William Day And Foxhall: How Trainer Saved Owner From Heavy Loss in England.; Owner Thought Don Fulano Better Prospect for Cambridgeshire Than His Champion, but Found Out Differently in Time., Daily Racing Form, 1924-04-24

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WILLIAM DAY AND FOXHALL I ■ — » Bow Trainer Saved Owner From 1 Heavy Loss in England. - • Owner Thought Don Fulano Better Trospect for Cambridgeshire Than His Champion, but Fon ml Out Differently In Time. ♦ ■ T suppose to the present generation the name of William Day will convey little more than a shadowy reminiscence of the past, but : I can tell you from personal acquaintance J that for mystifying the public, stultifying the prophets and bringing off tremendous handicap coups lie never had an equal. . I think I am right in saying that Foxhall came to Day at Cholderton from Sherrards stable at Newmarket when Mr. Keene. his owner, decided to change his trainer. That would be some time toward the middle of 1881. Day went to Newmarket with instructions from Mr. Keenes adviser, Mr. Bath- j gate, to remove the horses and Sherrard did not even know that he was losing the string until his rival appeared at the stables with the written order. Now among the string there were several tilling platers and two remarkably good colts called Don Fulano and Foxhall. Mr. Keenes friend. Mr. Ten Broeck, thought this Don Fulano was a oetter colt than Foxhall. although, as a matter of plain fact. Bill Day knew that twenty-one pounds would not have brought them together. A PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. Having struck the time o* day. the old trainer, with his usual sagacity, laid down a plan of campaign for the autumn handicaps. Don Fulano would win the Grand Duke Michael Stakes and Foxhall the Cambridgeshire. He mentioned this plan to Mr. Bathgate and Mr. Tcn-Broeck, but they had other ideas They told Day that both Foxhall and Don Fulano should run in the Grand Duke Michael, which would give them all an idea of the merits of the two animals. As if Day wanted an idea, forsooth ! At that time Day had not actually tried Foxhall over a distance of ground, although he knew the colt could stay and he accordingly begged Mr. Bathgate to persuade Mr. Keene ti purchase a trial horse, but Mr. Bathgate pooh-poohed the proposition. Don Fulano a mile and a quarter horse should be the trial tackle for Foxhall. Well, they had a trial at Cholderton and Foxhall smothered Don Fulano. but even this private demonstration did not satisfy the Yankees. They ran both the horses in the Grand Duke Michael Stakes — and backed Don Fulano. Foxhall was giving his stable companion six pounds and without being extended he administered a fourteen pound beating. Dad Foxhall been ridden out Day reckoned that he could have given the Other seven pounds more, plus the same heating. Some colt, you will say. was this Foxhall and I can tell you he was some colt. DID NOT LISTEN TO DAT. Neither Mr. Keene nor his friend Mr. Ten Broeck- won a penny piece on the Grand Duke Mi-hael. but had they listened to Days advice Foxhall would not have run and exposed his true form while Don Fulano must have won the race and thus provided some bookmakers money with which to bark Foxhall in the Cesarewitch. As it was. Mr. Keene had to run Foxhal1 I In the long-distance Newmarket Handicap practically untried and fearing to back a! horse abou* whose merits over a two and a quarter mile course he knew nothing, he won a mere bagatelle 0,000 at the most ; while his friends actually let the animal run loose. In the Cambridgeshire. Don Fulano had heea given OS pounds, while a penalty for the Cesarewit.h victory had brought Fox-lialls weight ir. to 1*!6 pounds. Day went !• Mr. Bathgate and told him that Foxhall was a far setter proposition for a Ramble than Don I-ulano and apparently was laughed at for his pains. "Well win the Cambridgeshire with Don Jalano." said Mr. FlBlhuTl "T think the horse is a certainty. Foxhall. a three-year-old with IM pounds0 Its absurd!" I may as well t • -1 1 you rinht away that Mr. T.-n Onsets: and Mr. Bathgate had started backing Don Fulano for the Cambridge shire Boon after the decision of the Grand Duke Michael Stakes, each on his own account, with the result that the horse headed the list of quotations, and on the Monday following the Vsaivwitch Don Fulano was a hot fasorite. • TRIP TO LONDON. Thene market movements so astonished Day that he went specially to London to see Mr. Bathgat" at the I angham and to tell hirr Pine-thing. • I cant Imagine who keeps backing Don Fulano," said Bill Day. When dressed for the street lie looked more like a Methodist rarson than a racehorse trainer. Mr. Bathgate seemed both surprised and aiigrv. for he replied testily: "Who keeps backing him? Why, we do, of course." "But you know, as well as T do. sir, that the r-olt has done no work for a fortnight, lies lame and couldnt be got half it to run." Day replied. This seemed to stagger Mr. Bathgate, for nfter thinking furiously for a few moments he said : What do yon think will win and what Would you do und.-r the circumstances?" f course. Day told him to back Foxhall. pointing out that the Cesarewitch winner had beaten Don Fulano easily both in private mid on the race course; therefore, if Don Fulano had any chance with its pounds Foxhall must have a far better hancc with 12G pounds At that time Don Fulano stood at 1? to I in the market and Foxhall at to to 1 At last Mr Bathgate said doubtfully: •Would you hack Foxhall T "Tea,*" Bill Day replied eagerly. "Please put me on ."»o." This willingness on Days part to risk saonejr seeened to Impress Mr. Bathgate snore than any arguments the trainer had hitherto Used and he left the Lnngham feeling assured thai Mr. Keenes adviser would try-to save the Don Fulano money before the «a was out of the bag l at steps Mr. Bathgate and his confederate. Mr. Ten Broeck. took to get out of their liabilities I couhhVt tell you for the life of me, but 1 dont think they hedgi d ■ penny I do know that they put Charlie ■ ■■ - i in to back Foxhall for them und that astute commissioner did his work so well that he scooped op all the long odds before the bookmakers tumbled to the Carl that the Oeearewitsh winner was the stable "pei" for the Cambridgeshire. On the Friday before the race FOXhall era a M to l chance for the Cambridgeshire, while Poll Fulano had been knocked out to forlorn odds. Tin- Victory of Foxhall came ns a hig surprise to those doubting Thomases who declared thai s three year-old couldnt cirry the sMilght, but Day. who knew the capabilities of the horse better than anybody, had .only one regret, He would have liked to SSS I his patrons take h fortune from the ring Which they could ha - done had they fol-i lowed his advice. Thats why. gentlemen, I j am always sorry to lind a man eonst.iiily ehaagiag his trainer. Its poor poliey if rosj i trust him not to let him call the tune. Arteus in London 8p trting 1"::. ■*.


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800