The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-18
HERMIS SOLD FOR $4,000.
En-. THOMAS PAYS RECORD PRICE
FOR HORSE IN TRAINING HERE.
The FsmuOs Four. Year.Old Works . Milo
In las Easily Befsre His New Owner
Trainer Mccormack VIII Continue to
Handle the Horse During This Season.

Handle the Horse During This Season.
Hermis, the great four-year-old son of
Hermence, and champion three-year-old
Of last season on the American turf. was
sold on Saturday by l.. v. Bell, the owner.
to E. r. Thomas, the aspiring young turf
man who Ia at present making such large
and costly purchases Of high-bred race
horses.
The price paid for Hcrmis was $50 900,
the largest sum ever paid for racehorse
In training In the United States.
Hermis yesterday was worked q mile in
I.45, in the presence OF his now owner. The
horse was eased at the head Of the home
stretch by Trainer Mccormack, who put
up the handkerchief. Hermis practically
cantered in the last furlong.
Trainer Mccormick will continue to
train Hermis until his engagements for
the season are filled.
"Mr. Thomas has bought the best race
horse In America, said l.. v. Bell yesterday.
4The horse is in the best Of health, and is in
5000 900 worth OF stakes. He is in the
Worlds Fair $780, 900 Stake, the Great Re-
public t5O,0O race, and the Brooklyn, Su-
burban, Brighton and Saratoga handicaps.
Mr.. Thomas paid the money asked with
out a bubble, and sincerely hope that he
has the best OF luck with the horse. i
would like to see Mr. Thomas match Hermis
against McChesney, anywhere from an
eighth to a mile and quarter, II he would
l would bet all I got for Hermis that the
latter would win
The sale OF Hermis to Mr.. Thomas was
accomplished In very quick time. Messrs.
Bell and Thomas met and Mr.. Thomas asked
Mr.. Bell what he would take for the horse.
Mr.. Bell was not thinking Of selling but he
named a figure. 'I'll take him. was Mr..
Thomas's instant response.
At the beginning OF his racing career as
a three-year-old Her1nis WAS owned by
q. M. Zegler, the Western turfman. but
was bought by L. v. Bell at the Saratoga
meeting. He did not get into form early
In the season and was beaten frequently.
but wound up with brilliant record Of nine
straight victories. In his later races he
defeated nearly every high class horse In
the country. with the exception Of Gold
Heels, who did not meet Mr. Bells cham
pion.
Hernis made his first appearance at
Gravesend, where he was beaten at even
weights by Hyphen on May 20. He won
on his next attempt two days later from
Himself, but was beaten on June by High
lander and Col. Bill, conceding weight to
each. After another race Hermis went TO
Chicago for the American Derby, in which
race he fell lame and was pulled up.
A months rest put the horse in shape
again, and he began his victorious streak
at Brighton on July II. when he won q one
aud "a sixteenth mile race in LAG. On July
Fl Her1nis started at odds Of 30 to 1 on, and
beat Fair Knight in two-horse race.
From Brighton Hermis was taken to
Saratoga, where he won . seven-furlong
event on the opening day.
The first really important victory Of
Hermis was gained In the Travers Stakes
on Aug. 0. Hermis carried III pounds,
good field, including Hyphen. who had
100 pounds up. He ran the one and one
eighth miles In 1854 As. On the closing day
Of the Saratoga meeting Hermis carried
Mr.. Bells colors for the first time in the
Sarpnac Stakes. He won comfortably,
giving eighteen pounds to Whiskey King,
three pounds to francesca and Eve pounds to
Heno.
The opening day OF tho Gravesend fall
meeting signali1ed another victory for
Hermis, who carried OF the palm and the
First Special. weght-for-age event. In
this he beat Articulate, Gunfire. Advance
Guard and Blues. After victories in the
Ocean View Handicap at Gravesend and
the Jerome Handicap at Morris Park,
Hermis set the seal on his title as the great
est three-yesr-old by winning the Ma
Handicap at mile and a quarter.
He gave away weight to some Of the best
horses of the year. including ten
pounds to Herbert and two pounds to Ad-
vance Guard.
Hermis has wintered we'll and although
McChesney has been touted as a possible
rival, few persons have any idea that the
conqueror. II any, Of Hermis will come
from the West.
Hermis opened big favorite in the
winter books for the Brooklyn and Subur-
ban handicaps. His work yesterday shows
that he Is ready and although he has re-
ceded slightly owing to the prominence OF
W. G. Whitney's stable. he will receive strong
support II he goes to the post for either
event.
VROOMAN SUED FOR DIVORCE.