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HIS THIRTY-FIFTH BIRTHDAY If Kenilworth Was Still Alive on the First of January. Remarkable Old Fellow, to Whom Nell Newman Drinks New Year Toast, Was Credited With Four Foals in 1929. January 1, the birthday of all horses in England since it was so decreed by the English Jockey Club in 1858 and the law of the turf in this country soon afterwards, always calls to the mind of Neil Newman, turf writer and breeding expert, the veteran heroes of the turf and stud, rather than the thought of what the year may produce in the way of new stars and champions. "I find myself wondering," said Newman recently, "if such and such a horse has sur vived the month of December and entered upon another year of existence. And, in particular, my thoughts shuttle clear across the continent to California and the thought that is uppermost in my mind is "Does Kenilworth still live?" I drank to his health on New Years as so far as I knew he was still in the land of the living, and I wished him several years more of life and health. "Kenilworth! The current century was still in its swaddling clothes when he made his first appearance under colors. They were the violet and white of Green B. Morris at Aqueduct on the opening day of the racing season, April 16, 1900, in the last race of the day, for two-year-olds, a purse 00 added, four and a half furlongs, ridden by Johnny Bullman and carrying 109 pounds. He finished second, being overtaken in the last few strides and succumbing by a head to Ondurdis, ridden by Winnie OConnor. "A brown colt, by imported Sir Modred, from imported Queen Bess, by Marden, bred at the Rancho del Paso Stud of James B. Haggin in the Sacramento Valley, California, foaled in 1898, Kenilworth was thirty-five years old if he was alive January 1. At last account he was at Novato, Martin county, California, in charge of Mugeia Brothers. And according to the supplement to the stud book, Kenilworth was credited with four foals in 1929 Bit o Scotch, a brown colt, from Cheerio, by Fulletta; Pink Gold, a chestnut filly, from Connina, by Elsin; Wee Lassie, a brown filly, from Rose Point, by Chantilly, and Kenita, a brown filly, from Trompita, by Von Tromp. That is to say, Kenilworth was thirty years old when he got these four foals and thirty-one when they were born. "Bit o Scotch and Wee Lassie were bred by Gardner B. Towne, the owner, I think, of Kenilworth and the sportsman who recently purchased at the Newmarket sales for 1,000 guineas the four-year-old Boy Painter with the notion of starting him at Agua Caliente. Only Bit o Scotch has raced and he is still a maiden after two seasons on the turf. "Kenilworth escaped from the maiden ranks in his second start, the Canarsie Stakes at Aqueduct, April 24, 1900. Carrying 112 pounds and ridden by Bullman, he annexed ,150 when he finished a length in front of Fake, with Outlander third, Blues, The Regent, Scurry, Glenwood, Anecdote, Light Ball and The Golden Prince in the beaten field. "His breeder, James B. Haggin; his owner and trainer. Green B. Morris; his jockey, John Bullman, have all ridden off with the Pale Horseman, but Kenilworth still lives on. That year Kenilworth went to the post on eighteen occasions, winning eight races, six of them in succession; was second twice, third once, seven times unplaced and earned ,710. Kenilworth, after his second victory, or rather along in September of that year, passed into the possession of W. H. Ketcham and Co., but my notion is he was actually the property of Harry Stover at the time. "Among the other veterans still surviving are Ballot and Peter Pan, both foaled at the Castleton Stud of James R. Keene in 1904 and now 29 years old; King James, now 28 years old; imported Spanish Prince, now 26 years old; imported All Gold, Meridian and Runnymede, all 25 years old, and imported Wrack, 24 years old. "So far as I am aware the most famous horse to die during the past year was the unbeaten Colin, winner of fifteen races, foaled in 1905, and therefore 27 years old at his death. "On Jauary 1, 1903, one of the most famous geldings in the history of the turf of this country died, the famous Parole. The son of imported Leamington and Maiden was foaled in 1873 and was therefore 30 years old at the time of his death. Parole was a high-class stake winner in the United States, in England and again in this country on his return; he was bred by Aristides Welsh at Erdenheim Stud, Pennsylvania, and ran in the colors of Pierre Lorillard."
