New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-12

Byron McClelland was one OF the best-known OF
the owners and trainers Of racehorses In this
country. His was varied and checkereo
one from his birth. He owned. trained and de-
veloped Henry of Navarro. now the property OK
August Belmont. That fact alone entities him to
a place In American turf history How much
property Mr.. McCelland died possessed OK Is NOT
known. That he made considerable money Is the
common knowledge Of every man who mas Sne
slightest acquaintance with the turf
Byron McClelland was born IN Kentucky Lesty'
five years ago Early in life he went to work as
an apprentice in a newspaper Office In Lexington.
After learning the art of printing he gradually
drifted away from II to the turf or nSht
physique once upon the turf he naturally went TO
the saddle. and the first winning mount he ever
had was upon Bourbon Belle. the dam OF Hanover.
one of the finest racehorScs run in this coun-
try and now one Of the best thoroughbred s!res In
America.
AS a Jockey McCelland won high place rapidly.
but increasing years and weight drove him from
the saddle to the stable, and IN turn he became
one OF the most successful owners and trainers on
the turf. fret real Introduction to the Eastern
turf world trainer of the stable OF the late
William L. Scott. for whom he achieved many
signal victories After the death OF Mr. Scott Nc.
Cleliand met seine reyerses, but he rapidly re.
gained the ground he had lost and in 1888 returned
East with every debt cleared and In prosperous
With his return East he brought a long lox
but Of whom hI Mccieand seemed to think more
than ne did of his own happiness or Of any sue;
cess that could come to him. That two-year.old
was Henry of Navarro, who later developed into
one of the greatest horses of the decade. AS Q
three-year- old Henry OF Navarro showed the best
trial ever made by horse OF any age for the
Brooklyn Handicap. running the distance in 93s:
and made his trial good by running second In the
BROOKLYN itself Two years later McCleand sold
Henry Of Navarro TO August Belmont for $1,000
and August Belmont with him the Suburban
OF 1895 -
In connection with the sale OF Henry Of Navarro
to Mr. Belmont there is an interesting story, Moss
Rose the dam of Henry of Navarro, was sold at
weedns-out sale of August Belmont. He was
purchased by the younger August then a student
in Harvard. who took the mare to Cambridge and
used her as a saddle horse. Later he sent her u
the stud When her foal by Knight Of Ellersle Wa
advertised to be sold he gave the then MANAGER o.
his stable an order 70 buy him. The manager
missed the train 10 Silver Brook and the foal was
sold TO Byron McClelland for $1,000 Later In the
same year, when going to his own breeding farm
in Kentucky. Mr. Belmont visited Byron McCel.
land and offered to him an advance OF 1900 upon
his bargain. Subsequently he offered to him an ade
vance OF 25tO. The foal was Henry OF Navarro, for
whom Mr.. Belmont in the fall OF the horses four.
year-od career paid $4,000 Henry OF Navarro was
the best horse that Byron McClelland ever owned.
although he owned and trained many other race
horses among them being Badge, Sallie McCeS'
land Bermuda and Prince Lief.