St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-06
Recalling Exciting Events on
the Turf in Days Of the
Past.
A Famous Contest Where a
Rank Outsider Took the
HonOPs.
Learned Discussion on What
Constitutes a Sound
Horse.
Lore Of Paddock and Track
for Horse Owners and
Tupfmen.

In these days of great racing events,
big purses and close finishes, with the
long shots, or outsiders in the bet ting
defeating some of the best performers
on the turf, it will be of interest to re-
call bit of turf history from earlier
times. Many turfmen will recolIect the
occurrences spoken of by well-known
writer in the following:
''The wonderful success of the Dwyer
Bros and some other stables sticks in
the crop of many race-goerS of this
generation as something that was never
seen before, at least on the American
turf. and hundred chances to one will
never be again; but for all that it
had its prototype, if not peer, less
than quarter of a century ago, in
the unparalleled sweep made by
the famous Mcdaniel confederacy.
Harry Bassett, Joe Daniels, Springbok
and Abdel-Koree, in successive years,
were accounted the best three-Year-0ldS
of their respective years, not to speak of
their two and four-year-old forms.
When BaSSett was galloping away with
stakes and purses as a fOur-year-old Joe
Daniels was capturing the three-year-
old fixtures and Springbok walked away
from his fellow youngsters.
Everything that the confederacy had,
from the rise to tile zenith of its glory,
was due to Oysterman Jr He was
driven about hitched to an old buggy by
Col. Mcdaniel, and was to have been
sold for $3.50 if he could trOt III $3.50. He
failed, was broken to jumping, and then
began his unequaled series of Steeple
chase victories. The colonel was as
poor as a church mouse at this time,
but soon was rich and principally
owned the leading stable in the land for
years. OySterman Jr. bears the proud
distinction of being the only race horse
in America that was barred out of
race on account of his superiority to the
other horses. In the way of close fin
isheS, too there was never in these days
a more exciting, holly contested, pro-
longed and Superbly ridden one than
that foI the Saratoga cup in the year
Lancaster, James A. Connolly and Fan
ME 3. Cheatham contested. If L live
hundred years on a race track l never
expect to see better one. There may
have been one or two closer since then,
but if so it must have been the myth
zeal one where one horse stuck out his
tongue and won. 1t was a regular old
ding dong affair for the last quarter of
a mile.
THE grand stand had risen as one
person to witness the result, so worked
up had it been by the superb finishing.
And now shout went up from 5000
threats, Connolly winsr as the chest
nut forged ahead in the last hundred
yards. Lancaster, who had not been
thought OF till now as in iJ, though he
had been 4 close attendant to the other
two on the hOmeStretch, was suddenly
seen TO be stealing along on the extreme
inside. slowly forging his way to the
front, but so close to the rail that it
seemed impossible for him to get through
without fouling Connolly. Cheatham
was still at the latter's throatlatch. and
his jockey was watching the mare,
who was at his side. while
still urging the colt with whip and
spur to hold his advantage. Lascaster's
effort was a gallant one, but the post
was too near, all thought. Suddenly
the cry, Connolly winsp died away as
If all the thousands had been struck
dead, as the jockey on Lancaster went
through series of indescribable evolu-
tons with arms, legs and body in one
last effort to win. Connolly'S rider
caught sight of him as the other reached
the saddle girths, and suddenly recog
nizing this new and unlocked for dan
ger. shook up the steaming chestnut for
just three more jumps. But Lancaster's
rider never relinquiShed his wonderful
riding as he worked his way safely next
the rail, and. with one final and supreme
effort, literally rolled and lifted in Ian
caster a winner Ask old Billy Hay
ward which was the hardest race of his
life and he will tell you it was this one.
the first he ever rode in this country"