New-York tribune., 1891-03-05

the Park and his splendid horses were scattered Dy
the hammer Of the auctioneer. His costly Staoie'
gtering theatre and magnificent mansion passed from
his hands to become the marriage dover OF his
daughter. Lady Randolph Churchill For years aiter-
wand il was the home Of the Union League Club ana
when vacated by that organization became the abu
place Of the Turf Club. and later st OF the University
Club, its present occupant. . !,
When at the height Of his Jerome esaDisheu
racing in the North. II was in 1865 that he detef
mined ia give New.York frst7class racetracK
Charles Nheatly. who had built the course at
bundled of u the wild woods OF "estch' , tbe
look for suitable spot on which 10 lay ouI ny my
grounds. lie wanted 70 lind piece of Nat land @ buS
Jerome would listen to nothing Ol thc SORT iIS I'D
hollows il must have views. Arriving at such Di'
of country. jerome said
Build me a racetMck here" - r
Impossible" said wheatly. running his eye Um oUep
the sharply nndulatng gronGd There he e s waT ro1 ths
enough here for track. We'd have 10 dis ""'' '"0
mis-; o,d 4hor, y
left Of one hill and TO the right Of another"
"Very good. Make saddlebag,S ti1ch os ,rc,, was
huilt Jerome then organized the American Jockey
Club its main object bene-accordg 10 the piea'Ge ,
of the constitution" the Improvement Of hOlScs' e
eeI alton of the public taste In the sports oi thc 'mI
and 10 become authority In racing matter. III 'n!'
5cG Sy these gcnIicmen August belmont, W. Butler
Duncan, Paul 5 Forbes, Leonard VI JSrome 'Cm amri
/. ~ Barlow A. G Monson, r. W Cameron; n II.
sanford Henry a. stone, L. c. Norris D ~ WnTIr iHd
II William Redmond. George Griswod Gray, John Hoey
j. G. Bennett, IT, F. Boudnot C9 JohG GGohGanp m%lfr'
David Crawford jr, II. W. Gray and u W. CichdeHh.
August belmont elected president, ana m mloi
nineteen years was his own successor 10 ths a'SH
citation Jerome proposed lease his sadde-bas lld ~
The grounds had been chrstencd Jerome larE ana
had been opened with splenuld demonstration. or
crptcd and AT the next meeting of the club pending
action In the matter he rendered his designation as ou
of the directors which resignation the club unanimously
resolved not to accept. jerome guaranteed the
financial of the American Jockey Club by arc
Ing in his lease to tain it, losses t. the eX ent s-o
600 annually The club was not to restrict sem m % th
way TO the expenditures necessary 10 pVNIIc t,V M
best quality OF racing II wa at merry n ~ ,bc thcr
hand, if the club realized profit from rrlhs. MMi, M
jerome to take 80 per cent OF the net amount, lc
citation. Furthermore, the club issued 10 Mr. Jerome
1000 shares Of its capital stock representing
of the capital stock IS only 100000, it loohN as e
club gave itself body soul and breecheS TO tn
But McsSrS Belmont Hunter, 1ravers, Purdy' Sdli'N
and their associates did not for money III ih>e
days. They raced for glory. and as as long as We
fed And il did pay expenses. Not once In twenty
years did Mr.. Jerome have to put his hand IN his
The development Of racing was so rapid that in
organized the Coney Island Jockey club. his associates
being August Belmont, William h. Nauderbht' inc
Lorillards ". Travers and other in the fo2% low
were laid ont, and the track by the sea became the
scene OF the noblest contests known to t.e american
The time Of his death
Still another jockey club must look to h1m As lis
founder. 70 give jerome Park. TO the American
Jockey Club decay bitter blow 70 this man ~
energy and brains. II liked seeing loved enid
shrivel and die. Mr. JeromcS gait had become stoop
ing his step was slow. his eyes were dun, ana MS
means had become limited but hc determined u build
before he died a home for tile association founded
in his prime Months passed before h" succeeded III
raising a dollar. Garry him back twenty-five years and
he could have millions for the asking. now he could
interest no in his plans. 1t was the l0he oi me
dav 10 ask him II he had Vet fOUnd his 800 with whi i
to build the new track. lie bore the auns with Tesg
nation and went on about his business. on certain
day. when the question was put to him for th'
hundredth time he ponded, with the light OF vndi
cation burning in his eyes:
No. have not found the ;4O0 but ] have found
$40 900 O00'
He had met John A. Morris. and through him the
millionaire lottery induced 10 build the great
racccOurse near the village OF WetchcStcr now known
as Morris Park 4 racing association was organized
under the OF the New York JOCKEY club. and aS
Jerome had Wed he became is president, bl; alter
ward resigned that Office. In due time il absorbed the
American Jockey Club, and Jeromc's happiness was
complete.
During his business career jerome a partner Of
William II. Travcrs His wife Miss Clarcssa Hall.
who bore Inn three daughters All married abroad
10 EnGlShmen. one IS Lady EdndOlph Churchill.
another Is Mrs. Norton FTewen the third Mr.. John
Lese-names connected for several generations with
the House of Parliament. Jerome an active mem
ber OF dozen clubs, but lived practically al the
Union. Early in November he sailed for England in
the hope OF reeainng his health.