Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-02
MccHEsNEY MAY RACE HERMIs.
Can't Compete East Until Saratoga
Meeting,

McChesney the mucl-talked-o fOur-year-
old son Of MacDuf, will race in the east this
year. but not befoPeythe Saratoga meeting
In August. The colt was purchased late
on Friday night at New Orleans by E. E.
Smathers, the well-known trotting horse
turfman. who paid to Durnell & Herr the
sum Of $4,000 in ash. McChesney has
number Of valuable engagements to fulfill
on western tracks and Mr.. Smathers will
not withdraw him from them. 1t is too late
for the colt to be a starter in any of the
big eastern handicaps. as the entries for
them closed two months ago, but the Sara
toga entries do not close until next week, so
that there is still time to nominate the
western flyer who Is almost sure to be seen
in the $4,000 Saratoga handicap and other
races for the older horses.
Boots" DurneI will continue to train
McChesney until the coming meeting at
Memphis has been concluded, and he may
handle him for some time after that When
the Saratoga meeting is under way match
race between McChesney and L. V. Bells
Hermis may be arranged to be run either at
the Spa or at one Of the New York fall
meetings. possibly at Sheepshead Bay or
Morris Park. The relative merits of these
two noted four year-olds have been under
discussion for the past six months and
meeting between them to decide the ques-
ton cf supremacy would arouse widespread
interest. Mr.. Bell and Trainer J. H. Nc
Cormick are said to be willing to make a
match, especially in view Of the fact that
McChesney will come east, for they have
objected all along to sending the son Of
Hermence-Katy Of the West-to the windy
city, where meeting was proposed
McChesney was undoubtedly the best
three year-old In the west last year and has
been racing successfully all winter at New
Orleans under all sorts Of conditions. His
owners, Durnell & Herr, bought him from
s. c. Hildreth early last season and have
received since then many offers for him.
Among the would-be purchasers were M.
H. Tidhenor & Co., whose offer Of $50, 600
several weeks ago was turned down. 1t
was only the other day that Durnell & Herr
offered McChesney and the two-year-old
colt Dick Bernard, to Capt. 8. 8. Brown
for $500 Capt Brown said that he would
send Peter WINNER over from Mobile to
look at McChesney and that If WINNER
was agreeable the deal would be closed.
But Mr.. Smathers stepped In meanwhile
with cash offer which was finally accept
ed. After the sale had been consummated,
Mr.. Smathers said:
There are no strings to the sale. bought
McChesney for $4,000 cash. OF course, 1
would like to arrange a match race with
Hermis, but that is not my object in making
the purchase. l like good horse and from
McChesneys record and what have been
told here l believe 1 have secured a great
race horse. will train him in the west,
and if he trains on all right will take him
to the Saratoga meeting. The horse was
not entered In any of the eastern handicaps
owing to the uncertainty of Mr.. Durnelps
standing In the east.
THE Saratoga entries, however, have not
yet closed and 1 will be able to get him in
some Of the handicaps AS to Hernis, /
would like to have a match and will make
one If Mr.. Bell Is agreeable, but 1 did not
buy McChesney to match him against
Hermis or any other horse. I will let Dur
nell train McChesney through the Memphis
meeting, but after that may make other
arrangements" as z1
Nv pureha sinr Mt,<shesney Mr. snothars
has created the impression that he will buy
other horses from time to time and will
eventually have large stable of runners
on the turf. Several times recently it has
been rumored that he would have a racing
stable, but the report was always vigorously
denied McChesney will possibly carry Mr.
Smathers' colors for the first time in the
at the crescent city track shortly. He will
be a sure starter in the Montgomery handi-
cap. '''"5