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FAIR PLAYS SUCCESS IN THE STUD WONDERFUL CAREER S One of Americas Greatest Progenitors of High Class Horses. Comprehensive and Exhaustive Review of His Progeny and Their Records on the Turf. Editors 3fote Herewith is the sixth of a scries of articles covering the entire stud career of Fair Play, one of the most famous and successful of American sires, which died last year. The subject matter is nrcscirted in an entirely new and novel manner, which, we feel certain, will prove interesting reading not only to those who find keen enjoyment in endeavoring to fathom the manifold mysteries of the fascinating industry of breeding, but to the general racing public as well. For the fourth successive year the two best of the get of Fair Play have been from Rock Sand mares. Also the fourth of the Fair Play Mahubah combine appeared in 1919. Many did not look for anything unusual from this third return, but -My Play did not find it necessary to depend upon the reputation of his brother to gain admirers. He was easily the best of the crop and has every promise of succeeding as a sire. . My Play did not succeed in winning a race until he was three-years-old, then he took three races worth ,690. The following year lie won five races, including the Aqueduct Handicap, at one and an eighth miles, from Sunsini and Homestretch. He also finished second to Knobbie in the Bayview Handicap : of that year. As a five-year-old he won but one race, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, at two miles, from King Solomons Seal and My Own. The Gold Cup had been won in 1920 by Man o War and twice by Mad Hatter, 1921 and 1922. Mr. Mutt beat him in the -. Saratoga Cup, at one and three-quarter miles, j but My Play was giving him ten pounds. The j same year he finished second to Altawood in the Latonia Cup, at two and a quarter miles. , carrying 128 pounds to Altawoods 111 and , forcing the son of Master Robert to cover the distance in 3:49, two-fifths slower than . the track record. Sunsini also beat him in the Merchants and Citizens Handicap, at one and three-sixteenths miles. His first progeny were raced in 1928 and last year twenty-two of his sons and daughters Avon purses to the amount of 1,008. They accounted for forty-three races. Thistle Fyrn, winner of the Ohio State Derby, was his best winner, earning 4,002. She also finished second in the Ashland Oaks and Fairmount Derby. Chatterton did not race as a two-year-old, but won eight races at three, and seven at four. He numbered among his fifteen victories the Falls City, Latonia Autumn, Lafayette Hotel, Phoenix Hotel, Louisville Hotel, Columbus Day and Decoration Day Handicaps. His first crop were two-year-olds in 1927 and included the winners Chatson, Mat Hunter, Maximus and Chatter Drum. He had out ten winning two-year-olds in 1928, including Current, winner of six races and 0,501 that year. Also Chatford, Chattahoochee, Chatter Black, Genghis Khan, Kitty Mulally, Chatover, Linda Archer, Photograph and Princess Zelda. His two-year-old representatives last year included seven winners. In the three years he has been represented on the turf his progeny have won 119 races and- 75,100. Of this amount Current has accounted for 1,951. Fusee carried on for three years. She won two races as a juvenile, three as a three-year-old, and three at four. She had a filly foal by imported Brumado in 1927, but she has not been to the races. Felicity, sister to Sporting Blood, failed to win as a two-year-old, but took two races the following year. She produced the colt Adamas to imported Wigstone in 1924 and he has proved a sturdy horse. He won four races his first year; eleven as a three-year-old, including the Union Claiming Stakes; three races at four, one being the Confederation Handicap at one mile and a quarter, run over a heavy and holding track, and four races in 1929. His total earnings have been 1,710. Prelude won two races as a juvenile but ailed the following year. She has had two colt foals, Rachmanoff and Rocky Way, both to Danger Rock. Rocky Way won one race last year. Honorable was of very mediocre class. He was tried over the jumps but fell in a race at Belmont Park in 1925 and was not raced again. He had been raced for five years, running unplaced three of them. Crossless is by Fair Play or imported Hour-less. She won her one race as a two-year-olds and was sent to the stud in 1923. She was barren in 1924 and 1925 and has not been reported since. It takes a heap of optimism to race a horse such as Draft. He was campaigned over a period of seven years and was- never eligible to an elimination race for he never won. Gladbrook has produced the winners Swizzle nine races and Charon one race and the filly Tiller, all to Cudgel. Nineteen-twenty brought out the largest crop of foals produced to date by Fair Play and, aside from 1925, was his largest of all time. As in the last four years the two leaders were from Rock Sand mares. As a whole it was an excellent band, eight of the seventeen earning over 0,000 during their racing careers. But two failed to gain a place and, conspicuous by her pedigree, one of these was the filly from Mahubah. Quite noticeable among this band was the success shown with imported mares. Dunlin made his initial start under the colors of John E. Madden. It was a race for maidens at five-eighths mile and was won by Shuffle Along in :58, Dunlin finishing fourth, beaten by eight and one-half lengths. He was sent to Aqueduct and finished third in another five-eighths mile race for maidens and this was followed by a victory at the same distance. He was beaten by Cyclops over the five and a half furlongs course and then won a victory over Zev at the same distance. In this race he ran for J. S. Cosden. He finished third to Zev and Enchantment at i Saratoga and from that race was elevated to the stake class. His next start was in the Grand Union Hotel Stakes, in which he again bowed to the mighty Zev, but finished ahead of Bud Lerner, Martingale and six others of the top flight juveniles. After a two yveeks rest he succeeded in turning the tables on Zev in the Hopeful Stakes, beating practically the same field as in the Grand Union. The superior riding of Kummer had much to do with this victory and it was the last one of note as a two-year-old, though he finished second to Wilderness in the National Stakes. He was unplaced but three times in his thirteen starts and earned 4,441. He contested twenty-eight races during his second year at racing and all were stake events but six. This was his most successful year as he won six races, finished second nine times and was three times third, with earnings of 6,653 to his credit. His stake performances in which he won a portion of the purse were : first in Carlton Stakes, one mile, 1:37 ; second to Zev in Queens County Handicap, one mile, 1 :37 ; second to Flagstaff in Brookdale Handicap, one mile and an eighth, 1:49 ; first in Dwyer Stakes, one mile and an eighth, 1 :51 ; second to Horologe in Mt. Kisko Stakes, one mile and seventy yards, 1:43 ; second to Revenge in Yonkers Handicap, one mile and a sixteenth, 1:45; first in Knickerbocker Handicap, one mile and a sixteenth, 1 :4G ; third to Prince James and Nedna in Saratoga Handicap ; third to Martingale and Moonraker in Miller Stakes ; third to Fair Phantom and Runviso in Fall Highweight Handicap, three-quarters, 1:10 ; first in Potomac Handicap ; first in Laurel Handicap; second to Rialto in Washington Handicap, one mile and a quarter, 2 :04 ; beaten a nose by King Solomons Seal in the Prince Georges Handicap. He won but one other race and that as a five-year-old. He was sent to the stutl in 1926 and his first crop included six winners, namely, Sand Fiddler, Norma Jean, Dunlins Son, Dunlin- etta, Vinlin and Skirt. He commands a fee of 00 at Kentmere Farm in Virginia. Osprey was one of the most beloved of thoroughbreds in the West in recent years. He raced to many victories at the old Tijuana track and was a great favorite. Raced for five years, the least number of wins to his credit for any one year was two and the greatest eight. He died from fever in 1926. Coeur de Lion is one of the sturdiest and most dependable geldings. Raced consistently for eight years, he failed but in one year to score a victory. He has contested 207 races in all and finished better than 50 per cent in the money. As a six-year-old he won 1 twelve races. He was sold entire at the yearling sales for ,300. Eager is another gelding of the same stamp J but whose performances nor consistency have not been as impressive as Osprey or Coeur de Lion. His best year was 1926 when he ! was victorious on seven occasions. Childs Play won eight races as a three-year-old. She was raced over a period of six years and was retired in 1927. How Fair won three races at two years and one at three. Her three-year-old victory was in the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park, in which she beat the good fillies Gadfly and Untidy. She made but one start after this, which was in the Gazelle 1 stakes, where she quit so badly she was 3 retired. She has had but one foal, a filly T by Audacious, which has not been started. Purity also has been a long wearing gelding, though he seems to be through as he e failed to gain a place last year. Diagram raced fairly consistently for six c years. He fell at Aurora in 1927 and was s destroyed. Winner Take All won one race as a two-year-old, " five races at three and two at four. Her last start was. in 1924, and no report has 5 been had of her at stud. Messenger "won the Grab Bag Handicap as s 1 J ! 1 3 T e c s " 5 s a two-year-old ; took a purse race at three and was retired. In his first crop he brought out Lady Broadcast, which last year won tho Devonshire Champion Stakes and also place in four other closed events, earning ? 3,900. Last year he sent nine winning two. year-olds to the races. He stands at Belmont Plantations in Virginia at a fee of 00. It i was reported that after the running of tha Grab Bag, II. P. Whitney made an offer of 1 00,000 o for Messenger, which Major Belmont 1 refused. Faith won her victories as a three-year-old. I and was unplaced in all of her starts at two j and four. In 1926 she had a colt foal by Billy McLaughlin. Felside was raced for one year and retired. She was barren in 1924 ; foal died in 1925 ; not I reported in 1926, and in 1927 produced a filly to Cataract, which was named Fell, but never started. High Hand was raced for three years but only succeeded in gaining a place as a three-year-old. Mormaw was retired after her third year. She , produced the colt Mortgage in 1926 to J Morvich. Mortgage won three races last year. . Lustrous was retired at three and there has been but one foal from her reported i 1924, bay filly. Lustre Hour, by imported Hourless. Complexion was raced but one year. She 1 has produced three foals. In 1924, the colt Arden, winner of four races, to imported j Polymelian ; 1926, colt Face Cream, winner of three races, to the same sire ; and in 1927, 1 the filly Poinciana, to High Time. Mirabelle was retired at three. She was barren in 1924 ; bore the colt Marabou, winner of nine races, to imp. Hourless in 1925, j and the chestnut colt Mirage to imp. Stefan the Great in 1926. For the second time the offspring of Madcap 1 proved the best of the crop, when Mad Play, brother to Mad Hatter, headed the list i of fourteen foals. And, for the sixth time, the two leaders were from Rock Sand mares. This was a crop of what proved to be truly great ones. Of the fourteen, but three were fillies and of the colts Ladkin, Catalan, Bracadale and Blind Play are doing duty as stallions. Three of this band were disposed i of at the yearling sales. The Rancocas Stable secured Bracadale and Honor for 7,000 ; and ,900, respectively, and F. M. Taylor , obtained Watch Out for ,100. After winning two purses in six starts, Mad Play was considered good enough to try for the Walden. He ran a game race, but could do no better than fourth. He was then sent after the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in which he was beaten a neck by AVise Counsellor. The mile was covered in 1:37, and the field was made up of some of the best juveniles of the year. Three races fell to his lot as a two-year-old. He contested sixteen closed events during his three-year-old year. He made his debut in the Kings County Handicap, where he finished second to his stable companion Zev. He next won a purse race at one mile and seventy yards, which was followed by a third to Nellie Morse and Transmute in the Preak-ness. A futile attempt in the Kentucky Derby and Suburban Handicap preceded his victory in the Belmont Stakes, in which he beat Mr. Mutt, Modest, Thorndale and seven others. He ran unplaced in the Carlton Stakes and then won a decision in the Brooklyn Handicap over Aga Khan, Desperate Desmond, Dunlin, Klondyke and five other older horses. His performances from then on were a second to Ladkin in the Dwyer Stakes; third to Sting and Sunsini in the Empire City Handicap, in which he gave Sunsini, then a four-year-old, seventeen pounds and the winner nineteen ; third to Ordinance and Sunsini in the Mount Vernon Handicap; third to Sara-zen and Cherry Pie in the Manhattan Handicap; second to Priscilla Ruley in the Jerome Handicap ; first in the Continental Handicap, beating Priscilla Ruley, Zev, Aga Khan, Rialto and Lucky Play, running the one and one-eighth miles in 1:49; third to Sarazen and Epinard in the International Special No. 3, at one and one-quarter miles, 2:00; second to Chilhowee in the Latonia Championship Stakes, one and three-quarters miles, 2:54, which was a new American record; first in the Yorktown Handicap. In seventeen starts that year he won five races worth, together with second and third monies, 4,490. As a four-year-old he won the Long Beach, Floral Park, Brooklyn, Queens County and. Empire City Handicaps; the Chicago Special ! and the Saratoga Cup, besides earning a place in six other stakes. He was placed in all of his thirteen starts, earning 7,080. Mad Play served at stud duty in 1926 and 1927, where he proved impotent and was put back in training in 192S, during which year he won two races. Fairmount was not brought to form until he was four and was then put to steeplechas-ing. He has three victories in the Temple Gwathmey Memorial Steeplechase to his credit in which he beat Jolly Roger on each occasion, although the latter gained a decision over him in the Grand National of 1927. Other victories were in the Broad Hollow, Manley Memorial, Charles L. Appleton Memorial Cup and the International Steeplechase Handicap. He was considered one of the best jumpers. Ladkin made his initial start in a five and one-half furlongs race at Belmont Park and finished second to Happy Thoughts, the dis-! tance being covered in 1:04. He showed such a flash of speed that in his next start he ruled a 2 to 5 choice and warranted his support by a brilliant win. He scored in the Remsen Handicap and earned a place in the Oceanus Handicap and Autumn Days Stakes as a two-year-old. His successes as a three-year-old were in the Broadway Stakes, one and one-sixteenth miles, 1 :43 ; Carlton Stakes, one mile, 1 :36 ; Dwyer Stakes, one and one-eighth miles, 1 :49 ; Edgemere Handicap, one and one-1 eighth miles, 1:49; International Speciai No. 2, in which he reversed the decision gained by Epinard and Wise Counsellor in the first International. The mile was run in 1:36. He made four unsuccessful attempts as a four-year-old and was retired. Ladkin sent his first crop to the races in 1929 and, of the fifteen, twelve earned some part of a purse, eight of them being winners. They were an exceptional lot and showed great promise. He is the property of Searington Stud and stands at Greenwich Stud in Kentucky. The results of his first season proved him a sure foal getter, Catalan was a most dependable racer and those of his first crop that came to the sales Continued on nineteenth page. . I j i WONDERFUL CAREER Continued from seventeenth page. last year realized good prices. He was unsuccessful as a two-year-old, but in 1924 triumphed in the International and Windsor Handicaps and four lesser handicaps. In 1925 he was third to Mad Play and Sting in the Brooklyn Handicap ; second to Aga Khan in the Yorktown Handicap; second to Sun Pal in the Mount Vernon Handicap, in which he. gave the Sun Briar colt ten pounds and was beaten by a nose. He accounted for the Roamer Highweight Handicap and Continental Handicap in 1926 and the Biscayne and Okeechobee Highweight Handicaps his last year on the turf. Bracadale was raced successfully for two years. He won five races as a two-year-old, including the Hartsdale Stakes. At three, he won the Withers from Sun Pal, Sheridan, Ladkin and others: the Lynbrook Handicap, defeating Sarazen ; Mahopac Handicap and the Travers Preliminary. He also finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby, being beaten less than a length by the winner Black Gold. None of his produce have appeared. Lucky Play is still in training and last year, his seventh at racing, he accounted for ten races. Among his victories he numbers the Knickerbocker Handicap and the Scars-dale, Blind Play was a very useful horse. He won one race his juvenile year and followed this with three victories at three; nine at four and one at five. His fourteen wins included the Mount Kisco, Scarsdale, Pierre-pont and Delaware Handicaps and triumphs at one time or another over nearly all the best horses in training. He was purchased early last year by S. H. Velie, from Raymond Belmont, to stand at his farm at Blue Springs, Mo. Blind Plays first get were foals of 1928. One of this first crop brought ?5,200 at the sales last year. Hands Up is another example of the wearing qualities of those Fair Plays, which have been unsexed. He has won four, five or six races each year since 1925 and has proved a most consistent racer. Honor was raced for three years, winning six races at three and two at four. Check won his one race as a two-year-old. The following year he was thought to be worth while and was sent after the Empire City Derby, but in sixteen starts he failed to win. "Watch Out done all her . racing as a two-year-old. In 1925 she foaled the chestnut filly Watchola, by Olambala, and in 1926 a filly by Campfire. Bevy won her race at two, but failed the following year. She has had one foal, a bay filly by Sand Marsh, named Bellham, which has won two races. Marbler was gelded and campaigned as a two and three-year-old, but failed to gain a place. He died in 1924. Arena has produced three foals. 1925, colt Ephesian, by imp. Hourless ; 1926, filly Arena, by St. James ; 1927, filly Goose Egg, by imp. Chicle. Ephesian won three races as a four-year-old. Arena has not raced and Goose Egg, which is an extremely fine filly, won the Spinaway Stakes and three purse races last year. To be continued.
