view raw text
Connors Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS Ozark Tale of Bernard B. Jones Mississippians Bought Audley Farm Preston Burch to Judge Yearlings BELMONT PARK, Elmont. L. I., N. Y., May 8. — The passing of Bernard B. Jones at his Washington, D. C, home the other day brings to mind the bone dry laws of Arkansas, and the impact that a quart of bourbon had on the American turf. B. B. and his brother Montfort were Hot Springs visitors during the spring of 1915. While that health resort, nestled in the foothills of the Qua-chita range, a part of the Ozarks, provided entertainment during the long hours of the evening, visitors were at a loss to find an oasis wherein they could toast the winner of the feature event, friends or what have you. The Jones brothers, Edward "Snapper" Garrison, of bygone fame as a jockey, and Joe Blackburn, then known to racing legions as "Rattle Snake Joe" met that afternoon at Oaklawn Park and after a successful joust with the bookmakers, oh yes that was before the days of the totali-sator, decided to do a little celebrating. Alas and alack the usual avenues of supply were not available and the prospects of dinner at the fashionable Arlington Hotel minus an apertif were none too pleasant to contemplate. The quartet did some thinking for the moment and then Blackburn came up with a suggestion that hit the target right on the nose. "Lets try Jack Campbell," said the veteran and the idea was voted a good one. A cab was quickly obtained, the ride over to the Como Hotel completed in a hurry, a short elevator ride and there was the promised land and manna from heaven via Louisville, Ky.. in an unopened bottle. The boys quaffed and quaffed some more, and then repaired to the Arlington for dinner. Over the choice viands and under soft lights, horses, races and more horses were the topics of conversation. The next day a sale of horses in training was to be staged at Oaklawn Park, some from the Art Newman menage, he raced the queenly Pan Zareta, and among the bidders were the two Jones boys who originally hailed from Belzoni, Miss., but found the Oklahoma oil fields more enticing than the old southern town and a room full of pupils to teach. That started what was later to become the Audley Farm on the road that led to racing greatness and one of the most fashionable stables and breeding nurseries in the country. The stable branched out and in a few short months, acquired Audley Farm near Berry-ville, Va., one of the historical plantations of the Old South. The Audley Farm colors were carried by some fleet performers, Princess Doreen, Miss Joy, Rockminister Continued on Page Forty-Four t Connors Corner By C. J. CONNORS Continued from Page Three and numerous others and the boys ascribed it all to a little liquid refreshment to tone ! up an appetite before dinner. | Trainer Casey Hayes reported that he had shipped Satsuma, owned by C. T. Chenery, to the farm, Doswell, Ya. Satsuma, according: to Hayes, is not herself » and will be freshened up for engagements later in the season . . Dancer Hyams checked in from Miami and reported that the weather was much better in that area than at Belmont Park . . . Jerry Brady, of the Tropical Park forces, returned from Miami optimistic over the " Florida solons actions relative to the dates for the winter season . . Trainer Clarence Buxton shipped Cup King to the farm to be turned out for some time . . . Jockey Nick Wall picked up his boots and saddles and left for Pimlico to ride 1 Ancestor, owned by Ogden Phipps, in the Dixie Handicap at that track. He is due back here on Monday. Trainer Hirsch Jacobs shipped Our John Wm. to his Maryland farm. Hirsch earlier stated that he had planned to breed this fellow to several mares this spring . A. Bellevue reported the arrival of the two-year-old New Sands from Kentucky to be raced here . . Donald Ross, top man at Delaware Park, was on hand yesterday and reported that the improvements at that track just got under the wire ahead of a strike pulled by the building men .A. C. Bostwick was on hand for the afternoon, his first appearance of the season . . . Trainer J. McTague reported that Prism, an absentee from the racing wars for some time and owned by M. Nadler, the Flushing patron, was back in training and will be ready for the latter part of this meeting. Trainer Harris Brown brought up from Florida where he was turned out for some time the alien from South America, Cur-ruhuinca, to be raced this summer. He raced for Mrs. T. Christopher, the Miami patron. Jockey Eddie Arcaro will be back here to ride on Monday following the running of the Dixie at Pimlico . . . Trainer Woody Stephens returned from a trip to Louisville, the Derby, and Lexington, where he visited Blue Man and other horses. He reported that the A. W. Abbott four-year-old would be shipped here late in June to be readied for the fall season stakes and handicaps. He said that the colt is in tip -top condition and stood up well under long hard gallops. Preston Burch was extended congratulations upon his appointment as judge of the yearlings at the annual Maryland breeders show to be staged at Pimlico. . F. Skiddy von Stade, the Saratoga Springs head man, was on hand for a glimpse of the steeplechase and reported that the work of preparing the upstate track was in progress . . .Advance entries for the Virginia Horsemens Associations show of yearlings, scheduled for May 24 at Middleburg, are starting to arrive in the office. Todays mail brought entries from Mrs. Marion duPont Scotts Montpelier Farm, Mrs. Dodge Sloanes Brookmeade Farm, Mr. and Mrs. Melville Churchs North Cliff Farm and Dr. and Mrs. F. A. OKeefes Pine Brook Farm. This show promises to be the largest show of thoroughbred yearlings ever held in the Old Dominion.
