The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-30

80 some men fs given the ability
10 command IN many directions.
and when such q man is found
ne i one OF great capacity and
OF exceptional Judgment Such
one Il Mr.. August Belmont OF
New York. financisr Of eminsncs,
where the keene=t wits alone can Keep
a man in the front rank. and tn addi-
ton 20 that he Is at the head OF the
Jockey club and also the American
Kennel Club What he is 10 the Jockey
Club was well demonstrated year ago.
when during his absence In England.
things got 10 such pass that the H.
ture of racing in New York state va.
I'm the greatest danger. The racing re-
ports teeyned with suggestions and even
stronger comments regarding alleged
frauds and TO such 4 pass had things
come that the Jockey Club stewards
were forced TO undertake an investiga-
ton What this investigation brought
abou; WAS the disqualification OF Riley
Grammar and one or two others, Dut
tha, was nothing to what Mr.. Belmont
accomplished In his quiet way on his re-
turn In putting a stop to the paper at
tacks II did not take him long TO realize
where the trouble was located and that
II was more the rivalry OF reporters to
pose a. authorities and keen critics than
any stump in turf morals.
A very short time after nls return each
turf reporter in New York received note
stating that Mr.. Belmont would be pleased
to have him come 10 the Jockey tiub
rooms at stated hour, and as II was
personal matter request WAS added that
no notice be published of the meeting In
advance. All except one or two were on
hand at the time appointed and on Mr..
Belmonts arrival he at once began his
talk the gist OF which was that unless
the persistent attacks OH the turf came
10 an end there would soon be an end OF
a.. fra~.
sibie for horses TO always run alike. that
racing could not be reduced 10 a mathe-
NAUTICAL science and that that must be
recognized without any loss Of time. The
result OF this talk was instantaneous
change I'm criticism. and all through the
good Judgment of Mr. Belmont. who knew
that the best thing 10 be done was TO APP
parentiy make each reporter his confidant
In the matter and have him placed on
personal footing regards the turf fu-
ture.
In a similar manner the American Ken
mel Club owes its permanent establish
ment to Mr.. Belmont. for at a time when
IL was being made a target for lawsuits
he assumed responsibility for all expenses
In defending any and all suits brought
against the club its officers and thus
saved the day. Mr.. Belmont's first con-
nection with sport was probably his ex-
hibition of fox terriers for he was one OF
the earliest TO take up that breed In this
country, being an exhibitor at one OF the
first shows I'm this country. He then
dropped out. but only for a time. as about
fifteen years ago he again took them up
and. making iudicious purchases abroad.
soon took the lead. Eventually he bred
Belmont Victor III. pronounced to be one
OF the best terriers ever seen In this coun-
try. When any one takes To horses to any
extent. then every other fancy suffers. so
that the advent of Mr.. Belmont at the
head of the Jockey Club was the signal
for his gradual withdrawal a fox ter
rier exhibitor. The Kennel Club, how
ever. declined to accept his resignation
of the presidency several years ago. and
when anything important has 10 be
Strengthened out his sound advice is al
ways sought for.
In addition to being owner OF race
horses, Mr.. Belmont has one OF the most
important breeding establishments In the
country. the Nursery farm at Lexington,
Ky. Mr.. Belmont senior had one of the
same name at Babylon for many years.
and when he finally realized that he was
fighting additional odds in attempting 10
overcome the natural drawbacks of breed
ing and raising race horses on Long
Island he removed his breeding farm to
the newly purchased place at Lexington.
which he also named the Nursery farm
or stud. the Babylon one being kept as II
IL al present for the use OF race horses