Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-26
HORSES AND
HORSEMEN.

ment among horsemen all over the |
country. and speculation was rife as 10 |
what price he would bring and who !
would be the fortunate purchaser.
Many gentlemen OF wealth looked care
fully over their bank accounts ana not
Few were prepared 10 sign big checks
on the day that imported ST. Elaise was
led into the auction ring.
The day of sale had arrived in New
York, and so had many horserncn rich
and poor-the rich to bid. the poor TO
see 1t well done.
The auctioneer was serious. He was
at the top of his profession. and had
on more than one occasion added many
dollars 10 the price of a horse by tho
neat phrases Of his clever des,ription.
He knew there We're present some dozen
or more millionairos. Who wanted the
horse, besides scores of moderately rlch
men. but felt THAI he could lind no
words appropriate TO this occasion lie
simply said: Bring in 81. Blaise"
The magnificent chestnut bounded In
10 the ring. his coat glowing and chang
ing shade like satin in the sunshine
Gracefully prancing up to the stand he
stood still and presented uVinw pie
ture of equine beauty that fairly duzed
the assembiage. Every one present felt
the spell; YOU could have almos; heard
Il feather fall.
The silence was finally broken by the
auctoneer. who said: Gentlemen.
what am l offered for the great son OF
llermit?"
There was no reply TO the auctioncer's
question. After waiting some moments
he again asked for a bid
Mr.. Charles Reed. a comparatively
poor man. arose from his seat and
quietly said; IN give one hundred
thousand dollars"
The admiration was now divided be-
tween The horse ana Mr.. Reed. No
such plucky bid for horse had been
heard in New York before. Although
there We're several men present willing
tn give more than one hundred thous-
and dollars for ST. ISaiSc. no one would
bid against Mr. Reed, and the horse
was knocked down to him after the
first ana only bid
TILE HORSE OF THE CENTURY,"
When his titled owner sold Ormonde
to DE exported Ia South America, the
English horscmen were indignant ana
could not understand how one Of their
countrHmcn could consent tn let the
handsomcst race horse in the world
leave England. But ii leaked out that
OrmonGc was roarer ana that his
owner thought the climate of South
America would prove more suitable u
a horse affected with throat trouble
than that of fosGy England. Besides,
there was II worthy son of Ormonde to
take his place. aud the price was stiff
one.
10 7i't. t'Nt VI IlNIflE lftibC.nnfrtiS
made safe voyage 10 his uow home
below the equator. where the climate
seemed to agree with him. He was as
/ highly appreciated in South America
as he had been in ENGLAND. and many
were the tempting offers that his new
owner refused. Hut there was a young
Californian. NJ. MacDcuouch who con
sidcrcd the balmy air of his native
state the most suitable To just such
! Il horse as Ormondc. and he succeeded
in buying the horse of the century,
for one hundred ANA fifty thousand
Ormondc made another safe VOYAGE
to New York. thence To his California
home. where he is likely To sncnd the
rest of his life. He would probably
stiil roar if sent any distance mt speed
winch doesn't dotract from his value
as a sire, because it is Il pretty we'll
established fact that roaring is not
hereditary.
Ii would be interesting TO know lust
What country could match this quarter
Ola -million-doiars pair of thorough
preda-St. Blaise and Ormondc.
liIGH-pH!CED TROrrERS.
Tro:ters began To sell for high prices
as early rs 1875 whom Nil Mcdonald
OF Baltimore, paid eight thousand dol
lars tor Flora Temple. Flora was spla
as four-ycar-Old for thirteen dollars
and again for SiXty-eight dollars ana
another time for four thousand dollar,
before Mr.. Mcdonald bought her In
lS62. California DImsel sold for eleven
Thousand dollars. About this time Mi
robert HOnncr who never bet in lis
llfe ana 10 whom more than I'm nm,
other man the tvotting horse owes 4
lasting deb; of gratitude for his cIa-
N''on 10 the ranks OF respectable sport
came on the market. Prices aGvlnea1
I@rI"iY. in 1864 Ny. Conner bought