The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-19
Gold Bricks
OF the Turf.

pald Tor him? Some turfmen think he
VIII, but the majority of experienced
trainers express doubts. The differences
OF opinion fits well with the theory ot
chance, based on the results achieved
by high priced horses, for that agrees
with the trainers that the probability
OF failure is greater than the probabn.
ity OF success Tor Hanover's great son.
1t Is a matter OF record that failures
greatly outnumber successes among
thoroughbreds sold for big prices. Some
notable exceptions TO this rule are
Kingston. bought by +. j. Dwyer for
$780, .000 from his brother; Potomac,
bought by NJ. Il. Dwyer for $4,000 at the
Belmont sale I'm 1890; Ban Fox, bought
by j. Il. Haggin for $4,000 at private
sale: Dewdrop. bought by the Dwyeps
for 500 500 at Pierre Lorillards sale in
1885; Raceland. bought by the late Au-
gust Belmont for sl7500; Sir Dixon,
bought by the Dryers for 81 500 from
Green Il. Norris Hindoo, bought by
the same firm for $4,000 from Dan Swi-
gert. and Henry of Navarro, bought by
August Belmont from Byron McClel-
land at private sale for a price said TO
have been about $4,000.
Not all of 'these-in fact. but few
actually won in stakes and purses as
much money as they cost, but all were
great race horses.
THE buying of yearlings Is a lottery"
Pierre Lorillard said some years ago. A
famous English turfman went further
and described all race horses as "casu-
atty stock
Mr.. Lorillards lottery idea has no
better illustration than comparison
OF the turf deeds of MorelIo and King
Thomas.
Morello. bred I'm Virginia. went into .
New York sales ring as a yearling and
would have gone out without bid had
not Mr.. boswell. who brought him to
the sale for a neighbor, offered 500 for
him
Mr. boswell trained him and the next
spring offered him for sale. After much
dickering Morello was sold for S. 600.
and he proved To be not only the best
2=Year-old Of his season. but the next
year was the king 3-year-old in the
west Morello won the Futurity and
s53,i00 in his first season on the turf
and added s2s.550 to his earnings the
next season.
King Thomas, on the fame his BROTH
ers, Ban Fox and King Fox. achieved
was sold at public auction for $3s 900 @
l.. o. Appleby and the next day at rsl
George Hearst for $4,000 He prove
as bad as his brothers were good err
when the Hearst stable was disposed
was sold again TO Albert Cooper for 81
900.
At the same sale. among other Illus
trous counterfeits. was transferred 20
Fred Gebhard for $21. 500 the 2-year-old
Canvass. who turned out a complets
disappointment.
King Thomas was in training three
years before he won race. Then, as a
5-year-old maiden, he somehow got
home first for $500 at Brighton Beach
and retired from the turf to rest on his
laurels. Aside from the SO. 900 that his
forfeits cost and about $4,000 training
expenses King Thomas had returned |
per cent on the price Hearst paid for
him.
Another strong contrast is furnished
by the Keenes' great horse Domino and
his unworthy brother Swiftfoot. Domi-
no as yearling cost S.. 900. As 2-year-
old he won $l91, ,730 and. racing on as
and year old, swelled the total of his
turf earnings to x234.5S0.
The Keenes' experience was not new
to the turf, however. The Dwyere when
they raced together had any quans1ty Of
bought the seeming best year after year
and paid extravagant prices for full
brothers to great performers.
In one season they spent 11ookoo for
yearlings. but got not one good horse
in the lot. Only one season while the
fraternal firm raced were the Dwysrs
properly rewarded for their output in
yearlings and then they developed not
one, but two. first class race horses.
fremont and Hanover.
Money could hardly have bought Tre-
mont from the brothers when the colt
finished his one season on the turf and
then the fate that hangs over great
horses stepped in, and fremont broke
down.
Next TO King Thomas the highest
priced yearlna sold in America was the
st. Blaise-Lady Primrose colt, bought
by Colonel Jacob Rupert for $4,000 at
the Belmont sale at the same time that
Charles Reed bought st. Blaiss for
100000.
The Lady Primrose was an unquaIi.
fed failure and "a fitting ornament for
phenomenally unfortunate stable.
Colonel Rupert paid $4,000 for Ajax.
$4,000 for Dashing Belle (renamed So
nora). and his other purchases were OF
kind. He bought the best on the
! market, but they would not win for
him.
once he seemed TO have things right.
He bought two colts. sfterward known
as Gotham and Counter Tenor. for 81 SOC
each. pronounced the best I'm the east.
Colonel Rupert refused $4,000 for The
| pair. and $4O0 900 would not have bought
| them.
! They proved TO be really only fair
| horses, and the owner received a dis
| appointment that would have stopped
many another mans racing forever. but
! Colonel Rupert is still on the turf and
hopeful OF getting a good horse.
I Opposed to the Rupert luck Is ~
mcteoric turf career of his friend. Fra
Ehret. AS a matter OF sentiment D
bought a filly. later named Yorkvil
Belle.
She was the nucleus Of stable iNat
won for Mr.. Ehret 100000 In his FIRST
season on the turf and Si57soo In tte
-.