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Twenty Years Ago Today Chief Turf Events of March 12 1903 Racing at New Orhans and Oakland Pierre Lorillard has authorized his trainer Fred Burlew to purchase from W C Daly the twoyearold colt Lorillard by Pontiac Annie F which is a half brother to the famous Ramapo The colt according to those who have seen him work at Gravesend is a mosl promising youngster Sydney Paget was it is said the man who offered 20000 for Africander The offer was refused Africander is on all accounts the bestlooking threeyearold at Gravesend It was learned a few days ago that Africander had come under the eye of James B Haggin and that this veteran turfman wanted the son of Star Ruby Afric Queen Last summer Africander was a disappointing colt but his races nevertheless were so good that his owner I refused to let him go when he was put up at Two more Crescent City Derby candidates H T Griffins Jove and S C Hildreths Floyd K started at the Fair Grounds and performed so well in the deep and heavy going as to make it almost certain that both will go to the post in Saturdays big event Owner Ker rick says that he is not certain whether he will start Sheriff Bell on Saturday or not When the colt slipped last Monday he scraped his hock against the fence This injury Ker rick thinks is not serious but if the track is deep or heavy as now seems probable Sheriff Bell is not likely to have much of a chance in the Derby If he does not go Odoin will ride Witfull which probably will be favorite Ard Patrick the winner of last years Epsom Derby is attracting a great deal of attention among racing men at present It does not appear to be known that both Mr Whitney and Foxhall Keene are competing for him Captain S S Brown of Pittsburgh has offered 75000 for the horse but the proprietor John Gubbins wants double that amount A great effort will be made to keep the animal in Eng ¬ land Both Mr Whitney and Captain Brown would take him to America but if Foxhall Keene becomes the owner the horse will stay on the other side The probability is that a syndicate headed by Mr Keene will eventually get the horse horseHas Has P J Dwyer another Kingston or Han ¬ over in Merry Acrobat the sterling good son of Handspring Merry Thought Many horse horsemen men especially those that are quartered at Gravesend are of the opinion that he has and they have a great deal upon which to found their opinion Mr Dwyer personally will not admit that Merry Acrobat is anything but an ordinary everyday horse But then Mr Dwyer was always modest in talking about his horses even when such champions as Miss MissjWoodford jWoodford Kingston Hanover Tremont and a dozen others were sweeping the boards of all the rich stakes He prefers to let others do the talking while his horses do tha winning Whatever Mr Dwyers opinion of the ability of Merry Acrobat may be certain it is that he thinks more of the colt than he has of any horse in his stable since the gallant Handspring was retired Just you take my word for it said a Gravcsend trainer recently who for various reasons requested that his name be not used in the transaction that bar any acci ¬ dent in training Merry Acrobat will prove a crack this year I have reason to know that thatMr Mr Dwyer is sweet on him And he dont waste sentiment on a noaccount horse
