New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-24
! G.. K LAWRENCE'S DEATH.
AN INESTIMABLE LOSS TO The
WHAT HIS ENERGY AND GENIUS ACCOMPLISHED
FOR RACING.

WHAT HIS ENERGY AND GENIUS ACCOMPLISHED
FOR RACING.
, rho dsu, of , new era in racing James ~ y
Laurence passed away. Every man mas NE ~"
sion on earth no matter what MS ca'''S ~ ,.,
The true benefactor Of the human raw ross
described as he who makes TWO p'' -, ,his
,o,. ,berc a single blade grew before II ','''
saving be true. James q. Is Lawrence wa"
deed a public benefactor. He came 'o'" ns,a
puri,anical stock that for centuries hVed i" ~
leland and Massachusetts. His ancestors am
iiyes gained fame as soldiers anu s'''o' .,
service Of their country FROM MS ''''y '' -.
Mr. Lawrence was devoted 10 the '"'i an" -,
snort 10 be derived from contests pet"ee" III" 10,
as, form Of the horse either thoroushpr'" OF w.
,or ,s q. rc,rsman ne had fcw super!ors. ana ~
dearly loved To drive a pair OF trotters' DySP'P
carpers may say that the accident '""' ~ 49,,
caused his untimey death vas the '''"'' VI
love OF horses His friends ana all lovers u 49,,
ful outdoor sports sincerely regret MS "e"' :,
,be,r grief is tempered by the knowledge 'ha'
. oho,,, hv an unlooked-for and unavoidhp''
accident while ne was engaged In II pursuit 'n"'
gave him pleasure. III,
As rider on the Hat Mr. Lawrence
lie won many matches and races III VIM" So
nnn riders competed The great na''h race ="
tween Mr. Lawrence and Lord MandeVh'e was
looked upon az an international ana''' ~ '.'
Mandeville's reputation as a rder was So''
nan. I'm all England. Mr.. lawrenc" d'I'a'" NV
renrcseutatiy. Briton aud firmly establi'h'n NV
status OF 'cross-country sport In America
I, IS not SO much Mir. 1aWrences active racing
caro.r that interests the public as his acts "hlie
holding official positions on the 'ur'' ''o''"'u
Jerome was quick to perceive the real worth ..
s,,.h =, active energetic capable tur'man. ana
FASTENED 70 associate Mr.. Lawrence with r"'"'N
wherever he held an interest. 1t Is not ~'"'''''
known tina, Mr. Jerome atiempied inc p"''"
OF the grounds OF the BRIGHTON Beach Racing ="
sociaiion. and that the sal" was pr"'"'"''E '''
,le,e1 hut George Engeman repudated IN" trans
,to, q, ,h. eleventh hour Mr. jerome consulted
,,,th Mr. Iawrenc. and others about the '"'"
affairs had taken and decided upon FORMING " Nv"
Jockey club soon possible II WIS '"'' va
the brighton Beach management o"'''" WI
Jerome S.. 600 year II he would consent - az -
the pres.dont OF the Brighton Beach Na'lhe NSo
citation The offer extremely liberal -Tp'''"''F
SO as # gave Mir. Jerome the power to appoint
lanes q X Lawrence TO any place as active mi"-
ager at prncey salary
The veteran said no SO cmphatcaiy th"l no LUZ
thor attempts were made to Iur" MN from ''N
aim 10 establish racing on higher plane '"'" '''
rondesi dreamer ever hoped for. Win the an o'
Mr. Lawrence. Cornelius Fcnowes and John H.
bradford the grounds OF the Concy Island JOCKEY
club were selected. and the Shoepsh"at Bay race
course was constructed The con"y Island Jockey
club was composed Of the leading men s''"'F
and financially OF that iimc Leonard Jerome WIS
president and James O. n l@fNi'''' wa 49,
poinicd secretary The FIRST meeting Of tn" club
was held on the Prospect Park troitlng track Al
Gravesend. nov known "a the brooklyn J''h'F
club track From The opening race untll me 'l"S'
Of the FIRST meeting the genius o; Nr Lawrence
was evident. as the races were attractive mo NJ
tendance was large. and The hor'e-o"n"Fs We"
highly pleased. From the hrst. Mr. Lawrence De
voted his energies 10 pushing the fortunes oi IN"
concy Island Jockey club At times things looked
dark and gloomy. As financial clouds o. ominous
porienf lowered over the fran bark ~ "hi'h me
homes o.. racing were centred. When iis eNisi"nce
was in extreme peril, Mr.. La~rcnc" found helper
IN the person o, Cornelius Fcllowcs "ho without
hesitation furnished 5000 cash and placed tho
Concy Island Jockey club saf" In the harbor -
public confidence In this COOL work De was any
assisted by John II Bradford. when the future -
the con.y Island Jockey club assured. Mr.
Jcrome's failing health prevented him from active
participation IN IT, affairs ON his account Mr
Lawrence took the helm and mapped ont inc
course that has placed the Concy Island Jockey
club in it, present position A. pre- "min"n'ly m"
first OF American racing clubs. owing 20 ~"
patronage OF the leaders 10 the social world. ~"
beautiful course at she.psheal Bay IA" frequently
been called the Ascot Of America
To James - *. Lawrence more than any man
associated with racing IN America ar" ID" bf'"l-
rtr o"h'rs, ''"tn'' - ~ "a. 90 dos. "a.
public To accomplish ihls result he a!mei 10 form
stakes and 20 give races that would compare "a
vorably with any OF me so-call'd cilFsr contests
prise the breeders under obligations for %"
Futuriiy. the most valuable stake. Tor i"o-N"ar.
Olds The history ~ no furf. The Great Trial
is another % m" rich stalks mt was he result
% Mr. LaWrenc"s fertility o. invention. In the
Realization stakes American three ear-oids CON
pete for yrZ" valuable as any tn pa" wofll
The all-agcI division Was cared fof win such
highly appreciated races a. the suburban Hand
cap and other stakes. which have mad" racing
attractive" to the public and profitable ~ breeders.
hors.-owners ana everybody associated with rae
ing The high standard OF 'Norlenc" established
by the Coney Island Jockey cub through ihe IN
ergy OF Mr.. Lawrence caused other racing clubs 20
emulate lfs methods and lih"ra'ify. resulting IN
s. 90 purses and from 500 10 COON stakes at all
the leading TactcOurs"s ln the country
II viii be difficult To- nll the I!ac" mad" vacant
by the death ~ Nr Lawrence" HIS keen perc"r-
ton and sound judgment % Affairs are sadly missed
at the present time. His All would hav" proved
Invaluable Ia helping 10 arfaus" racing under the
new conditions brought about by the revised Con
siiiution. Personally. Mr. Lawrence was loved hy
his Intimate friends. admired by his acquaintance
and respected by everybody.
His funeral Will tax" place to morrow. The races
that day have been postponed