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LONGFELLOWS BREAKDOWN J. H. McCreery Was Eye-witness of Famous Racers Mishap. "Writes o Correct Details In Account of Cracks Last Race as Printed Recently in Daily Racing Form. : James IT. McCreery, one of the real old-timers of the turf, who was present at Saratoga the day that Longfellow broke down, July 1G, 1S72, writes to Daily Racing Form to correct some details of the story of that famous race as printed recently in this newspaper. His story of the events of that day follows : "Right the "Wrong." The Poet, Henry "W. Longfellow. The period now appears to correct a wrong impression of fifty years standing, into the sacred truth, regarding the subject of this article, which has been printed by many turf Avriters regarding the breakdown of this famous race horse at Saratoga Springs, July 16, 1S72, carrying 114 pounds, and beaten a length by Harry Bassett for the Saratoga Cup, at two miles and two furlongs in 3:59. Fifty summers have disappeared since then. Now, few turfmen are in sight who were there that day to witness the crippled Longfellow defeated by a second rater, which could not beat him in one of his strides of twenty-seven feet or any distance beyond .when in his racing form. It was my allowed privilege in those days to stand in front of the judges stand. INCREASING ANKLE TROUBLE. I awaited for Longfellows painful and nodding return to unsaddle. I plainly saw he was short of work, showing Harper, his owner and trainer, Avas compelled to indulge him in his preparation on account of his increasing ankle trouble, which plainly showed that it was the forerunner that finally led to his breaking down. Many breakdowns I have seen, but none returned to scale with a round swollen ankle as did Longfellow. I saw the sad face of the venerable Harper look at the injury and lifting Longfellows left fore ankle plainly showing the heel of the plate on the inside was turned in about an inch and lying flat. No cut was visible on his pastern, ankle joint or leg. It was evident the plate was not securely clinched, probably on account of his complaining ankle. My firm belief is, and it shall always remain, that the mishap to the plate was not the cause of his damaged leg, nor his defeat, but it was simply a gradual breaking down that caused a let-up in his fast work, failing to perfect his racing condition. Yet the dear old man took a racing chance to win again the prized Saratoga Cup with his cherished idol, which the previous year won with 103 pounds "eend to eend" the usual Harper riding orders, meaning take the lead and keep it, from the swift Kingfisher, which unf ortu .tely returned to the scales showing a bowed tendon. FIRST MILE IN 1:40. They ran the first mile in 1:40, the two in 3 :33 1-4, and finishing by a dozen lengths in 4 :02 3-4, with 114 pounds. It is my opinion he could have run ten seconds faster, judging by his racing condition, which showed perfection. In that year he won tiie Monmouth Cup, 2 1-2 miles, in 4:11 1-2 and the following year again in 4 :34, the first mile in 1 :44, beating Harry Bassett with ease, carrying 118 pounds. In those years the first turn from the judges stand was six feet higher the first furlong than it is now, and now it is twelve feet lower on the third quarter. The present trainer, Louis Stuart, often repeated to me that he- believed Longfellow could run a mile in 1:38 over this course. Stuarts judgment of race horses and race tracks is excellent, and he saw him trained there for both Cups in those summer days, and said his daily canters were two miles and repeat in about four minutes each, then came his faster works. Believing Stuarts opinion as about correct, combined with the slow track at Monmouth, and the straight upright riding of those days, now show that with our faster tracks and perched riders of today there is no question but what Longfellow could smash the world records of now, at one to two miles, notwithstanding his limited pedigree. DESCRIPTION OF LONGFELLOW. He was a dark brown by Leamington, dam Nantura by Brawners Eclipse, measuring over sixteen hands, and body of great length, from head to tail, which was the reason for his name, and not after the illustrious American poet, as is supposed. He was foaled at the Nantura Stud in Kentucky in 1867, and died there Nov. 5, 1893, aged 26. His mound lies, in all probability, in view of the tomb of his breeder and master of Nantura who was loved by his former slaves and now freedmen, as he treated them with kindness, and they fared the same food and luxuries as he and his sister and brothers partook of. This I saw, and it was also related to me. "Where can history point in old Kentucky a better treatment than he gave to his slaves. I fear none now exists to vouch for my statement of truthfulness. All may be slumbering beneath the sod, and the blue flower grass of their native land, and now "Guests of the grave." Longfellow. JAMES H. McCREERY.
