Story of Proctor Knott and How He Enriched Sam Bryant. Bought City Block with Winnings Gelding Could Always Beat the Great Salvator. 4 The Futurity, greatest and most famous of all American two-year-old races, is to be run Saturday. September 11, at Belmont Park. What memories the running of the Futurity cau recall to the older generation of turfmen! Probably there will be but few on hand this year to see it decided that saw ProctDr Knott, Saai Bryants big. long-legged, blazed face, white-stockinged gelding, come down in front of Salvatir by half a length at its first running back in 1S88. Proctor Knott was no mean two-year-old and his Kentucky owner doted on him as he did his own flesh and blood. Proctor Knott was named for a Kentucky governor, who, while a member of the United States house of representatives, made the city of Diilnth famous in a safincal oration. Proctor Knott was bred right, coming from the American family established by Bonnie Scotland, which has been nbout the only one to stand the wear and tear of years and still retain its potency. Proctor Knotts sire was Luke Blackburn, he by Bonnie Scotland. His dam was Tallapoosa, by the English hcrsc Great Tom. Sam Bryant attended the sales at Belle Meade Farm, near Nashville, in the summer of 18S7 and brought back to Louisville, his home, a gawky yearling which he named Proc,-tor Knott. The yearling cost Bryant 75. Sam Bryant was a master hand with a thoroughbred, and he predicted that Proctor Knott would be a runner. At tliq same sale he bought another yearling, Comc-to-Taw, by Long Tern Mollie Sea-brook, which was no mean shakes of a race horse. WINS AT FIRST ASKING. In the early spring of 1888, Bryant took his chestnut gelding, then a two-year-old, down to Nashville and there are few living- who can recall Proctor Ivnbtts first start. It was in the West Side Stakes at the old Cumberland Park track. When the youngsters were lined up at the post. Proctor Knott was a bit fractious. Jockey Stoval, the famous negro rider, was astride him. Before the field could be sent on its way Proctor Knott got across "tlie inner rail and had to be freed. When released the colt broke in front and, holding his advantage, won in a canter by two lengths. His next start was in the Alexander Stakes at Louisville, -which he won easily. Sam Bryant then took Proctor Knott to Chicago, where he defeated all the best tyo-year-oIds in the West in the Kenwood Stakes at Washington Park. From the. West the veteran turfman journeyed to the East with the long-legged chestnut, which had been entered by his breeder, Gen. W. B. Harding, of Tennessee, in all the eastern stakes, especially the Junior Champion and the Futurity. With him he brought, along the negro rider "Pike" Barnes, who was considered in those days almost an equal of Isaac Murphy. Negro riders in those days were the best in racing. Proctor Knotts first essay in the East was in the Junior Champion Stakes at Monmouth Park. He won handily from the best two-year-olds on the eastern circuit and thereby enriched his owner 0,785. This was a lot of money at that time for Sam Bryant. Tlie next heard of Proctor Knott was at Saratoga, where he won the Equity Stakes. PROCTOR KNOTTS FIRST FUTURITY. Then came the first Futurity on Monday, September 3, at Slicepsliead Bay. There were fourteen starters. Proctor Knott Was the favorite at 7 to 5. It .was run out of the Futurity course, which brought fame and fortune to many afterward. When the field rounded the bend into the straightaway, Galen was in front, followed by Proctor Knott and Salvator. Galen tired when the real racing began and Proctor Knott and Salvator fought out the finish, the former getting the verdict by a half length. The time was l:151f,. That was fairly good time for the Sheepsliead .Bay track in those days. The race further enriched Sam Bryant 0,900. This meant a fortune for the veteran turfman, whose colors carried a game cock on the jockej-s back. Sam Bryant brought Proctor Knott back to Louisville in the fall of 1SS8 and the homage paid the colt by the natives was in every respect equal to that paid to any other horse which has proved a champion; in fact, that given Proctor Knott Was a little more so, for his owner; a poor man, was known to hove won a fortune with him. - Tlie little stable back of the house where Sam Bryant lived, out near Churchill Downs, is still standing and persons came not only from the city but for miles around to sec the greatest "race boss" since Ten Broeck. Sam Bryant had been a soldier of fortune for years, but had failed to "lay by" any of the worlds goods. With tlie money won by Proctor Knott he bought an entire block lying adjacent to Churchill Downs, and on it built many cottages, which are standing now and bringing in a revenue to his heirs. COULD ALWAYS, BEAT SALVATOR. Proctor Knott was an unfortunate three-year-old. He was defeated by a short head in the Kentucky Derby by Spokane, a western-bred horse. The history of that race is still famed iu song and story. It was a close finish and many thought Proctor Knott had won it until the official placing. The veteran Tom Kilcy rode Spokane and he kept his mount close to the rail during the long mile and a half route. Proctor Knott led all the way until a few feet of the finish. Ho set a fast pace, but inclined to bear out near the end and Kiley finishing on the rail got up. to win with Spokane in the last strides. The time for the race, 2:34., was extremely fast. That race evidently affected the heart of the big chestnut. Spokane again beat him in the Clark Stakes and the American Derby, run at Washington Park, Chicago. June 22, 1889. But in the Sheridan Stakes at Washington Park. July 4, a fortnight later, Proctor Knott reversed things and defeated Spokane by two lengths in a canter. Proctor Knotts last race of- importance was in the Omnibus- Stakes at Monmouth Park, August 13, 1SS9, when he finished second to Longstrect. Salvator was. third. Strange to say Proctor Knott beat Salvator in every race in which they met.
