Morning journal and courier., 1893-07-26
HORSE NOTES.

High-Priced OrmOnde-The One Hum
dred and Fifty Thousand Dollar
Stallion May Reach America This |
Month.
If nine out of ten had $3.50, 900 invested |
in a horse, the first thing tn y would
probably do would be to get it out. Des-
pite this, however, W. OBJ. Macdonough,
the young California millionaire who
bought Ormonde for that sum-the largest
ever paid for horse-seems in no hurry
to dispose of his prize and will probably
bring him to America this month. It is
Mscdonough's sole ambition to become
king of the breeders and turfmen of the
world. As he is but twenty-six years of
age, with natural love for"the turf and
all that pertains thereto and has 81, 0O0,-
600 to incidentally assist him in the con-
summation of his project, there is little
reason why he should fail.
William O'Brien Macdonough is native
| of California. He ia of Irish descent. His
father, John Marlborough, is counted
among the rich men of the Pacific slope.
Young Maodonough's mother, now dead,
was one of two sisters of the late William
| S. O'Brien of the famous Comstock firm of
Flood & O'Brien. When O'Brien died, a
bachelor, he left an estate of $40, 900, 900
to be divided between his two sisters.
Young Marlborough, after his mothers
death came in for good portion of her es-
tate. Part Of the o'Brien estate which
Mr.. Marlborough inherited from his moth
or consists of 1900 acres adjoining the fe-
nous Pslo Alto ranch of the late Senator
Leland Stanford at Menlo Park, thirty-two
miles from San Francisco. On this tract
young Macdonough erected large etables
and then started out to fill them. He
bought Fair Lady for $12, 500. Not long
thereafter he paid $28, 300 for twenty-five
of J. B. Haggin's baby thoroughbreds. He
next bought Monowai for $4,000 from
John Mackay of Sacramento.
| With stable of crack fllies and blooded
mares Macdonough began to look about
for q stallion that would get for him the
best racing stock in America. 1t was then
that Macdonough determined to purchase
Ormonde. The great thoroughbred Eng
lish stallion was owned by Senior Boucau
and was in the senor's stables in the
Argentine Republic. English admirers OF
the great horse had raised in the neighbcr
hood of 100000 with the intention Of
buying him and returning him to England
but two Yankees were ready to outbid
Il
who paid 100000 for St. Blaise, went to
the Argentine Republic and offered $125,
900 for Ormonde, but Macdonoueh cablec
: bid of $780, 900 for the great son of Ber
dor and Lily Agnes and secured him.
. | Ormonde has developed to remarkable
extent since his racing days. "a hors
without flaw" is Mr.. Reeds generous wa.
of expressing it. His color is solid through
, out with the solitary exception of the off
hand heel, which Is white. All that lool
of "legginess" that he had while on tn
turf has disappeared, and the result is
, horse as perfect in conformation as hi
: racing quality was high, and no loftie
standard of excellence can be conceived
His attendant is an aged Irishman, VIII
/ has been with him since his repatriation
/ l and will bring him to this country thi
l month. Senior Boucau paid $S5, 900 fo
, | Ormonde. The high-priced horse Ia nol
in England.
Il Ormonde was foaled in 1888 and is on
| of the greatest race horses the turf has eve
r known. He started thirteen times and wa
never beaten and won over $l25 900
a | stakes and purses for his owner, the duk
, of Westminster. he won the Derby i
: 1885, as did his sire, Ben dor, in 1887, b!
4 grandsire, Doncaster and Macaroni, in 1877
d and 1868, and his great grandsire, Tho
y manly, in 1870. Archer, the world famou
q | jockey, rode Ormonde in all his races. I
! April, 1887, the great horses wind was a
!, feoted and Professor Fleming galvanize
him in the hopes of doing something I
cure him or to strengthen his wind.
battery was applied every morning, or
| point to his chest and one to his throa
1 but did him no good