view raw text
► JOHN J. GREELEY ► : ■- Greeley Rates Burning Blaze As Best Horse He Ever Trained Says He Never Had Chance * To Show Greatness; Was Cut Down Winning Derby Prep By TEDDY COX WASHINGTON PARK, Homewood, HI., May 24. — John Joseph Greeley was talking of Ponder and of Ben Jones and the Kentucky Derby here the other day and then, as if he were a magician, the local panorama disappeared and the scene changed to the historic Louisville course. "You know," he began, "I had my chance in the Derby one time and no greater cinch ever lived. All he had to do was to keep four feet under him to win that race as far as "you could throw a stone. "But Burning Blaze never made the Derby. I started him in a preliminary race and he won, but he was cut down badly during the running and one of his tendons was almost severed. That ended him as a good horse, and I doubt if Ill ever get another like him. He was another of those really great horses that never had the opportunity to show his real worth. Every stable has them year after year — those who win a stake or two and are ready to ascend the heights when some accident halts their progress. "I guess thats why we old-timers remain around as long as we do," Greeley continued. "Were always hoping for that big horse who by-passes the million and one things that can keep a fine thoroughbred from getting out of the maiden ranks. "Ive been around the turf as long as the other guy, I guess, and Ive had a lot j of good horses in my barn, but only Burning- j Blaze could be classified as great, in my opinion. But opinions die and the record is not there to show what a really fine horse Burning Blaze- was." . Patriarch of Chicago Turf Greeley is the grand ol man of Chicago racing. He remembers most of the local trainers when they first came around the race track, and during his long career he has pitted his skill against the greatest in American history. He has been represented in most of the classic stakes and has been responsible for the development of a number of outstanding jockeys. "Mr. Greeley," as he is generally addressed by all in the thoroughbred sport, refuses to divulge his age. "Thats one secret Ill take to my grave," he says. Conservative estimates among veteran horsemen here place it at about 75, while others declare, "He must be close to 90." Anyway, Mr. Greeley began his turf career back in 1892 and hes never since spent any appreciable time away from shedrow. At present he is training a modest public stable, his patrons being Meadow Acres Farm, R. J. Nash Estate, Roy F. Norris and M, F. Goff. His son, John Joseph Greeley, who is better known as "Bud," is a horseman in his own right, serving as one of Howard "Babe" Wells first lieutenants. The elder Greeley was born in Ireland and came to Chicago when he was 12 years old. His dad operated a grocery store on State Street and horses were a component part of the operation. Quickly young Greeley began to gain something of a reputation as a horse trader. In his first transaction he swapped a horse for a pony and 7. Later he sold the pony- for 0. This finally led to his obtaining a thoroughbred that he immediately recognized as something regal in the equine family. After, completing school Greeley went to the race . tracks as an owner and later a trainer. Days That Are Gone Forever "It was different then," Greeley reminisces. "We used to buy a bushel of the finest oats for about thirty cents and if wed paid as much as 0 for a ton of hay wed think we were robbed. Now you pay as much as 5 for a ton of hay and a sack of oats three bushels costs as much as . A man could keep a horse going on less than fifty cents a day. Now there doesnt seem to be any limit. "But I guess, the larger purses and salaries compensate for the great difficulties." For a man who has seen most of the great horses run during the current century, it was natural that hed be asked about their relative merits. "Thats a mighty hard question to answer," he said "Ive seen so many good ones that seemed invincible at the time. A few years later one would come along thatd make us forget. Man o War was a a superb animal and. could do everything required of him. I can still see that long, powerful stride that covered so much ground when it seemed that he was hardly moving. I wouldnt like to put him above all others, but certainly I could never bet against him if he were in race against the others who have been called great." Of -thef jbckeys, be»isays: "We1 have plenty of good jockeys today. I would say a boy like Arcaro could hold his own against any Ive ever seen, but again I wouldnt like to make a choice between Arcaro and Tod Sloan or a lot of others for a horse I was sending out for a big race."
