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| j , I i ; j , j . I ] , J , I j ; , PURCHASE PICTURE HORSE i -• » Superb Son of Ormondale Well-Nigh Perfect in Conformation. » ■ Wintering in Splendid Condition at Rancocas Farm — His Qualities Described. ♦ NEW YORK. N. T.. December 31.— An outstanding tli ronghbred sees in tea lew racei in IflZt ; orcnase, the Rancocaa Stables snperb son of Oriuondale, which fell lame when lie whs ready to ulil to l:is brilliant record as a three-year-old, at which upe he Rave evidence of powers that would entitle him to be ranked among the best horses this country kaa ever produced. While the record* only give Purchase credit for winning fourteen races of an aggregate value of less than 0,000, it was plain to all observers of his career as a iwo-year-old that this number might have been added to materially while the colt was a member of tho Brighton Stable, lie was the best horse in the Futurity of that year and would undoubtedly have won it but for bolting at the start and paraafac a devious course all through the stretch. It wis as a three-year-old in 1919 that the lordly eheatnnt r—a into his own. He had been bought by S. C. Hildreth, representing the Itancoeas Stable, for 2,500 at the dispersal sale of the Brighton Stable the previous autumn. Purchase took part in eleven races as a throe-year-old, of which lie won nine and wai second in the other two. His victories included the Dwyer Stakes, Emnire City Derby, Saratoga, Baraaae and Huron Handicaps, and the Jockey Club Stakes, for which he walked over. His best race that year was his second to Eternal in the Brooklyn Handicap, in which he ear-ri d 117 pounds to the brown whirlwinds 103. The first mile of that race was run in 1:35%, and the mile and an eighth in l:49*s. It was a mighty effort so early in the year. His victory in the Dwyer Stakes was somewhat dimmed by the fact that Sir Barton pulled a plate after going a half mile, but at the an ights carried that day — Sir l.arton being asked to concede nine pounds to his compjeror — the little son of Star Shoot was undertaking an impossible task. TWO OF HIS FINE VICTORIES. Purchase was a mighty race horse when he won the Saratoga Handicap, with lis pounds up. He gave a year and a pound to War Cloud, and J pounds in aetaal weight to the five-year-old Corn Tassel, tho wintor of the Suburban. His Huron Handicap, with 134 panada up, in which he ran the mile- in 1:37, was one of the finest performances of the jc.ir. He was beaten iu the Saratoga Cup by Exterminator, but the race was robbed of its interest through his rider, Knapp. losing his whip at the top of the stretch, wheu the colt made his challenge for the lead. lie- fall he was a three-year-old Purchase a teat had a front ankle in Maryland and he was not trained in 1920. Early this year he was iu the stud and some of the best mares at .Tobstown, including Algie M.. Lottie Darr, Miss Crittenden, dam of Eord Brighton: Neva W., dam of Sunny Slope and Hephaistos: Pictona Pride and Waina-moinen were bred to him. In July he was brought to the races and captivated everybody by his majestic presence and dazzling speed. He won his only two starts the Bronxville and Katonah Handicaps at Empire City. Just as great things were being prophesied for him during the Saratoga meeting he went lame behind and was retired for the year. When seen recently at Kancocas, Purchase seemed to be the soundest horse in the world. He had spent the day in a huge paddock, enjoying the air, which was brisk enough to make a light overcoat comfortable. When stopped for inspection in the rotunda of the great barn, with its gallop of straw knee-deep, the splendid horse was a picture of rugged and virile equine beauty. His coat was like satin, where it was unstained by the mud he had accumulated at play, and he submitted to the inspection of the stranger with perfect docility. TRULY MAGNIFICENT THOROUGHBRED. While Purchase is a large horse, it will, no doubt, surprise many to learn that he does not weigh as much as Cirrus, nor girth more than the foor-year-old Grey Dag, though he is bigger boned than any other stallion at the farm. His lofty carriage conveys an idea of greater bulk than he possesses. A brilliant chestnut in color with a narrow blare of white in the face and a button of the same color on his nose and both hind legs stockinged halfway to the hooks, he fills the eye of every lover of a good horse. It is difficult to paint the lily. Well-nigh perfect in proportion — a trifle more depth through the heart would render hrm incomparable. Purchase is the picture horse of the period. He Continued -on fifth page. PURCHASE PICTURE HORSE I Continued from first page. stands 14.1% hands high and girths a trifle under sevenly-four inches. He is a horse of wonderful bom-, measuring a shade less than nine inches below the knee. His cannon bone is unusually shoit. While his shoulder is deep and beautifully placed, the toga showing thiity inches from its point to the Withers. Ills hind leg. with its exquisite muscling, is straight and the hack is large and wide. The measamaeal from point of hfcj to hock is |arty mn larhcia "I never saw a horse like him" sjid trainer Ilih.-et!!. "No matter what the temperature is, his coat is like satin. He is never cold and uone of us has ever seen him shiver. He is never blanketed and the top doers of our boxes are open slsraya. I hope he will stand training after his season next spring. He takes little work, and 1 think could run three-imarters in 1:15. without any more preparation than he g.-:s in his paddock. I dont know how fast lie can run- .1 half iu 45 seconds with any weight up seems easy for Dim." Cherryen, the dam of Parckaaa, is ■ member of the brood mare hand at Bancocas. while among Ihe weanlings is a brother to him. The mare which was foaled in 1907. is by Tanzmci-tor, a andou of Saraband--Miztiah. by Maogregor. Her dam was List Cherry, by Sir Dixon. Cherryola was bought for 0,000 last year from W. B. .Miller, who bred Pal than and sold him to Johu K. Muddeu as a weanling for ,000. The youngster was small and unprepossessing and Mr. Madden, who declares that nobody ever went broke taking profits, passed him along at a slight advance. He cost the late George Smith s3.."i0O as a yearling. The career of Purchase is another case of the ungly duckling, which taraedj out to be ■ swan. Hie appearance of this great horse next spring would add greatly to the a! iractiveuess of the racing iu 1022. o
