The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-21
More ThOroughbreds Than Bel
mont, Whitney and Keene.
is KING OF THE TURF.
Has Breeding Farms in Cali
fOrnia and Kentucky.
Likes Good Horses but Never
FOrgets Values.

c. Whitney, August Belmont, and Jas.
Keene combined. He. breeds from
three to four hundred yearlings every
season; owns two stock farms, a thou
sand brood mares, and nearly 40 stall
lions. And yet this man is scarcely
known to one in a thousand habitues
of the racetrack-
Haggin scarcely ever visits race
course to see his horses run. He may be
seen occasionally at a thoroughbred
horse sale. particularly if there are any
mares to be sold Catalogue in hand he
will sit patiently until the mare that he
fancies is led into the ring Then
through an agent he will bid on her
until she reaches the figure he has de-
c1ded she is worth. If she is knocked
down to him at that amount well and
good, but should his opponent bid over
ms fixed price, no coaxing by the auc-
uoneer will abstract another bid. De-
termination and tenacity of purpose are
Mr.. Haggin's chief characteristics.
AS silent as a Turk" is Just as ap-
plicable to Haggin as to any citizen of
the sultan's territory. He is probably
so years old, but nobody knows just how
old he is except himself, and he does
not even whisper it to his most init
mate friends. Haggin is a millionaire
several times over. His interests extend
IN various directions. From mines TO
banking and into breeding race horses
his money is invested.
No man owns more or California than
Haggin. and in a short time he will
own goodly portion of Kentucky. In
the land of fruits and flowers is the
famous Rancho del Paso farm (ranch
of the pass, tract of nearly $4,000
acres. Part of 1t lies near the short
hills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Another section slopes into the Ameri-
can river. The writer of this article
once started out from Sacramento at
a. m. with John Mackay, the manager
of the ranch. and rode until II o'clock.
And only a small portion of the ranch
was visited This seven hours of fast
driving gives only a slim idea of the
vastness of the place
Down in Kentucky is his latest pur-
chase-Elmendorf-t finest breeding
farm in the blue grass region. Elmen-
dorf is considered a show place of that
famous state. But great as it is it has
not yet reached its owners expectations,
for he has been continually buying and
adding ground to it.
In Haggins paddocks roam nearly
thousand brood mares. OF this number
$50 are thoroughbreds and the remainder
trOtting and draft matrons. Among
them are some of the most choicely
bred mares of Europe and America.
They represent the best blood lines of
two continents. A number of them
have foaled winners that secured in
stakes and purchases 100000 each.
Many great race horses have first seen
the light of day on either of these two
ranches.
1t can scarcely be said with truth that
horseracing or breeding of thorough
breds is a hobby with Haggin. He is
not sentimental; he is practical He
likes a good horse, but never forgets
his value. Like most men of large af-
fairs, he keeps in close touch with his
breeding establishments. He knows
everything that takes place there to the
smallest detail.
Much of Haggin's success in breeding
is due to his knowledge of the success
full blood lines of English and American
thoroughbreds. For years he has made
the pedigrees of horses study, and he
knows today better, perhaps, than any
other man in the country the best stall
lion to mate in order to have the
progeny develop into a great race horse.
Money is no object to Haggin when
he wishes to secure a stallion of great
quality. He brought WatercresS and
Goldfnch from England, the latter a
relative in blood to the great Orme, one
of the most successful sires in the Brit
ish isles To Austria he went for Sir
Modred, Darabin, and Artillery-three
stations that have won great renown
for the Rancho del PasO stud
When Haggin is anxious to own horse
he will go to any extreme. Two years ago
he wished to purchase kinley Mack, win
ner of the Brighton and Suburban handi-
caps. He was also anxious to own Ben
Holiday, the great long distance horse. To
obtain both he bought out the entire rae
ing stable of Eastin & Arabic for large
sum.
It is not generally known that Haggin is
a half owner of NaSturtiun. When w G.
Whitney gave A. L. Aste $4,000 for the
colt it was reported at the time that
Haggin had a half interest in the young
ster. Whitney was to have the running
of Nasturtium, but as soon as his days on
the turf were over the colt was to revert
to Haggin. NaSturtum IS now IN the
stud in Kentucky.
Haggin owns many race horses, but they
do not all race in his name and cOlors
He runs them on shares with numerous
trainers the most notable of whom are
Green Morris and w. B. Jennings. Sydney
manages and races under his own name
horses in which Haggin is interested. At
Sheepshead bay the millionaire has a brick
stable which, for appointments and con-
struction. horsemen consider superior to
w. c. Whitneys $4,000 stable at West
During fifteen years on the turf Haggin
has had many high class race horses. the
most notable Of which were Salvador.
F'irenz Ben Ali, Tyrant. Yum Yum.
Watercolor, King Fox. and Waterboy- OF
all these horses Ben Ali was his favorite.
It was named after his son, whom he
loved dearly. Ben Ali, by poor riding. lost
several important races which he should
have won These defeats occa stoned the
deepest disappointment that Haggin has
ever known
For several years ffaggln refused TO
allow his horses to race over the Brooklyn
Jockey club course. There had been
trouble over some rough riding and a close
/ finish in which his horses figured. and he
thought that he had been harshly treated
in certain decisions. He thereupon issued
an order that horse bearing his colors
should race over that track again. This
order was in effect for five years.
The only time that Haggin has been
known to show any feeling or interest in
the result of a contest was when Salvador
4 beat Tenny in match race at a mile and
a quarter over the Coney Island Jockey
clubs track Salvador had made all the
running to the stretch and when Tenny
challenged with that terrific squirt for
which he was famous, down the stretch
! both horses struggled At the end Saliva
tor was the winner by the margin of two
| inches It was some time before the
! Judges hung out their decision.
| Haggin. with his son Ben Ali scanned
~, 5cci-s,- brov5 o1<.nY1v - - -.