The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-16
TURF "REMINISCENCES.
HISTORY OF THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION.
The Number OF the Races and the Time
Made Since Its Inauguration, In
1926, to the Present Day.
LEXINGTON, KY. June 10. 1878.

LEXINGTON, KY, June 10. 1873.
The Spring meeting OF the Kentucky Association
closed on Saturday, the 18th ultmo. do not pro-
pose TO give any account OF the meeting, but viii
only say IL was one OF the most successful ever
held by the Association Captain Bush, the very
accommodating and efficient secretary, has per-
mitted me to look over the records in his office,
from which have taken some notes that may be
inter esting to your readers.
II appears from these records that during the
early part OF the year 1926 1t was proposed by the
leading turfmen Of the Blue Grass region to organ
lie q racing club that would exhibit our local
racing interest on permanent basis. These gen.
tlemen drew up an agreement to this efrect:-
The UNDERSIGNED agree to form themselves into club
courass the sports q The TURF the club 70 be called the
kentucky Association, &c.
TO this agreement there were forty nine signers,
and among them we find the following familiar
names:-E. Warheld T. II. Pindell, James X. Duke,
Leslie Combs, J. Boswell, r. Downing J. L. Down
ing, George II. Bowman John Bruce John Tilford,
b. W. Dudley, W. r. Morton, R. ]. Breckinridgc,
William Buford, John Brand, Robert Wickline, &C.
At Mrs. Kcen's Inn on the Goth OF July, 1925, the
organization was perfected. William Prlchart was
made President and John Writ Secretary. The
first racing meeting held under this arrangement
commenced October 10, 1925, on the old Williams
track, which was on what Is now known as the
'Lee property" near the Cemetery. The first race
was for purse OF $500, four started; won by
Andrew Barnett's Diomeda geldng Sheriff, in
two straight heats. For the purse the second con;
day, Of $780, three started; won by Rail- p. Iarl-
toms horse Old Court The third and last days
Wells Berkey's selding Sir Sidney. For this purse
five started. The time is not given.
For the year 1927 the race for tile nrst day was
for purse OF $780, for two miles and repeat which
was won by villa Vilcy's bay mare Marlah in 4:i5.
The time OF the second heat is not given. On the
second
a purse OF $400 won by Tarlton's sorrcl stallion
Old Court in S:17-S4S. ON the third day three
miles and repeat, for purse OF $3.50, was won by
Sidney Burbridges bay mare Timber. The heats
were broken and the time made, G:o9-0o7-G:46-
day, one mile, best three IN five which was won by
viley's Mariah. Time, 1:521a-l:5lh-
We have given the time Of the three races In fun
as basis OF comparison with results which have
been attained since the organization OF the Club.
For example. the best mite time noted above Is
! :51 made in the year 1927, for u four-ycar-old
saina and Fadladeen both ran in 1870 IN :4s over
the Association course. 1t was left to Alarm to re-
duce it to ABA at Saratoga last year.
In 1927 two miles was RIM in 4:l5. Lyttleton, in
1897 was :07. Norfolk ran at Sacramento, Cal, In
1865, In 5:27A. The best four miles made in 1927
was SILT, by Tarlton's Old Court the time OF Lex
And so our extension OF comparison will show
regular progressive mpI ovement IN results, owing
IN The breed or horses and the method Of training.
The old Williams track was used by the Ken
tucky Association Tor the years 1926 and 1927, and
probably 1928. The land upon which the present
course lies was purchased OF John Postethwaite.
In July, 1925 and 1t can scarcely be presumed that
it coud be put in order Tor that season. In 1884
small tract Of land was purchased of jeremiah
Murphy and added to the original purchase, and
they both comprise the famous course. On the
10th on September, 1884 William Bulord, w. Wiley,
J. X. Duke, A. X Moolley and L. Combs were ap
pointed committee to apply to the Legislature
Tor an act to incorporate the Association.
On motion Of Benjamin Warfeld, on the 4th Of
October 1879, 1t was ordered that a committee be
appointed to organize ialf, agreeably to the pro-
visions of the laws OF the Association.
The committee consisted Of u. Warield, Walter
pono5 James shelly Thomas smith ana John
the last in 1886. IcannOt lind any notice OF lair
being held except Tor the four years included in
In 1880 the bylaws adopted by the Association
fixed the 1st OF May as the date to be taken to de-
until June, 1886, when 1t was ordered that 1t be
changed TO the 1st oil January believe this date
Is now adopted all over the country.
The weights adopted by the Association in 1880
were :-Two-year-olds, leather; three-year.olds,
50 pounds; fonr-y ear-olds, % pounds; fve-year-
0lls, l00 pounds; slX-ycaro,ds ia pounds; severn
year-ods and upwards, 100 pounds In 1884 1t was
ordered that they be changed TO conform to those
established by tile Central Course OF Maryland.
The gate ices were originally for four wheel
carriage 70 cenrs. for giS or two wheel carriage
SO cents, for man on horseback rs cents. 1t is
quite, different now, as all who enter the Grand
Stand are required to pay 81. 5t4A II
In 1884, at General Combs instance, it was Or
dered that the Secretary have bulletin of the
races published every morning, giving descrip-
ton OF the horses and riders Dress which is car
For the first Ave years there was only one meet.
ing held during the year, aud that was in the month
OF october OF each year. From 1881 to 1886 two
other in the FAN, usually during the months OF
May and October. In the year 1886 only one meet
ing was held, and that was In the month OF June.
From 1887 to 1s40 two meetings were held each
year.. The records do not show that any meeting
N d ts two 14y were sS
during the months of May ana September. The
same time was then fixed for the regular Spring
since. In 1s47, ls4s and 1s49 only one meeting was
held each year. From 1850 up to the present time
1866, 1868. 1885, 1860 ana 1861 there was an extra
Fall meeting during the week OF the Fair held by
the Kentucky Agricultural and Mechanical Asso-
citation, making three meetings for these years.
For some years after the organization majority
OF the races run were two, three and four mile
mile increased. Up to 1S4S thirty-two one
mile races were run, and only three OF them in
The best heat made up to that time was AZ which
was run in the Fall OF 1S4S by Spencer Groves
Trustee colt: This time was not beaten until Star
Davis did IT, In the Spring OF 1859, In :46L. The
year following Charley Ball ran it In :4s1 This
time was not beaten until 1857 when Mamie Clark
ran In :451s In 1861 Idewild ran in AS and the
year following Mammona ran in Az. This was
not beaten until 1871, when Fadladeen and Salina
run, and has never been beaten. except by Alarm,
who last July ran at Saratoga in AK.
In 1867 Lancaster ran on this course two miles in
3:35L, which was the fastest on record, until
Lyttleton ran on the same course in 1871 in 3:34L.
The fastest three-mile time made on this course up
to 1850 was 1885, which was done by Brown Kitty.
In 1858 Berry ran In 636k, ana In 1855 Vandal in
5:S3. In 1859 Red Oak ran IN :32sl which was the
fastest three miles ever run on the course, until
Frogtown ran In 5:2ys1 I'm 1872.
or the four miles ran on this course mp to 1850 not
one was made inside OF eight minutes. In 1850
Cnarmer ran In :51 the following year Monte ran
in 5:431s In 1853 Dick Doty In :37is; in 1853
Waterloo in ! :37; IN 1861 Lightning IN :35. The
only four-mie race ran on the course since was by
Morgan Scout in 1870 in 1921.
The fastest time for three-quarters OF mile
ever run on this course is :l714. The fastest
for one and quarter miles is 2:0gn. which
Is the fastest on record. This was made by
Frogtown In 1872. The fastest one and a half
miles is 2.3S, made by Exchange In 1911. This has
only been beaten by one quarter OF q second which
was done by Glenelg at Monmouth Park IN 1870
2:3lS4 The fastest two and half miles on this
course Is 5:22l5. So.
Tne following is the number OF races run on the