The evening times., 1895-08-08

nave III ntuIy OI NdNdTIe, OdtchII1u duu
Brush trio of runners that would in
deed be hard to match.
A brief dispatch from the West re-
Gently announced the downfall of Riley
Grammar. Another dispatch published yes
terday denied that Grammar was COM
pletely done for, but admitted that he was
in rather Strengthened circumstances. The
passing of Grammar can hardly surprise
any one, though it will be regretted.
Here is man who. five or six years ago,
left a modest home, almost boy, to take
to the race course.
He was poor, but was phenomenally
lucky, and soon stories of his fabulous
winnings began to float around. Win
nings of $4,000, $4,000 and as high
as $4,000 on race were not infrequently
credited to him. He purchased and gave
to bis parents home in the town in
Kentucky where he was raised. At Lex
ington he bought = business house and
started saloon and restaurant.
From the opening of the racing season
this year it has been a see-saw with
Grammar. On several occa sions, as in
the case OF the Brooklyn handicap, he
was said to have won fortune. On
that race 1t was given out that he won
$4,000, but afterward Grammar stated
that he won but little more than one
fourth that amount. Before coming East
he had made heavy losses On returning
West his bad luck again set in. Now he
Is broke. He has sold his Lexington prop
erty, and Will 60 at the runners again.
Cibalo, brown pacing stallion with
record of 2:13 1-2, dropped dead In q
race in the West a few days ago. Cibalo
was distinguished becaufe he was the
biggest race horse on the turf in this
country. He was more than seventeen bands
high.
The coming trotting and pacing meeting
Of the Pimlico Driving Club of Baltimore,
which begins September 80 and ends Oc-
tober 4, will be a novelty in its way in
Maryland, inasmuch as it will be the first
five-day harness racing event ever held
in that State. The purses will aggregate
$14, 500. Three races are to be given
each day. Probably the most interesting
race of the meeting will be the 2:07 pace,
for which some of the best horses in the
country in that c.ass will compete.
The great race between Robert j. and
Joe Patchen takes place to-day. Both of
these horses have unusual histories, but
that of Hamlin's horse is the mos attractive.
The history Of Robert ]. is one that has
interest in it, even for those who are not
race horse owners OF race horse supporters.
1t has a touch of romance about it that
makes it SO.
Robert j. is the given name of Robert j.
Walker, who bred the now great PAGER
at his farm near williamsport. Pa. About
four years ago Mr. Walker arranged a
trip to Europe, and he instructed the we'll
known driver and trainer, Champ Brown,
who banded his stock, to sell his colts
for him. Robert J. was among the lot to
go. Before Brown left Williamsport for
Philadelphia with the colts, where they
were to be sold he suggested to Mr. Walker
that he ought to put limit on the price for
Robert. Browns suggestion amused Mr..
Walker. The colt was knee-sprung,
measly looking fellow, that months Of
sickness had made all the more ungainly
and apparently worthless, and Walker
laughed at Browns notion. "sel him
for anything you can get," he said.
When Robert j. was put under the ham,
ner at Philadelphia the highest bid made
for him was $225, and Brown, believing
him to have the making of a race horse,
run him up to $3.50 and got him, and on
returning to Willianisport he at once re-
ported his purchase to Mr.. Walker.
Look here, Champ" said Walker,
you're good fellow and have done well
by me, and I'm going to give you that
colt" Brown insisted on paying for Rob-
ert, but Walker wouldn't have the thing
that way, and Champ took him for nothing<
Robert began to get we'll shortly after