view raw text
ENGLISH OWNERS CAREER « Death of "Happy Man" Hardy Recalls Many Turf Successes. ♦ Victory of ratrhed-Ip ripple In Ascot Gold tup last Year njas Realization of Ambition. BY E. E. COPSSELE. LONDON, Eng.. March 24 —Fred Hardy, owner of Happy Man and other pood horses, died at his home at Sale, near Manehester. on Man h 21. He had heen ill ahout three weeks. He was ahout sixty-five years old and had heen raring since 1S9S. Mr. Hardy was a popular owner, especially at Manchester, when- he had extensive business interests. He was an ideal type of owner running his horses purely for the sport and never hesitating to do the public a good turn by telling all his friends of "a good thing." His colors had hosts of followers at Manchester, where he particularly liked to win races. In 1917 he ran a two-year-old. Crown Again, in a selling race at Manchester, simply that the crowd should have a winner. His trainer mildly objected the colt was too good for a selling plate. Th1 reply was typical : "The crowd expects MB to win a race. If the colt wins and everyone hacks him. thats all I want." The sport to him was its own fascination. Crown Again won in a canter by four lengths and it cost Mr. Hardy ,300 to retain him. MB NOT IllY KXPKNSIYE HORSKS. Mr. Hardy hardly had the success he deserved. He did not spend huge sums on the purchase of thoroughbn ds. His outlay was strictly limited. Nevertheless there was one glorious moment in his life which the public was able to share with him. That was at Ascot last .lune when his colt. Happy Man. just defeated Lord Derbys Silurian in the Ascot Gold *up. It was one of the mtst thrilling contests in the history of the famous race, for the- two horses raced head to head through the last five-eighths of the race. Happy Man finally won by a short head. The excitement over a race for the Cold Cup lias rarely been equaled. On that memorable day Mr. Hardy realized one of his lifes ambitions. A year earlier Happy Man met an accident in the Chester Pup and after weeks of idleness returned to his owners home almost a hopeless cripple. Mr. Hardy loved Happy Man and never despaired of restoring him again to his full power. "apt. •Jock" Crawford. M. R. C. V. S.. by a remarkable operation to Happy Mans foot, brought about what seemed a miraculous recovery. Last year Happy Man again ran second hi the Chester Cup. Eater on he won a 0,000 nee at Manchester. Then came his Ascot triumph. EXPF.CTF.D TO WIN CKSAltKUITCH. Although handicapped with top weight. Mr. Hardy confidently expected Pappy Man to win the Oeaarewttch last autumn. His damaged loot kept wdl but a sprained tendon caused his retiremt nt from the turf. Originally purchased for ." 0 as a yearling. Happy Man won over SVi.o hi in stakes, jie Utso ran second to Periosteum in the Ascot Cold Cuit in 1921. As a two-year-old after he liad won he was offered to an Indian buyer for 11.6—. Ji" r.as declined. Happy Man later finished first in th» Old Nursery at Newmarket over one mile ridden by "Sheets" Martin. He was disqualified for boring. The would-be Indian buyer then wanted tie colt. He was tali the price was now J..ooi. Once again he declined a remarkable bargain. In 192" there was an action-at-law over Happy Man. The pliintiff J. Joyce claimed that subject to a veterinary examination he had obtaiiv d the right to Happy Man for 7. r.ni for resale to someone in India There was much delay in regard to the examination of the colt. Meanwhile Happy Man had run third in the Manchester Cup. CAN LI.I.F.T THE REAL. Mr. Hardy, maintaining that the examination should, according to an alleged custom, have been made within seven days, telegraphed the plaintiff that the deal was cancelled thereupon asserting what he regarded as his right, sent Mr. Hardy a check for 7. ".on. he in the meantime having sold the horse to India for 520.0i;o. Mr. Hardy returned the check and the plaintiff commenced an action to obtain possession of Happy Man. When the plaintiff received Mr. Hardys telegram he telegraphed to the trainer. Captain Hogg, who is a veterinary ■orpjoon, asking aha to examine Happy Man as to soundness. Hogg naturally declined to do on, Iltimately the colt was passed by Mr. undell. The plaintiff obtained an injunction against Mr. Hardy preventing his running Happj Man in the Newbury Summer "up. He had however won the Queens Handicap of $." .. r»00 run over two miles at Kcmpton Park. Ten dav s later was the first day of Ascot. The trial of the action was fixed for the Monday of Ascot we.-k and not opened till late in the afternoon. CASE SETTLED. On the Tin sday morning litigants and witnesses were soon liberated from the law ccurts. Kvidetice had been given that a veterinary examination should be wit!. in a reasonable time, there was no oust, m regu- I lating the matter. Mr. Hardy thereupon. through hia counsel, agre. ] to pay tlk plaintiff $.".,000, and tax costs, by way of srttle-m nt. ! The judge dismissed the parties with the i comment that this amicable ending was quite l in accord with the proper instincts of British It spoilsmen." Four hours later, carrying top I WOight of 129 pounds Happy Man defeated a Mg held in the two-mile ,sc t stakes, worth lia.aaa, Bvorj member of the part] backed i him and the starting price was 10 to 1 I Bgaiaat, 00 there were many "happy men." His owners winnings were about 5,000, I apart from the ntaln Bo firmly did the fame of the horse grip the BrttJah racing public that his owner was! arwaya referred] to as "Happy Man Hardy." Other good horses owned by Mr. Hardy were i lieauregard. Vaddy. Pumas. Not Much.. Fancy Man, Charh ville and Hoprend. Heau-l regard finished sixth in the Perby. Which I was Mr. Hardys nearest approach to carry- 11 ing off the great Epsom classic. |l I ! l It I i I I i 11 |l After Not Much ran second in the Great Jubilee Handicap he was sold to India where he won the King Emperors Cup and was beaten a short head in the Viceroys Cup. Pumas ran third in the Cambridgeshire to Verdict and Epinard last autumn. In 1921 Charleville ran second to Yutoi in the Cesare-vviteh. On the first day of the Birmingham Summer Meeting last June, Mr. Hardy won a race with Scotch Reel ; Pumas won the next race in the name of his son, George Hardy, while Mrs. Hardy took the last race with Scullion. Mr. Hardy was interested in coursing but not to the same extent as his brother Harry Hardy who twice won the Waterloo Cup with Wild Night 1S9S and Hoprend 190C. Mr. Hardy lor many years left the purchase, management, training and placing of his horses with his trainer. Capt. Thomas Hogg, who had charge of twenty-five horses at the time of Mr Hardys death. In 1923 Mr. Hardy won thirteen races and BM.4W; in 1922. four races and .C,Ut: in 1921, thirteen races and "...".ln : in 193 . nine racea and 124.44a, and In 1919 he won nineteen races valued at 124.925. Mr. Hardy first raced In IfPf but gave up racing between 1911 and 1915. Altogether his animals won I3S flat races nd stakes valued at nearly 1290.009, His popular colors wen- green and white chevrons, red collar, cuffs and cap. I well remember in the excitement after the Cold Cup at Ascot as Mr. Hardy went out on the course to lead in Hnppy Man. to a friend who congratulated him upon winning a great race with a gr. at horse. Mr. Hardy instantly replied: "Pont congratulate me congratulate raw ford." Happy Mans owner presented a replica of the Gold Cup to Captain Crawford. It is also worth mentioning that Mr Hardy had one of the finest collections of orchids in the British Isles.
