The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-13
STAYERS OF THE TRACK.
Race Horses That May Always Be
Depended On to Do Their
Best.
"First To-Day, Last Tomorrow
Racers Not in Favor With
Turfmen.
Eordham, Prince of Sprinters, and His
Twelve Consecutive Victories
Hindoo's Brilliant Record

When Congreve wrote Consistency, thou
art jewelr' he penned thought to which
all horsemen can heartily respond. They
have little respect for the Gin and-outers,
who are first to-day and last tomorrow.
They like a true, consistent performer.
The list of persistent and almost continual
winners may indeed be regarded as strik-
ing, and not at all in harmony with the idea
that endurance and soundness are fading
from off our turf. We shall give it below,
but what filter introduction could it have
than q more extended notice of the animal
which certainly deserves to be called the
latest most prominent addition to the cate
cory under consideration? says the New
York Sun.
Fordham on April % scored his twelfth
successive victory. While record like
this has not only been equalled but ex-
celled, it is enough of rarity to attract at
with an unbroken list of thirteen wins, or
Hanover, with fourteen consecutive vic
tories, comes on the scene to challenge ad-
miration. When one does, he becomes the
idol of the hour, and a pang of regret
twinges the human heart should the equine
odds prevent it from having money pend
ing on the result the public, at least that
portion of it which is not devoid of sentl-
Inent, likes to see the best horse win, for
it appreciates merit and admires superb
ority.
racer of the highest class, not having
demonstrated his ability to ''stay" at long
distances in good company, he certainly
has established strong claims to be ranked
as prince among sprinters. His speed is
something phenomenal. and over course
ficult to select his superior. He is dark
brown horse, verging on a black, and a
white blaze in the face is distinguishing
mark which renders him easily recognized.
He is by the great race horse, Falsetto, win
ner Of the Travers and Kenner stakes in
daughter, Semper Iden,, is the dam of
Longstreet, she by Waverley, out of Sem
per Felix, the dam of Leonatus, by imported
Phaeton, sire of Ten Brock. He
was purchased by the, Dryer Brothers at
the annual yearling sale of Woodburn farm
in Kentucky, and cost them $s,40O. They
raced him with moderate success as two
year-old in 1887 he winning five out of
twenty-four starts, only one of which was
stake event, the Nursery at jerome Park,
worth about $4,000, his opponents being
Never. He was at that time large, grow
ing colt, and the impression prevailed that
he needed time for development. As q
three year old he contested in fifteen races,
six of which he placed to his credit, starting
the year with win at six furlongs. OF the
other five three were at six furlongs, one at
400 yards, and the other at mile and a
sixteenth. In 1889 he was thirteen times
first in twenty-four starts and this
year has borne his owners colors to
the front on eleven of the twelve oc-
49, L. hnu ~1l
At the wedding out sale of the Dryer
Brothers at the Elizabeth track on Dec. q
last, he was purchased by Samuel Emery
for 81, 800, and is still his property. Mr..
Emery placed him in the hands of VIM.
Lakeland, the owner of Exile to train, and
perfect accord, for, after losing his first
race under the new management, running
second to st. John at Guttenburg on Christ
mas Day, he was seen at the front on his
second effort, two days later, and has since
suffered but one horse to head him at the
wire. Mr.. Emery is bookmaker. and his
horse has always been such a pronounced
favorite that in some hands the temptation
to lose and thereby make more money than
10y winning would not have been resisted.
10 the credit of both owner and trainer an
honest policy has invariably been pursued,
and the public has learned to back the
horse with confidence. even when the odds
were on him instead of against him, as was
the case on Thursday last, when he lowered
his colors to Tipstatf. He is delicate
feeder, and for couple of days preceding
that race had been ''off his feed,' which
fact, while known to his owner and trainer
was unknown to the public.
Much of Fordham's success is no doubt
due to the careful attention of his trainer
William Lakeland whose skill in condi-
tioning horse is shown by the manner in
which he has kept Exile, Tattler and Err
nest. none of them the soundest animals
in winning form year after year. Under
his supervision Fordham bids fair to carr
many more brackets and to take ranl
among the very first of those animals which
have established regulations as frequent
winners. His number of wins Is nov
thirty-four, and this compares favorab!,
with the score of the leading stars durin.
the past decade. Who these are is shown
by the following tabulation, which give
the names of the prominent horses whicl
have won a score of times and upward, tn
number of years they have been on tn,
turf, the number of wins, and the tota
starts. Old Barnum. the ''irca horse
heads the list. For nine seasons he ha
been constantly in the public eye, facin
the starter 277 times and winning eighty
two races, a feat never before accomplished
in this country. The list is as follows: