, 1879-06-08
A SHAEPTRTCK.

When the news was made public Inst winter thai
Mr.. ''Jim" Keene. the millionaire broker Of Sar
Francisco and New York, intended to establish &
racing stable. the press very generally commended
the move, and was somewhat lavish in its praise
Of Mr.. skeene and tho announcement Of his
project. The advent upon the turf OF ouothe Ell
Cresus OF sporting proclyities WAS looked npon as
IN event from which none butthe best results could
follow. The friends Of Mr. Keene industrfous1y
aided in the creation OF this sentiment, ayerrina
that he was the soul Of honor in all his private
transactions and would be equally SO in his DEAL
ings with the public
Mr. keene's arst purchase WAS that Of the ce1e-
brated Kentucky 3-year~old colt spend1brift
yee--old form. had won every event for which he
started with ease defeating the best horses Of his
year am among e,. them h being Uncas Harold aod
Of these performances be was looked upon as in
ytncible, and the winning Of his engagements for
1s7o seemed to be certainty; provided bis health
owner, galne the colt that be refused
to sell him at any price unless guaran-
teed one-fonrth interest in his winnings
entered being about $50, 600. 1t was on these
terms that keene bought Spendthrift paving for
him SIS, 600, Tbs sale and his previous perform
backed very heavily BY. the public for hts early
spring engagements, both in New York and Louia-
Vile, the bookmakers Of those cities stating that
AtfG< QE1OIE HckE buIH AAlEE 4mOuuL6 OF money
laiu On any horse in this country. This betting
WIS bcgnn last RAIL- and continued steadily through
the winter and spring, the public taking ali
chances OF the colts going aniss while in trimming
: With these facts in mind. the reader will see
that vast number Of people were interested In
Spendthrifts success, and consequently there was
& large crowd at Jerome Park week ago ycater-
day when he was to run for the Withers Stakes.
Mr. keene also had another horse in this race. 1t
being Dan Sparllug, n colt that WIS owned last
year BY Puryear i Co.. and from whom he was
purchased By Mr. Keene soon after Spend
Ihrifr' became his property. It is q we'll
known law OF racing that in a dash
N owner may start as many horses
Stakes, it was known that Spendth1ift, when in
condition, was the superior Of Dan Sparllng, al
though the latter WIS Fnted very h1ghiy By horse
men. Consequently the, crowd at jerome Park
expected to see the former win II possible but to
heir surprise and disgust Spendtnrift vas dclio-
erately pulled by his rider when 1t became plain
hat none Of the other horses in the race were dam
ferrous, and Sparkling Was allowed to win. The
!tair created the most intense excitement both at
he track and in New York City. as Sparkling had
,een backed very little In the books, and 1t was
companion. except by suferance. Before the
tart, Mr, 1orillard's colt, Harold, was favorite
'7er the field. It being 1nmored that Spcndthrjft
vas out OF form. There was considerable delay in
.ettlnE the horses away, and, when tie nag Was
lropped. Harold's head was turned the wrong way
i the track. 4 hoWl went up from the audience.
olloWed By Kissing, when it was seen that the
ayorite did not get away with the rest When
hughes, the rider Of Harold realized what had
cen done, he turned his horse and set after the
eaders. but was uuAble to ovezrzke tham- Mr.