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LONGFELLOW EQUINE HERO Son of Leamington Rivaled the Great Lexington in Popularity. 1- Ijamou Race Horse Was the Equine Idol of fhe United States Throughout His Long and Brilliant Career. Longfellow, son of Lp.mington and Nan-tura, rivaled even My Immortal Lexington in popularity. Througnout his long and brilliant career he was the equine idol of the "United States, and was elevated to a pinnacle of admiration, such as it has been the fortune of but few thoroughbreds to attain, either in this country or in Europe. To this day old turfmen and even those who have had more than the merest acquaintance with the race course, hold him in fond remembrance. His sire, which contested with Lexington the honors of the stud in this country a third of a century ago, endowed him with the best equine blood of England. His dam, Nantura, was by Brawners Eclipse from Quiz. Brawners Eclipse was a son of American Eclipse, by Duroc and from a daughter of Henry and Young Romp. Quiz was a daughter of Bertrand and Lady Fortune, Bertrand being by Sir Archy from Eliza, while Lady Fortune was by Brimmer from "Woodpeckers dam. It has been pointed out that Longfellows pedigree is full of those "old-fashioned, hard-bottomed American crosses founded on early importations, and is one of the most thoroughly American pedigrees in existence, being full of four-mile crosses." In the person of Brawners Eclipse was united the blood of those great rivals, American Eclipse and Sir Henry, and with them four crosses of Diomed and two of Messenger. NANTURA A FIRST CLASS PERFORMED. Nantura was bred by A. J. Holton of Kentucky in 1855, and was a first-class performer on the turf, being particularly successful in winning two-mile heats. In the stud she produced Fanny Holton, by Lexington; Exchange, by Endorser; Longfellow, by Leamington ; Germantown, by Planet, and other good ones. She died in 1873. Longfellow was foaled in 1866. He was a handsome brown horse, 15 hands 3 Inches high, with a large blaze on the face and both hind fetlocks white. He was not graceful in motion, but had a lengthy stride and, when fairly extended, his style was everything that could be asked for. Few horses on the turf were more easily managed, or had more agreeable disposition, which probably accounts to some extent for the high esteem in which he was held by the public. In his three-year-old form Longfellow ran five races, winning three of them, the Produce Stakes at Lexington, two-mile heats in 3 minutes and 43 1-4 seconds and 3 minutes 44 seconds; the Ohio Stakes at Cincinnati, -two-mile heats in 3 minutes 37 1-2 seconds and 3 minutes 55 1-2 seconds ; the City Stakes at Nashville, Tenn.. two-mile heats in 3 minutes 41 3-4 seconds and 3 minutes 41 seconds ; the Post Stakes at Memphis, Tenn two-mile heats in 3 minutes 40 1-4 seconds and 3 minutes 40 seconds. WON IMPORTANT STAKES. The next year he was first in five races and second in one, his successes being a two-mile heat race at Lexington, Ky. ; the Monmouth Cup race at Long Beach, two and one-half miles in 4 minutes 41 1-4 seconds ; the Saratoga Cup race at Saratoga, two and one-quarters mile in 4 minutes 3 3-4 seconds; the Purse race at Saratoga, two and three-quarter miles, and the Jockey Club purse race at Lexington, two-mile heats in 3 minutes 38 3-4 seconds and 3.-minutes 41 1-4 seconds. In 1872 he won four out of the five races In which he started, including the Monmouth Cup at Long Branch, two and one-half miles in 4 minutes 34 seconds, and the Jersey Jockey Club purse, mile heats in 1 minute 56 1-4 seconds, 1 minute 54 seconds, and 1 minute 43 3-4 seconds. His victory over Harry Basset for the Monmouth Cup established his reputation as a great racer more firmly than ever before, and that was followed by the smashing race for the Saratoga Cup, which has been called "one of the most savage struggles in racing annals," and out of which he came a wreck. Entering the stud in 1873 this great son of Leamington produced in the first season Leonard, Oddfellow and Lady Salyers. Leonard won the Saratoga and Nursery Stakes as a two-year-old. Others of his famous progeny have been Edinburgh, Long Taw, Irish King, Thora and Leonatus.
