The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-08
BRYANT AND PROCTOR KNOTT
Interesting Gossip About the Owner o:
the Futurity's Winner
From the Chicago TIhuaf

TIE FOCurltY winner
From the Chicago TIhuap.
New YORK, Sept. 4.--lhc happiest mar
in New York last night WAS Sam Bryant
the owner Of Proctor Knott. For weeks he
has been telling his friends about his horse
and predicting his victory. Bryant's luck
las been for years SO phenomenally bad
However, that few people could he brought
to believe his horse amounted to anything
until he won the junior champion stakes.
The hardest Of all to convince of the horses
greatness was Scrogglns, Bryant's partner
Scroggins is a we'll TODD mule trader who
lives in Louisville, Ky. He went in with Sam
Bryant in the purchase of Proctor Knott as
yearling after many misgivings aud sew
eral statements that lie would have nothing
to do with THAT sort Of fcolIs hess" They
raid $40 for the horse at the Bel Meade
sale a year ago, and since he has begun
running. Scroggins has been fairly itching
10 sell him. In all the races the horse has
Won this season the old fellow has never
had more than IS on him, and even that
was bet reluctantly. When the great =
Year-old won the Junior Champion, Scrog-
gins bet IS TO S75, and was delighted when
be won.
Since Mr.. Belmont has set his heart on
getting the horse, Bryant's lot has been a
LYNX Out. LUG OnCI lAIt1O III, DeltLlODL
made late Saturday evening of $4,000
fairly stunned Scroggins. VINO, it is Said.
threatened to go back TO Kentucky if Bry-
ant did not sell the horse. Bryant knew
what the horse could do, and positively re-
fused to listen to any proposals until after
the Futurity was run.
All yesterday morning Scroggins was
greatly exclteu. He hardly knew what to
do. He had certified check for $4,000,
which he started to get cashed, and finally.
as a last resort, bet 500 of it against
$1,000, the field against Proctor Knott. In
this way he was certain TO win If the
horse captured the stakes his share would
amount to a goodly pile, and if he lost he
would still have 5000. After the racing
the old man was radiant. He said last
night that ne always knew Proctor Knott
would win.
But l thought leetle certain money
best, you see" he added. He forgot in the
excitement of the moment that he had ever
said the horse could lose, and repeated
many times to his friends, II always told
Sam So"
A mother never watched child closer
than Bryant has watched Proctor Knott for
the last few days. He had the horse at the
Gravesend track in big roomy stall. In
one corner was a little bed for himself
There he slept, with the door locked on the
inside.
"None of them bookmakers are going to
do me-" Sam remarked Sunday to friend
Every bit of food that the horse has eaten
for the last week has been given to him out
of Bryant's hand. When BRYAN could leave
the stall his wife, who is an enthusiastic
horsewoman, stood guard. There was never
a moment from SATURDAY. morning that
stranger could have entered the stall.
Sam himself did not win much on the
race. OF course there are numerous stories
of tremendous winnings. but the truth is
that he did not have much money to bet
When he came east he had only few hun
dred dollars, and the money he won on his
horse at Monmouth was sent back to Ken
lucky to pay debts
Sam Bryant, in many respects, is as re-
markable as his horse. He is a rough, red
faced man, with a most tenacious memory
for names and faces. He told a number of
racing men in Kentucky last winter that he
had a wonderful horse, but he has been SO
universally unlucky that thSy all laughed
at him. II am going to give MIN luck !"
said Bryant, ''by naming him after the
luckiest man 10 the United States,
Proctor Knott" And so the horse
was named after the well-known gov
ernor of Kentucky. Proctor Knott showed
up very well in the spring, and at the
Louisville meeting Bryant determined to
make plunge on him. The distance was
three-Quarters of mile. The Lioness was
his principal rival Bryant was then in
needy circumstances. aud he borrowed $500
to bet On his horse The Lioness beat him
away off, and Bryant could hardly be kept
from killing the horse and the jockey,
Stoval. He offered the horse then for $500,
but every one knew that he really did not
mean what he said.
Bryant has been in all probability tho most
persistently unlucky man on the turf
Horse after horse has gone wrong with him.
Owners have given him horses to train, and
all sorts of accidents have occurred. They
have caught diseases, broke lame, blind and
spawned. Sometimes the sheds of his sta
bles have fallen in, and whenever one of his
horses happened to win by any accident he
would be certain to have no money on the
race
The pride of Bryant's life was his boy.
Walter, whom ne fondly called "Wallie,"
and who was the only human being that
ever softened his hard nature. He was
bright, handsome little lad, and used to
ride his fathers horses. One day the boy
was throw n and killel. This caused Bry-
ants cup of sorrow to overflow, aud for
weeks it was feared his mind would give
way. Even now, II the boys name is men
toned in his presence, he will rush away
and weep like woman.
1t is characteristic Of the man that shortly
after his horse won the junior champion
ship a well known patent medicine firm
asked him to give the horse the name of
their medicine. Offering him 5000 to make
the change. Bryant refused, because Gov.
Knott. after whom the horse is named, par
doned some of Bryant's gambling friends
simply on his account.
Those who know Bryant best are conf
dent that if he does not sell his horse some
bad luck will overtake it. Bryant hims IF
has a superstitious idea that the de til of
"Wallie" was sign that he is to have no
more good luck. He is in constant fear
that Proctor Knott will break a tendon or
he disabled in some way. In talking about
his bad luck, Bryant describes a visit he
once made to faro bank. He bought fifty
checks at the value Of 81 each and bet them.
He lost fOrty-nine of them, betting them
one at a time, without winning once, and
the fiftieth "split." He threw the splitter"
to tho servant and left the place in a rage