Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-10
TOPICS OF The TURF.
SOMETHING OF THE EARLY HISTORY
OF THE FAMOUS NORFOLK.
How Theodore Winters Happened to
Purchase the Sire of His Great
Colt, Ell Rio Rey.

fornia can recall in general way the
events in the early career of Norfolk, the
famous racer that Theodore Winters
brought to California nearly thirty years
ago. The cid horse still lives on the ranch
of his owner, to whose wealth he has added
many thousands of dollars in the produc-
ton of famous colts and sires. The last num-
Der of the Breeder and Sportsman contains
a sketch Of Norfolk's early career, from the
pen of Grim" one of its staff writers,
which viii be read with interest not only
by the pioneers of the California turf, but
by the thousands whose only knowledge of
Norfolk has been gained from occasional
newspaper paragraphs and the gossip of the
stables. Grim says:
There is a cartsin amount of fascination
to all lovers of the sports of the turf in
reading anything that appertains to the old
celebrities who have achieved honor on
the track, and certainly, to residents of
California, the name of Norfolk will be
ever green, and "reminiscences about the
great unbeaten horse are always in order,
and it Is source of satisfaction to me to
add another good word for the horse that
has tended so much to bring the merits of
California as breeding State before the
world at large. His progeny have been of
the best, and the fame of Ell Rio Rev is
only surpassed by the bounds of the earth.
Yet even with the wonderful career of the
great two year old so wildly before US, we
are promised still greater wonder in his
younger brother, who has SHOWN already
some really marvellous performances. 1t is
Nv far Aurr5 hot I 10 = -
cross the bay, and on the boat met Dick
Hayey, who came out to California with
the unbeaten Norfolk shortly after his pur-
chase by Mr.. Winters.
AS we were both going in thesa direc-
ton, great deal of the time was spent in
discussing old racing stories, and it was
only natural that Norfolk and his career
should occupy most of our conversation.
Dick recalled the day when Norfolk started
at the Abbey raeecourse the day when he
stamped himself as the superior of any
racehorse in the country, winning in a
common gallop from such grand thor
oughbred as Tlpperary, in addition to
large field Of horses. Notwithstanding he
ran away before the race and completed a
full mile in l:47 he was brought back and
the judges allowed the trainer five minutes
to prepare him for the start. When the
word was given he cut out the work and
again the mile was comprised, in LAG,
Norfolk winning as he pleased. After the
race Mr.. Winters looked him carefully
over, as did also Jim Eoff, who was with
the party.
AS will be remembered, there was
spirit of rivalry existing between G. H.
Bryan and Theodore Winters. The former
owned Lodi, and he had beaten favorite
mare of Mr.. Winters, and the latter deter
cd IN hootv Inv f1,ah aof
horse that money could procure. for he
wanted to get even with Mr.. Bryan for past
losses. It was with this object in view that
caused him to visit st. Louis, and as before
stated, ne examined Norfolk thoroughly
when the race was over. Mr.. Alexander
was asked what he would take for the colt
and he answered S15, 900. Mr.. Winters
agreed to take him, and the gentlemen
were to meet next morning and complete
the sale.
When the buyer and seller met next day
Mr.. Alexander told Mr.. Winters that he
could not have the horse, and gave as his
reason the wager he made that he would sell
a colt by Lexington for more money than
he paid for the old horse. Mr.. Winters
then asked what would purchase Norfolk.
Mr. Alexander answered: II will have to
raise you dollar" Eof began laughing.
and said he would pay the extra dollar,
whereupon the money was paid and the
great horse changed owners. He was en-
tered in several races in the North, among
others, the first Derby ever instituted in
this country. The race was to take place
at Patterson, n. j., but as Mr.. Winters had
business in Washington, the horse was
sent to New Jersey under the guidance of
Mr.. Eotf.
John Morrissey was then a prominent
font ,f . ha # nd ho.
fore he and Eoff met, and discussed the
probability of Norfolk winning. The out
come of the interview was that Eoff bet the
noted gambler 81 900 that Norfolk would
not start in the Derby. He also wagered
him 50 600 that if Norfolk started the colt
would win. Before the race the two men
again met and many more thousands were
bet There were thirteen starters in the
race, and il is now historical with what
ease the SOD of Lexington and Novice
won.
Morrissey's losses made him very much
ANNOYED, and he manipulated things so
that Norfolk and Eof were ruled off prior
to the second days racing, in which Nor
folk was entered in a two mile and quar-
ter dash. AS il is reasonable suppose, Eof
was mad all over" He knew perfectly
well whose hand had managed one of the
greatest wrongs ever perpetrated on race
track. 1t was a diabolical outrage, and
was SO characterized by all lovers Of fair
play. Norfolk could not possibly have
lost, but it did not suit the schemers to al
low him to start. Morrissey and Eotf met,
the former trying 10 induce the latter to
match Norfolk, but the interview only re-
suited in talk, and nothing came of it.
On July 18th Norfolk was shipped, there
being on the same vessel Messrs. Winters,
Eoff, Pickett, Barker, Marsh and Havey,
he having been engaged TO come to Cali
fornia Immediately on the conclusion of the
Derby, having rode one of the horses IN
that race. The voyage was very tempest
uous one, and it was thought by many that
thew would never see land again. Thirty
one DAYS were consumed on the trip, Nor
folk landing in good shape. What he
accomplished after his arrival in this State
is too well known to need recapltulauon
here. Mr.. Winters was amply repaid for
his outlay, as he accomplished what he de-
sired, viz: to beat Lodi.
sUYoL's BROTHER WELLINGTON.
A New York dispatch of yesterday says
that 8 dispatch from Lexington, Ky, re-
ceiyed on Saturday evening, announces the
sale of the Electioneer stallion Wellington
to Judson H. Clark, of Elmira, n. Y. The
price for which Clark secured this prize
from his temporary owner JOnn T. Mau'
den, is not given, but it must have been 9
round sum, for Wellington's veins are full
of what is Just now as fashionable blood as
there is in America, being by the famous
California stallion Electioneer, out of Wax
ana, the famous granddaughter of the still
more famous thoroughbred stallion LexiDg
ton. By his breeding it will be seen tina
Wellington is a full brother to Robert Bon
ner's favorite FLY Sunol. Wellington is two
wears older than his more famous sister
having been foaled at Palo Alto on May .
1884.
Mr.. Madden purchased the colt about {
month ago, and is said to have given $50,
900 for him. If this is true, he has prob
ably turned handsome penny.
THE PEERLEEs MARIAN.
As the dam of FL Rio Rey, Emperor
Norfolk, The Car, Duchess of Norfolk
and a number of other less famous but al
good racers, Marian is beyond question th'
most famous hrcodmare living, and i
priceless so far SIS her owner is concerned
And vet her sire, Malcolm, by Bonni
Scotland. uerished meenly in a cellar IL
Chicago not so very long ago. Neglected
and forgotten, the grandsire OF Ell RIO Rel
on the maternal side was kept in this hol