Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-08
FIFTY YEARS A JOCKEY.
Death Of Fitzpatrick, who had
Ridden Owe Five Thou
sand Races.
New York Times.

Gilbert Watson Partrlck, the famous
Jockey, who has been known as Gil.
patrick on all the famous racing
tracks of this country for the past
half century. is dead de caught
cold at the meeting at jerome Park
on election day, and this cold resulted
10 a severe attack of pneumonia, from
which be died on Thursday afternoon
at his residence, in a tenement house
at No. ABB Second avenue. During
bis nearly fifty years on the turf,
Patrick made over 5000 mounts
and was a winner in four 6fths
Of these "a record eqaalled by no
jockey that ever lived. He has
won over $4,000, 600 In stakes
in the races in which he rode for the
gentleman whose horses he mounted,
and yet was himself in absolute want
of the necessaries Of life at the time of
his death. To their discredit be it
said that when appealed to for assist
ance, the gentlemen for whom he had
won thousands Of dollars absolutely
refused him assistance. fitzpatrick
was made famous as the rider Of Bos-
ton and his famous sons, Lexington
and LeeOmte, and also Of Alice Corn
cal, the dam of the former. He rode
Lexington in the last race which that
famous sire contested, which was a
four mile heat race, run at the Metaire
course, at New Orleans, April IA,
1855, when Lexington beat his ia
nous brother. Lecomte, making a
record Of 1924. Fitzpatrick also rode
Lexington a short time previous
to this race over the same course in a
contest against time for a stake of
$4,000, when Lexington made the
famous four mile record 7i19i, which
stood as the best record for twenty
years, when Fellowcrait beat it by a
quarter Of a second. Patrick also
rode In the famous international race
for the GoOdwOod cup 10 England, be-
ing mounted on Richard Tenbroeck's
Prioress. The race was won by the
English horse Monarch, and Patrick
always claimed that his being ordered
TO run a waiting race was the only rea
0 why he did not land a winner.
Patrick rode Post Boy in a great
race between representative horses
Of the North aud South for a
post stake Of $4,000, in which Bas-
comb who represented the South, was
the winner. He was again mounted
on the Northern representative, Bos.
ton, in four mile heat match against
Fashion, the Southern representative.
for stakes worth $4,000, which race
the latter won, Boston being 10 such
an ugly temper as TO be uncomfortable
during the contest. Boston, at that
time, tried to bite Patrick, but only
succeeded iB tearing q cash six inches
in length in bis own side Mounted on
Kentucky, be won the first race fer the
Traverse stake at Saratoga in 1868
beating the famous Tipperary. In 1863
Patrick was employed by Col. Wade
Hampton and rode his Emily and Mon.
arch as winners in all the three and
four mile races in which they contested
ia Columbia and Charleston, s. U and
Augusta, Ca, From l844 to 1856 he
rode during the seasons on the Cana
dian tracks at Montreal, Toronto.
Niagara, Ontario, Hamilton and Que
bee. Planet, Arrow, Skedalle, HIGH
lander, Lady Clifton and Ruthless
were among the other famous horses
he rode past the post in the lead.
Patrick was born Of English pa.
rents, at Fishkill Plains, Duchess
county, near Poughkeepsie, in 1917
dis first ace was ridden when he was
only fourteen years old, and when his
weight with saddle was only sixty-ave
pounds. This YES run over the Union
course, on Long Island, and was run
for mile heats, the stakes being a pine
OF wine. He was mounted on a
colt known as Wild Bill. and
owned by Mr.. John Caster. Of this
city. He carried his horse TO
victory in two straight heats, Since
that time he has sat on the backs of.
1000 different horses, while they were
contestiDg on the track. his last race
being ridden at Brighton Beach. In.
1873, when Mr. Patrick was over 60
years Of age, Mr.. Patrick leaves 4
widow, who is a sufferer from c,noer
and whose health is such that il IL
feared the death Of her husband viii
result fatally 70 her, She is to be
removed to . hospital, and an effort
will DO made to raise money among
the horsemen Of the city 10 provide for
her comfort during the remainder Of
her life. She was a constant attend
ant at the bedside Of her dying hus.
band, whose last days were speht In a
wandering recital Of the great contests
In which he participated.
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